Cool, Neutral, or Warm

[Xenokai]

Ive been messing with my new westinghouse 32" (SK-32H520S) It has 3 color modes cool, neutral, and warm. The tv's ive used before where sdtv and old projection hdtvs which always where set on cool. On this hdtv cool is to greenish, Netral has the best whites, and warm the colors seem right but whites have a red tone. Which mode does most people seem to use on there hdtvs? The one that gives the best whites? Im using neutral mode right now since my ps3 and 360 games menu seem right beign with clear white text. But on movies warm seems better sometimes but the whites seem to have a redish tone. Ive wacthed B/W shows and neutral is the most b/w. Warm seems to red. Whats most important?

Ive used cool setting on sdtv for ages and i read warm is the best but is it normal for the white to look a bit redish?

[Knicks4973]

From what I've read online and here on the forum, the warm setting is the closest to the NTSC standard. Cool makes whites actually too bluish, while neutral creates normal whites.

From my experience, I have always found warm to be too red, although on newer TV's, that is becoming less of a case. Newer TVs now have warm1 and warm2, with warm2 really making whites redish.

In order to properly set the color mode, you will need to calibrate your TV. Calibration, in short, optimizes your TV to its fullest potential.

What you need to do to your new HDTV (http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1440)

The above link explains calibration in more detail and how to proceed in properly calibrating your TV.

Even if you do properly calibrate your TV and set the color temp to warm, your whites still might be slightly red as the only way to change that is to go into the service menu, which is explained as being a no-no, unless you have experience with it.

You should purchase a calibration DVD and calibrate the TV yourself. You'll learn more about the TV and customize it to your liking. Calibration takes maybe an hour at most, once you understand the process.

[57U]

One must do the calibration in the correct order, setting the colour temperature FIRST, as indicated in the link supplied by Knicks4973 above.

I have done hundreds of setups as have ISF technicians and the warmest (user) setting is always closest to the NTSC standard. If you find this too "red" then there are other issues with the calibration, or you simply are used to, or prefer, another setting. This doesn't make it accurate though.

BTW, ISF calibrators don't usually use the user settings, they work in the service menu, however, the warmest user setting is always the closest to the standard.

[Xenokai]

thanks for the info. Ive used THX and AVIA disks (no filters tho) Basicly my concern is my color temp. While movies look better usally at warm my white seem to red. Neutral seem white and gives the best B/W pic but sometimes it seems to blue and other time spot on perfect. Ive tryed manually setting the rgb but i always end up getting the reds to pink or something of the sort. I play alot of games and usally neutral looks better and other times i see a blueish tone. On the grey scale neutral looks the most grey while warm looks redish.
I read alot of places this is 100% normal for all lcds. I just like to know what would be best... white whites and grey greys or more accurate color. When i got my new lcd i used game mode but i new it needed calibrated so i used the disks i have and contrast and brightness is pretty much set. just picking a color temp is nerve recking. I just want the best image out of my tv without paying a pro. Also is they a real good way to get perfect color without filters? My tv doesnt really bleed the reds into the white areas so i cant tell my cranking it up and lowering it.

Is the slight blueish tone normal for lcd on normal mode? The blu only shows up sometime and other time is looks spot on.

[Knicks4973]

Your best bet is to set the color temperature to warm, then perform your calibration. Even though your whites might have a slight red tint, after watching the calibrated set for a while, you might not notice the slight red tint anymore.

If you do notice the red tint still, then set your color temperature to neutral, and play with the blue color setting in your advanced video settings (I quickly looked up your manual).

The TV you have has limited picture options, so the amount of changes you can make are going to be limited.

[Xenokai]

it has the option to manually set the rbg but i always seem to get the colors off. not sure exactly how to set it manually. Is it normal for the warm setting to have a red tone to it? all i wanna know is is it normal?

[Xenokai]

btw the user mode is set to the neutral setting by default which is 25/25/25 and theres not diffrence from that to neutral. i have turned stuff down but i think i maybe getting the color to pink or somthing im not 100% sure. any tips on manually setting teh color temp? If its normal for white to look redish on the warm setting then i may use it because i know movies seem better in warm mode. but my white seem better on neutral.

[Knicks4973]

Yes, it is normal for whites in the warm setting to be slightly red in color. Many manuals discuss that the warm setting makes whites look slightly reddish. I have also personally experienced this, and the degree that this happens depends on the TV. On newer TV's, you can make adjustments to the white color, making them brighter, in effect lessening the red tone. On your TV, you have very little control, so you can calibrate it so far.

The only way to get your whites white in warm mode is to have it professionally calibrated, because the technician will go into the service menu and make changes.

The only other thing I suggest is to use the neutral setting and then calibrate it by eye. You're the one who needs to be happy with the TV. If having the color temp on neutral makes you happy, then use it. You don't always have to conform with the consensus. Many people suggest one thing over another because they have experience with it. What's right for them may not be right for you. So, go with the neutral setting if you feel you'll be happier with the end result. You'll be happier in the long run when you follow what YOU want.

[Xenokai]

well turing up the backlight seems to whiten the whites a bit in warm mode but i was always told not to turn that up. Im use to white whites because every tv ive ever had was on cool mode but on lcd cool mode looks a bit to drab and the blue green tone it noticable. would it make any diffrence if i used 30/30/30 instead of the default 25/25/25 neutral? would thta cause eye strain even after lowering the contrast?

[Knicks4973]

I'm not really familiar with the Westinghouse. I actually had one for a week and the audio was HORRIBLE. That's why I returned it, plus it had a stupid DVI input instead of an HDMI.

Anyway, from what I read in the manual, you have limited picture controls. You're going to need a blue filter in order to set the color and hue correctly. On some TV's, including my Bravia, you might not able to get the settings correct and you have to live with what you have. The overall picture on a Bravia, once it's calibrated to the best of my ability, is great. On your TV, once you get a blue filter, you can then determine if using 30/30/30 on neutral is better then 25/25/25. As for backlight, you can turn it up, as long as it's not at full. 50% should be fine, but you need to set your color temp first BEFORE doing your calibration, or else you won't get a good picture.

[Xenokai]

om my tv the brightness and contrast is pretty much the same even on warm or cool doesnt really change calibrating with the thx disk gives me the same settings on all 3.

[Xenokai]

btw do blue filters even work on lcds?

[Knicks4973]

Yes, blue filters do work on LCD's.

[Xenokai]

im trying warm mode and it is lookign better i think. i turned up the backlight to near max and it seems the white are much whiter in warm mode now. all iw anted to know was is the redish white normal and im glade you all but my mind to ease.