![LG QNED90T Controller](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/a98ca60e76027e65c4d796546cdc50fa85d1af5a/2024/05/03/c935922f-b325-4448-be55-dada080dd724/dsc00288.jpg?auto=webp&width=1280)
Whether you are considering purchasing a new TV or your old flat screen is working just fine, there are simple ways to optimize your viewing experience, and it all starts with your TV settings. Let's explore some of the key factors that determine your TV's performance and what you can do to make it even better.
1. Turn down the sharpness
The sharper the image, the better. RIGHT? Not necessarily.
Contrary to popular belief, the “sharpness” setting on your television does not affect the actual sharpness of the displayed image. True sharpness is determined by factors such as screen resolution, source material resolution, and contrast. Instead, adjusting the sharpness changes artificial edge enhancement, a CPU-driven adjustment that can introduce unwanted noise and, ironically, distort image details.
Edge enhancement is designed to make objects on the screen more distinct by emphasizing the boundaries between them, theoretically creating a more realistic image. However, this feature acts as a universal Instagram filter, potentially leading to an unnatural appearance in certain media.
Although it is not necessary to reduce the sharpness to zero, it is generally recommended to decrease it significantly. For most TVs, an ideal level of between 5 and 10 percent can help achieve a balanced picture, although you need to experiment to find the level that works best for you.
2. Turn off motion smoothing
An important setting to consider is Motion Smoothing, an image interpolation feature created to reduce the noticeable blurring effect during fast-paced footage. This feature aims to reconcile the discrepancies between the frame rate of movies (typically 24 frames per second) and the frame rate of the TV.
When scenes filmed at 24 fps are played back on a higher frame rate TV, viewers may notice an effect known as “juttering.” TV manufacturers developed Motion Smoothing to solve this problem. However, this can degrade the visual quality of images by generating additional frames, resulting in choppy viewing. Some TVs also add images or change refresh rates to minimize motion issues. But these efforts can unintentionally create a “soap opera effect,” making high-quality content appear mediocre.
Also: How I Optimized the Cheapest 98-Inch TV Around to Look Great
Motion smoothing is usually enabled by default, and finding the setting to turn it off may take some searching. It's often hidden in the settings menu and each manufacturer has a unique name for their motion smoothing processes. For example, LG calls it TruMotionSamsung calls it Automatic movement Moreand Sony has both Motion flow And CinéMotion.
3. Turn off Vivid Mode and reduce the brightness
TV manufacturers and retailers aim to make their new models extremely bright and vibrant when displayed on store shelves under fluorescent lighting, and come with the Vivid picture mode enabled by default.
What is Vivid mode for? It boosts brightness, oversaturates colors, and improves the appearance of the screen in less than optimal lighting conditions. But the lighting at Best Buy or Costco is very different from the lighting in your living room. Turning off Vivid mode will not only provide a more accurate representation of the landscape, but will also be more suitable for sensitive eyes.
Also: Revolutionary wireless TV ditches the remote and sticks to any wall without a stand
Along the lines of Vivid mode is the brightness adjustment, also called black point. Improperly calibrated brightness can result in a washed out image when set too high or make darker scenes difficult to discern when set too low. Adjusting this setting will allow you to appreciate the smallest details of your favorite content. To optimize brightness, follow these steps:
- Look for a dimly lit video, such as an extended night scene.
- Set the brightness of your TV to the lowest level.
- Gradually increase the brightness until you can discern every detail in the shadows of the image without making them excessively bright.
4. Check your contrast
Adjusting the contrast on your TV can result in enhanced detail, improved depth and dimension, and reduced eye strain. It helps prevent bright areas from appearing overexposed or “blown out” and prevents dark areas from becoming too muddy, ideally resulting in a more balanced image with richer detail.
When you unbox a new TV, the contrast settings are often too high. Although high contrast can improve image quality, levels that are too high can actually remove fine details, robbing the image of depth and realism.
Also: LG's new OLED TVs will use AI to look and sound better than ever
To improve contrast, adjust settings while viewing an image that has both bright and dark areas. For example, a panoramic photo of a cloudy sky makes an ideal reference point. Adjust the contrast so that bright areas retain detail without being exaggerated, while darker areas maintain depth and richness. The key is finding the right balance between preserving highlight and shadow detail for a rich, three-dimensional image.
5. Select the correct picture mode
Your TV probably has a ton of picture presets (some of which definitely don't look good). To be honest, they partly depend on what you're watching, with the lighting conditions in the room also playing a big role. Finding the mode best suited to your needs can dramatically improve your experience, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to find the perfect setting with just one click.
Picture modes are preset configurations that adjust multiple display settings at once to optimize them for specific purposes. Right out of the box, TVs are often set to a default picture mode like Standard or Dynamic. Dynamic mode tends to improve brightness, clarity, and color saturation, while Standard mode aims for a balanced, neutral image suitable for different types of content.
Also: This Sony Bravia is the best TV you've never heard of. Here's why you might want to buy one
Finding the best picture mode for your preferences and environment may depend on whether you're watching a movie, playing a video game, or watching sports. Many TVs have picture modes specifically for these media, simply called Games and Sports.
For the first, your video game console will manage the visual rendering while Gaming mode will stop the television's video processing to offer the shortest latency times. The Sports picture option is the only mode in which you might benefit from enabling motion smoothing, designed to reduce motion blur and duplication artifacts.
Also: How to Use Your iPhone as a TV Remote
Most models include a Movie or Cinema mode, designed for viewing in a dark, theater-like environment. As a relatively new option, some manufacturers offer Filmmaker mode, a setting focused on preserving the director's original artistic vision.
This works on the (usually accurate) assumption that the film was designed with color and other fine-tuning, so that the film is presented without alteration. Filmmaker mode, like Game mode, removes additional video processing, allowing viewers to experience the film as it was meant to be seen.