Step 4: Dim the backlight

By design, LCD sets have a bright fluorescent light behind their LCD panel. Called the backlight, this light source affects the brightness of the entire screen. Some LCDs have a dedicated backlight control. In a darkened room with carefully placed lighting, we recommend you lower this setting all the way before you begin adjusting the brightness and contrast. You can always raise it later if it proves too dim.

Tip

Some LCDs have smaller viewing angles compared with other TV types. You should always try to sit at eye level and directly in front of the screen when viewing and adjusting the image.

Step 5: Control the brightness and contrast

Technically called black level, an LCD's brightness control actually adjusts how dark the black sections of the picture appear. Excessive brightness can result in a two-dimensional, washed-out look with reduced color saturation. Images with brightness set too low tend to lose detail in shadows, and distinctions between dark areas disappear in pools of black.

Play a DVD, HD-DVD or Blu-ray that has letterboxing bars above and below the image and find a scene that has a roughly equal amount of light and dark material--preferably with some details in the shadows. Turn up the brightness control all the way, then decrease it until the letterboxing bars begin to appear as close to black as possible. If you notice a loss of shadow detail--for example, when people's eyes disappear into the depths under their brows--then you've set brightness too low. You may also have to adjust the backlight and contrast controls to recapture lost shadow detail.

Now set the contrast. High contrast can obscure details and distort lines in the image, causing eyestrain in dim rooms. Setting contrast too low robs the image of impact. Display a still image from a DVD, HD-DVD or Blu-ray of a white object with some visible details, such as someone wearing a white button-up shirt. Adjust the control up all the way, then reduce it until you can make out all the details in the white areas, such as the buttons and creases in the shirt.

Tip

In general, LCD sets can handle a higher contrast setting than other types of televisions. You can often set it as high as 80 percent without obscuring detail.