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Monitor Gamma
Correct monitor gamma can be a confusing issue at the best of times, but with all the variables that the Web introduces it can become a minefield. There are at least three standards that you could take into account when adjusting your gamma settings, so which one do you choose? A un-calibrated IBM compatible PC has an average monitor gamma of 2.5, although it does now seem that Microsoft has adopted the sRGB standard for Windows which uses a system gamma of 2.2. The printing industry standard for white paper is 1.8, which is also the system gamma for Macintosh computers. A web standard has also been suggested, which would also use the sRGB colour profile and a gamma setting of 2.2. For the moment, all I can suggest is that you decide on just one of the three settings that you are happy with when creating your own images. If you do show images on the Web, inform people visiting your site of the gamma that you used to create your images, and give them the opportunity to adjust their monitors. All my images and website where created and designed to look best with a gamma setting of 2.0, which I decided to use as a compromise value between the Mac and Windows standards. To fully appreciate my images as they where intended please use the monitor test below.
With the above image you should be able to see all 11 greyscale bands. If you are unable to view all the bands, adjust your monitor brightness, until you can just see a separation of the dark grey and black bands on the right. You should also ensure that the white band on the left does not bleed into the light grey band, which can be rectified by adjusting your monitors contrast setting. There are numerous pages and papers written about gamma correction. Below I have included links to some pages that you may find of interest to help you better calibrate your system's and monitor's gamma and colour:
The Monitor Calibration And Gamma Assessment Page
Display Gamma Estimation Applet (Requires the Java Runtime)
Yet Another Gamma Correction Page
I hope to expand on the information given on this page, and give you more accurate information on colour profiles and the accepted way of adjusting your system and monitor gamma very soon. Please keep checking in.
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