Brightness & Contrast Test Patterns
Ten reference patterns for setting brightness and contrast so the darkest and brightest steps on your display stay distinct without crushing shadow or highlight detail - PLUGE black-level steps, gray ramps, and near-black/near-white step wedges.
What these files actually are
Each step is generated at its exact stated gray value rather than eyeballed, so a step that disappears on your display is being crushed or clipped by your display or signal chain, not by the file. These are SDR reference patterns; use them with your display in SDR mode for a standard baseline. Free download, no watermark, no attribution required, each with a SHA-256 hash and VirusTotal link.
Common use cases
Display calibration
Set brightness and contrast so the darkest and brightest steps stay distinct without crushing detail.
HDR and SDR troubleshooting
Confirm whether shadow or highlight detail is being clipped by your display or your source.
Black Level Test – Can You See Every Dark Square?
Adjust brightness until you can just distinguish the darkest squares while the background stays deep black.
White Clipping Test – Check Highlight Detail
Every square should be distinguishable from the white background. If the brightest squares vanish, highlights are clipping.
Near Black Test – 1% to 10% Gray
View in a dark room. Squares should be faint but visible; invisible squares mean black crush.
Near White Test – 90% to 100% White
All squares should remain distinct from the white background.
Monitor Brightness Test – Black to White Levels
A full sweep of gray levels. All patches should be distinct, from black to white.
Shadow Detail Test – OLED and LCD
Dark-scene detail check: every patch should be separable from the black background.
Highlight Detail Test – TV White Level
Bright-scene detail check: every patch should be separable from the white background.
Contrast Test – Black and White Detail
Shadow and highlight detail on one screen: all squares in both halves should be visible.
Grayscale Test – 0% to 100%
21 gray steps from black to white. Each step should be distinct and neutral, with no color tint.
Full Screen Peak Brightness Test
Full-screen white for one minute. Measure with a lux/nit meter, or watch for ABL dimming on OLED.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I see?
- Every gray step should remain visible and distinct from its background; steps that disappear indicate crushed or clipped detail.
- Does this work for HDR displays?
- This is an SDR reference pattern; use it with your display in SDR mode for a standard baseline.
- Which test should I start with?
- PLUGE Black Level Test is the fastest sanity check; use the gray-ramp and near-black/near-white tests afterwards to fine-tune brightness and contrast once black level is set.
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