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The color bars [message #92465] Thu, 22 October 2020 08:56 Go to next message
Strum Drum is currently offline  Strum Drum
Messages: 219
Registered: November 2017
Master
on TVs actually serve a purpose, as I just learned. It is a test pattern for calibration purposes. Engineers actually still use it today in order to adjust the color schemes so that each television that is manufactured will align with the standard. That's pretty nifty! I rarely saw them as a kid. I grew up with 24-7 television, so the whole nightly sign off thing wasn't part of my experience.


Re: The color bars [message #92466 is a reply to message #92465] Thu, 22 October 2020 09:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Before the SMPTE color bars, there was another common test pattern, as shown below. It was used to check things like the linearity of the sweep, overall size, contrast and frequency response. Poor frequency response made lines fuzzy rather than having sharp edges and poor linearity made them spaced closer or further apart on some sections of the screen than others.

https://audioroundtable.com/images/RCA_Test_Pattern.jpg
Re: The color bars [message #92484 is a reply to message #92465] Fri, 23 October 2020 19:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Lost the Remote is currently offline  Lost the Remote
Messages: 145
Registered: June 2017
Master
Cool! I love little tidbits like these. I always thought the color bars were part of the reel and were meant to show off the magic of color television. I had no idea that they actually have a name, so thank Wayne for sharing that one. I'm surprised that there's a color calibration standard among all televisions though, because it certainly doesn't look that way to me.
Re: The color bars [message #92497 is a reply to message #92465] Sat, 24 October 2020 14:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
johnnycamp5 is currently offline  johnnycamp5
Messages: 354
Registered: June 2015
Location: NJ
Grand Master
I don't remember the earlier test pattern that came before the color bars (Waynes example) but I'm quite offended at the "Indians head" at the top.......

Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing
Re: The color bars [message #92501 is a reply to message #92497] Sat, 24 October 2020 21:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gofar99 is currently offline  gofar99
Messages: 1895
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi, Rolling Eyes I not only remember them I used them. At one time as a portable unit to field test color TVs I had a special cartridge for an Atari 2600 that was designed to produce the various patterns needed. I probably still have it. It might be interesting to see how well some of the newer TVs are actually calibrated for color balance and purity. The alignment (horizontal and vertical lines) should be perfect as the display is a digital array.

Good Listening
Bruce
Re: The color bars [message #93984 is a reply to message #92465] Mon, 05 July 2021 22:15 Go to previous message
Souldude is currently offline  Souldude
Messages: 72
Registered: January 2021
Viscount
I remember seeing these color bars, but I only learned now that it has a purpose. I've always thought that there was something wrong with the channel when those things would flash out.
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