Monitor Gamma Test
Press Full Screen, step back a couple of metres, and check whether the centre grey patch matches its surrounding pattern. That single comparison tells you if your monitor is sitting on the 2.2 gamma standard or running too light or too dark.
New to this? Here’s the plain-English version.
What this test is
A grey pattern that reveals whether your screen shows shadows and midtones at the right brightness — not too washed-out, not too crushed.
How it helps you
Correct gamma means you see the shadow detail games and films intend: no enemies lost in black, no washed-out dark scenes.
What we’re checking
Whether your monitor’s brightness curve sits on the 2.2 standard, or is running too light or too dark.
Gamma: 2.2
The top gradient should blend smoothly with the bottom one.
The top gradient, composed of individual bars, should appear to blend smoothly with the continuous gradient below. Adjust your monitor's gamma settings until the transition is seamless.
Press F11 or Full Screen · ← → patterns · Esc to exit
What Gamma Is
Gamma is the relationship between a pixel’s numerical value and its actual brightness on screen. The SDR standard is 2.2 — it puts mid-grey at roughly 18% of peak brightness, not 50%. Get it wrong and shadows either crush to black or lift to grey, and highlights either clip or wash out. Colour-critical work needs a reading between 2.15 and 2.25.
Gamma too low
Washed-out, lifted shadows
Gamma ≈ 2.2
Correct midtones
Gamma too high
Dark, crushed midtones
How to Use the Test
- 1Go fullscreen. Press Full Screen and bring up the gamma ramp pattern.
- 2Step back. View from about 1.5–2 metres so your eye blends the fine dithered regions instead of resolving pixels.
- 3Check the midpoint. At gamma 2.2 the central solid grey patch should match the surrounding pattern. Brighter patch = gamma too low; darker = too high.
- 4Check the ramp ends. Shadows should keep visible detail before crushing to black; highlights should keep separation before clipping to white.
Reading the Gamma Test
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Solid patch matches the pattern | Gamma ≈ 2.2 — calibrated correctly |
| Solid patch brighter than pattern | Gamma below 2.2 — image too bright, shadows lifted |
| Solid patch darker than pattern | Gamma above 2.2 — image too dark, midtones crushed |
| Shadows crush early | Gamma too high in shadows — dark-scene detail lost |
| Highlights clip early | Gamma too low in highlights — bright detail lost |
Adjusting Gamma
- Set the OSD gamma preset to 2.2. Presets are usually 1.8/2.0/2.2/2.4, sometimes labelled Standard/Movie/Game — the exact value varies by brand.
- Use 2.4 in a dark room. Higher gamma preserves contrast in dim ambient light; 2.2 is right for normal room lighting.
- Hardware-calibrate for precision. A colorimeter (X-Rite, Datacolor) is the only reliable way to correct the actual curve; ICC profiles improve colour but don’t fix gamma precisely.
- Remember HDR is separate. HDR uses the PQ curve, so gamma settings only apply to SDR content.
Gamma works hand-in-hand with black level — if shadows still look wrong after setting 2.2, check the contrast test, or run the full calibration walkthrough to set brightness, contrast, gamma, and white balance together.
Gamma FAQ
What gamma should my monitor be set to?+
Why does gamma matter for gaming?+
Can I fix gamma without a calibrator?+
Does HDR change gamma?+
Why does my monitor’s gamma drift from 2.2?+
Why does the gamma test look wrong up close?+
Is gamma the same as brightness or contrast?+
Related Monitor Tests
Checking a whole new panel?
Run the dead pixel test and browse the full monitor test suite.