LCDs Versus CRTs - Color-Calibration and Gamut Considerations

This paper presents a comparative evaluation of liquid-crystal display (LCDs) and cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays from a color-rendition and color-calibration perspective. Common display calibration models and assumptions are reviewed and their applicability to LCDs and CRTs is evaluated through an experimental study. The displays are compared with respect to the color-calibration accuracy, ease of calibration, and achievable color gamut. The offset, matrix, and tone-response correction model commonly employed for CRT color calibration is also suitable for color calibration of LCDs for most applications, though the calibration error for LCDs is higher. For the prototype LCDs used in the experimental study, large color variations significantly above the calibration accuracy are observed with changes in viewing angle. Under typical viewing conditions, LCDs provide a significantly larger color gamut than CRTs primarily due to their higher luminances.