The 226BW A series : calibrate your screen at no cost
Standard rendering on the A version is poor, but this isn’t the end. The proof is that once it’s calibrated (with a probe), it has colors just as true as the S. You have to have the same initial conditions as on the S version for optimal results. In other words, set all color parameters back to their initial settings and then select the « Internet » mode via the Magicbright menu.
Once calibration is finished, we finally have an average dE of 0.8 on our Vista + GeForce 7950 GTX configuration.
The Samsung 226BW series A calibrated with the LaCie probeThe calibration file, the ICM profile, can be used on third-party configurations. We tried it on various computers to which we connected the 226BW A. Without any other adjustment besides resetting parameters to zero and in « Internet » mode greatly improved the average dE of 6.5. Here were the different test cases :
These are OS + graphic card combinations. The Intel graphic chipset was a notebook, an ultra-portable Acer.
We would have liked to have tested more combinations, however, we apologize that we didn’t have the time.
We recommend installing this calibration file on your computer. It’s not guaranteed to turn your world upside down, but hopefully colors will be noticeably improved.
We tried it and were successful with several systems without a single failure or degradation of colors. On the contrary, the improvement was obvious on the four configurations.
Installing the profile
Reset color settings in the monitor’s OSD, then choose the
Internet mode.
With Windows XP : Download and install the Microsoft utility for color management
WinColor.
Download our profile created for the 226BW A.
Paste it in :
C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\color\
In the
Color program of the control panel (after installing WinColor), open the
Profiles tab. Load the copied file, the calibration.
In the following tab,
Devices, select
Displays in the scroll down menu and then click
Add... to add the profile corresponding to the screen.
Finally, click on
Set as Default. Now, normally if the profile is well applied, colors on your screen will start changing.
In Windows Vista :
Download our profile created for the 226BW A.
An equivalent of Wincolor is already integrated. Just right click / personalize / display parameters
/ advanced parameters / color management tab.
Check « use my parameters for this peripheral" after having placed the ICM profile in :
C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\color\
»Add », select the modified ICC profile, and set it to default.
Click on the « Advanced » tab in the peripheral profile, select the modified ICC profile, click « OK » and it should start working
Is there still a red dominance ?
If there is a red dominance even after going into the « Internet » mode, restart the computer, shut off the screen and turn everything on again. It should correct itself.
Did the correction not work ?
Sometimes the program bugs (notably when there is a change of drivers in the graphic card). In this case, select the profile again and set it to default.
Is the A series actually a Samsung panel after all?
Here are all the different contrast ratios measured. We added the Iiyama screen as it is equipped with an AU Optronics panel, a TN 5 ms.
The difference in rendering is obvious. Its colors are as untrue as the 226BW A’s, but the contrast is not as strong and mostly the depth of black is much less at 0.35 cd/m². This is something that sets the 226BW A panel apart even more from those usually made by AUO.
The 226BW A and S can go as low as 0.17 cd/m². Such a depth in black is typical of Samsung, and we’ve never had an AU Optronics panel capable of such a black. This leads us to believe that Samsung sub-contracted out to AUO and CMO, however in providing them with their own components. The « A » panel which is supposedly an AUO does not look like one of this manufacturer’s classic products, nor does it have its performance.
