Monitor Test
A full set of monitor test patterns: gradients, grids, gamma, sharpness, checkerboards and color bars.
Use native resolution and 100% browser zoom. In the gamma pattern, the center block should blend with the stripes from a distance.
Quick answer
What is the Monitor Test?
A monitor test is a set of fullscreen test patterns that checks how well your display shows color, contrast, sharpness and gamma. Step through gradients, black and white levels, text sharpness and geometry patterns to find faults or set the right picture settings.
Key features
- Gradient, gamma, contrast and sharpness patterns
- Black level and white level steps
- Geometry and text clarity checks
- Keyboard shortcuts to step through every pattern
Why use it
- Set brightness, contrast and sharpness correctly
- Check a new or second-hand monitor in minutes
- Runs in any browser, including on TVs
Built and tested by Whitson Rao
About the Monitor Test
A complete set of display test patterns in one place: gradients for banding, grids for geometry, a gamma check, fine lines for sharpness, checkerboards and color bars.
How to use the Monitor Test
Set your monitor to its native resolution and disable browser zoom (Ctrl/Cmd + 0).
Press F for fullscreen, then use the pattern buttons or arrow keys to switch patterns.
Check gradients for banding, grids for straight lines, and fine patterns for sharpness and moiré.
Adjust your monitor’s brightness, contrast and sharpness settings while viewing each pattern.
Common uses
Initial setup
Tune brightness, contrast and sharpness after unboxing a monitor.
Banding check
Smooth gradients reveal posterization from low bit depth or processing.
Geometry & scaling
Grids expose stretched, cropped or blurry scaling.
Cable & input check
Fine patterns show if a cable or adapter is softening the image.
Frequently asked questions
Is an online monitor test as good as a calibrator?
No. Patterns help you judge and adjust by eye, but accurate color calibration requires a hardware colorimeter.
Why do fine patterns flicker or show moiré?
Browser zoom, OS display scaling or a non-native resolution can resample 1-pixel patterns. Use 100% zoom and native resolution for an accurate view.
What should the gamma pattern look like?
From a distance, the striped and solid areas should blend to a similar brightness. A large mismatch suggests your gamma differs from the standard 2.2.
Sources and further reading
Guides and fixes that use the Monitor Test
- GuideComplete Monitor Test Guide: Benchmarking New Screens for Faults, Color, and SpeedA complete diagnostic guide to testing a new or existing computer monitor for dead pixels, sharpness, gamma, contrast, backlight bleed, and response time.
- GuideCommon Computer Monitor Problems: How to Diagnose and Troubleshoot Display FlawsDiagnostic guide to common computer monitor issues: screen flickering, color banding, ghosting, stuck pixels, and resolution blur with quick troubleshooting steps.
- Screen problemScreen Flickering: Hardware vs Software Causes & Fix ChecklistTroubleshoot screen flickering on PC and Mac. Diagnose refresh rate mismatches, faulty HDMI/DisplayPort cables, GPU drivers, and PWM backlight strobe.
- Screen problemScreen Tearing: Frame Sync, Refresh Rates, and G-Sync FixesWhat screen tearing looks like during motion, how GPU frame rates and display refresh rates relate, and how V-Sync, G-Sync, and FreeSync fix tearing.
- Screen problemMonitor Ghosting: Pixel Response Time, Overdrive, and FixesDiagnose motion ghosting and dark smearing on gaming monitors. Learn how to tune overdrive, understand GtG response times, and eliminate trails.
- GlossaryRefresh Rate (Hz): Display Frequency, Frame Pacing, and Latency GuideIn-depth engineering guide to monitor refresh rate (Hz), frame time intervals, motion persistence, VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync), and testing high refresh rates.