Most TV viewers don't need to pay for calibration

Q We ordered a 52-inch LCD HDTV at a big-box store and were talked into signing up for the calibration service. They said this makes the picture look more realistic and extends the life of the set. Should I keep this service or cancel it before the TV is delivered?

PHYLLIS BISHOP, CRANBERRY, PA.

A Most TVs have default picture settings detrimental to picture quality and screen life span, so changing them is definitely recommended. Whether you need to pay for a calibration is another matter. My recommendation hinges on how serious of a video enthusiast you are, what kind of calibration is being performed and how much you are being charged for the service.

Dedicated videophiles often have their high-end televisions and video projectors calibrated by a certified Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) technician for $500 or more.

In an ISF calibration, the technician accesses hidden menus containing supplemental picture settings and uses sophisticated equipment to analyze and set the television as closely as possible to theoretically perfect specifications. There is no way to perform this calibration without training and specialized equipment, so the fees are justified.

But many ordinary consumers find an ISF-calibrated picture to be less bright and colorful compared with what they are used to seeing.

If you are paying for a calibration, be sure you are getting a true ISF calibration and not one done by an hourly employee tweaking the regular picture settings by eyeball or with a setup disc.

Most consumers don't need an ISF calibration to be happy with their TV's picture. I recommend using the setup disc "Digital Video Essentials" (www.videoessentials.com). It sells for less than $20 and is available in DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD formats.

Try adjusting the picture using the following as a starting point:

• Set the picture mode to standard or normal. Avoid vivid and sports modes.

• Turn off contrast-enhancement and noise-reduction features if your set has them.

• Turn down the contrast or picture setting to between 50 and 90 percent of maximum, observing the image as you change the settings.

• Bump up the color one to three clicks to bring up the color saturation.

These might vary depending on the brand and type of TV you have. The resulting image quality won't be ISF-perfect, but it will look better than the out-of-the-box picture.