Setting Up A Gx40 - Planar GX40 User Manual

3.2 Setting Up a GX40

The source picture—from computer, video, DVD—is not always perfect in its size or resolution; it does not always
conform exactly to a standard. GX40 can compensate for this.
You'll find it easier to configure your GX40s when you per-
form the steps in the following order:
• Select the Source (Picture)
• Adjust the Input Levels
• Select the Scale Mode
• Adjust the Sharpness
• Check the Image Position
Then if you are using multiple units, whether in a ban-
ner, tower, or wall, perform the remaining steps:
• Set up Tiling for the image on multiple units
• Adjust Scaling and Cropping
• Color Balance the units
Computer sources vary quite a bit from computer to com-
puter. They even vary between video outputs on the same
video card. Video sources vary more.
To make the GX40 respond correctly to these non-stan-
dard sources we adjust Input Levels.
How does Input Level relate to Color Balance?
To make all the displays show the same color and bright-
ness across the whole array, you need to adjust input levels
and do color balancing.
You can do Input Levels first, or you can do Color Bal-
ance first. It doesn't matter. But they must both be done.
✎
Input Levels and Color Balance do not affect each
other, but they both affect the final picture.
✎
If you have a stand-alone application, you don't
need to do color balancing, but you can use the
Color Balancing menu to adjust the color to your
preferences. Nonetheless, you should still set
Input Levels.
What does Input Level do?
For analog computer sources adjusting to the computer's
picture output means finding what that computer means by
black and white.
Black is supposed to be a voltage of zero coming from
the computer's video card, but it almost never is. White is
supposed to be a voltage of 0.7 volts, but it usually isn't
either.
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The Input Level adjustment process asks you to provide
a picture from the computer that is black, then one that is
pure white. With these, you can quickly and automatically
make the display "learn" what this computer means by
black and white.
The result? Good pictures, using all the dynamic range
of color coming from the computer.
✎
For Input Levels, if you must use black and white
coming from the computer you will use for the
program. Don't make this adjustment with your
work laptop and then switch to another computer
for the display's program of pictures.
What does Color Balance do?
Color balancing adjusts all the displays in an array so
they produce the same colors across the entire array.
Displays differ from one another because of very small
differences in the color of the light produced by the back-
light and by differences in the liquid crystal panels them-
selves.
In color balancing you use the display's internal test pat-
terns of white, first, then gray. The internal pattern assures
that a pure white is used.
Configuring units with RS232
If you intend to configure the units using RS232, you'll
need to do one of the following:
• Learn and use the RS232 command equivalents for the
menu commands in this chapter.
• Via RS232 commands, "disable" the remote control for
all units other than the one you are currently configur-
ing.