Questions
Frequently asked questions
Here are the questions people ask most often about this reference and about getting a decent picture without turning every evening into a menu-tweaking session.
The best setting is the one you forget about a week later, because the picture simply stopped bothering you.
About this reference
Is this the same site that used to be here?
No. The domain used to host a different site, and later unrelated spam pages appeared here. None of that material has been kept; we don't restore it and have no connection to it. Only the name remains from the past.
Can I watch a movie here?
No. We don't show or distribute films, don't link to places to view them and don't suggest where to find them. This reference is only about how the image on a screen works.
Why don't you name models and brands?
Because menus and feature names change quickly, while the principles stay the same. Besides, we don't want to become a storefront: this reference doesn't sell or recommend anything.
Where does your information come from?
From general reference principles on video formats and displays, and from our own editorial experience. We don't publish made-up measurements or tests.
About the picture
Is it worth switching from Full HD to 4K for better quality?
It depends on the screen size, how far your couch is and what you watch. If the screen is small and you sit far away, the difference will be modest. Sometimes properly setting up the screen you already have helps more.
Why does a screen need a high refresh rate if a movie is shot at 24 frames per second?
A high refresh rate helps the screen show frames of any content more evenly, and it's useful for games and live broadcasts. It won't make a movie any smoother unless you turn on motion smoothing yourself.
Why does the same video look better on a phone than on a big screen?
A small screen hides flaws: blur and compression artifacts are barely visible on it. A big screen honestly shows everything, including things it would be better off not showing.
Do I need to hire a professional to calibrate my screen?
For most home screens, adjusting by eye with our guides is enough. Professional calibration with instruments exists and is useful for people who care about accurate color, but that's a separate story.
Comfort and family
How can I make watching easier on the eyes?
The everyday tips are simple: don't stare at a bright screen in total darkness, keep a little soft light on in the room, sit at a comfortable distance and take breaks. If your eyes bother you, that's a question for a doctor, not for your screen settings.
Why did the screen look better in the store than at home?
In the store, the screen runs in a showroom mode with exaggerated brightness, plays specially chosen clips, and the lighting is completely different. At home, your screen meets an ordinary signal and an ordinary room.
Can I set up the screen separately for kids?
Often, yes: many devices let you create profiles, set a sleep timer and add restrictions in the settings. Look for them in the profile or safety sections of your device menu.
The whole family argues about the settings. What should we do?
Save several custom profiles, such as "Evening," "Day" and "Kids." That way everyone gets their own picture, and the menu stops being a battlefield.
Read next
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: setting up a new screen, choosing a picture mode, turning off extra processing and matching brightness to the room. Plus the article index.
- Fix the picture
What to do if the picture looks blurry or dark, gradients show bands, motion stutters, colors look off or there are black bars around the edges.
- Comparisons
How HD differs from Full HD and 4K, what HDR adds compared with SDR and how frame rate relates to motion smoothing.
- Glossary
A glossary of terms: resolution, pixel, bitrate, codec, compression, HDR, frame rate and refresh rate, motion smoothing, banding and more.
- Security
Risks for people looking for a better picture: pages with malicious ads, fake player updates, browser extensions and questionable apps.
Sources
- General information on video formats and displays (reference principles)
- FantastikaHD editorial materials
This advice is written in general terms as of the date it was prepared. Screen menus, mode names and factory settings vary from device to device and change with updates, so check your own manual and trust your eyes more than the labels on the box.