1. Screen types and testing points: Mainstream screens on the market are divided into LCD (including IPS, VA, TN), OLED, Mini-LED, and older CRT. LCD screens may have backlight bleed and viewing angle issues, so emphasis should be placed on backlight bleed test and contrast test; OLED screens have self-emissive pixels and need attention to burn-in and brightness uniformity, so solid color and gradient tests are recommended; laptop screens and external monitors have different sizes and resolutions, so screen checks should be performed at native resolution, and can be combined with monitor resolution calculation to confirm dot pitch and pixel density. For all types, solid color test and line test can quickly confirm dead pixels and geometric distortion.
2. Dead pixel and bright dot detection (dead pixel test): Dead pixels are divided into bright dots (always on) and dark dots (always off), with some being colored dots (fixed red, green, or blue). Through the screen test tool, switching between pure white, pure black, and pure red, green, and blue screens in sequence can clearly observe abnormal pixels. If the number of dead pixels exceeds the manufacturer's standard, you can apply for replacement. When performing a dead pixel test, pay attention to cleaning the screen surface to avoid dust interference with judgment.
3. Backlight bleed test and brightness uniformity: Backlight bleed mostly occurs in IPS and VA panels. Under a pure black screen, observe whether there are obvious halos or uneven brightness at the screen edges. Through the pure black test, the degree of backlight bleed can be quantified. If the edge halo is too obvious, it indicates poor backlight module assembly or low panel quality. In daily use, appropriately reducing brightness can alleviate backlight bleed, which is also the significance of backlight bleed test.
4. Contrast and grayscale: Contrast is a key indicator of screen layering. Through Contrast (Dark) and Contrast (Bright) tests, observe whether similar grayscale color blocks can be distinguished. If the last row of color blocks cannot be distinguished, it indicates insufficient screen contrast or improper gamma settings, which can be adjusted through the OSD menu or by replacing the monitor. Before performing a contrast test, it is recommended to first confirm via monitor resolution calculation that the monitor is at its optimal resolution.
5. Color and saturation: The Gradient Test is used to check whether color transitions are smooth. If banding or color stripes appear, it indicates insufficient panel color depth or driver setting issues. The Saturation Test can reflect the screen's color vividness and whether there is color cast, and is an important component of color gamut test. Professional design users are recommended to use a color calibrator in conjunction.
6. Geometry and signal stability: Line Test and Grid Test can check whether the monitor has geometric distortion, curved lines, or jitter caused by signal interference. Especially for CRT and analog signal devices, these tests can effectively detect problems. Problems are less common with digital signals (HDMI/DP), but checking is still recommended. For high refresh rate monitors, refresh rate test and ghosting test can be combined to further judge dynamic clarity; HDR test is used to verify high dynamic range performance and can serve as an extended reference for screen check.