People checking a new display, evaluating a used monitor, or troubleshooting banding in images can use this pattern as a consistent visual reference. The ramps include smooth 8-bit input alongside deliberately coarse steps, giving you a point of comparison while you look at the screen.
How to use Color Banding Test
- Select Start Test to show the test pattern.
- Under Pattern mode, choose Channel ramps, Black to white · horizontal, Gradient red, Gradient green, or Gradient blue. The different patterns let you inspect grayscale and individual color channels.
- Look across the ramp for abrupt bands, uneven transitions, or steps that stand out from the deliberately coarse reference. View it from your usual seating position and keep the room lighting and display conditions consistent.
- Select Previous or Next to move between patterns. You can also press Left or Right; in fullscreen, tap the left or right half of the screen. Press Space for automatic mode, or use R or Reset to reset.
- Select Fullscreen to expand the pattern. Press Escape to exit fullscreen; on phones, use the Exit button that remains on screen. Reduced motion keeps progression manual. Stop if bright patterns cause discomfort.
When to use it
- Checking a new monitor before the return window ends: inspect several ramps for visible steps that differ from the coarse reference.
- Evaluating a used display before buying: compare grayscale and color gradients to spot transitions you may notice in everyday use.
- Comparing picture settings: look at the same pattern before and after changing a setting, so the visual difference is easier to judge.
- Reviewing a color profile or graphics setting change: check whether the same ramp looks different after the adjustment.
- Troubleshooting bands in a photo or video: see whether banding is also visible in a separate test pattern, helping distinguish a content-specific issue from a display symptom.
- Comparing grayscale with color output: switch between the black-to-white ramp and the red, green, and blue gradients to see which pattern shows the clearest steps.
- Rechecking after reconnecting or moving a monitor: view the same pattern under similar conditions and compare what you see.
Tips for a clearer visual check
Change one display or computer setting at a time, then revisit the same ramp. Keeping the pattern and viewing conditions steady makes it easier to notice whether an adjustment changes the appearance. Treat the coarse steps as a reference in the test, not as a standard that every smooth gradient should imitate.
| Pattern mode | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Channel ramps | Grayscale and color-channel ramps together. |
| Black to white · horizontal | Transitions from dark to light in grayscale. |
| Gradient red | Visible steps along the red gradient. |
| Gradient green | Visible steps along the green gradient. |
| Gradient blue | Visible steps along the blue gradient. |
When comparing monitor settings, note which specific ramp shows bands and whether they change after an adjustment. That gives you a practical record of what you observe without turning a visual check into a numeric rating.
Limits of Color Banding Test
This is a visual check, not a calibrated measurement of color depth or display performance, and it cannot repair a screen. Visible banding may come from the content, color profiles, GPU processing, dithering, or the display itself; the pattern cannot determine which component is responsible. Use Color Banding Test to spot and compare what appears on screen, not as a definitive diagnosis.
If bands persist across patterns and settings or affect normal use, compare with another source or display. If the issue remains, the monitor manufacturer or seller can help investigate whether a different diagnostic approach or service is needed.