Smpte color bars

1. What are Smpte color bars used for?
2. How do you calibrate Smpte color bars?
3. What is the point of color bars?

What are Smpte color bars used for?

SMPTE color bars are a television test pattern used where the NTSC video standard is utilized, including countries in North America. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) refers to the pattern as Engineering Guideline (EG) 1-1990.

How do you calibrate Smpte color bars?

Turn the monitor chroma up until the far left and far right bars have the same brightness. Also, adjust the monitor tint (hue or chroma/colour phase) until cyan and the magenta bars located on the either side of the middle bar have the same brightness as well. Switch off the “Blue only” function and you're ready to go.

What is the point of color bars?

Color bars are an artificial electronic signal generated by the camera or by post production equipment. They are recorded at the head of a videotape to provide a consistent reference in post production. They are also used for matching the output of two cameras in a multi-camera shoot and to set up a video monitor.