Color Accuracy Test
Reference color patches in sRGB. Compare these colors against a calibrated reference to evaluate your display's color accuracy.
Red
#FF0000
Green
#00FF00
Blue
#0000FF
Cyan
#00FFFF
Magenta
#FF00FF
Yellow
#FFFF00
White
#FFFFFF
50% Gray
#808080
18% Gray
#464646
Skin Tone 1
#E8B89C
Skin Tone 2
#8D5524
Sky Blue
#87CEEB
Foliage
#228B22
Orange
#FF8C00
Purple
#6B3FA0
Teal
#008080
How to use
- These patches are in the sRGB color space.
- Compare against a calibrated reference (printed chart or calibrated display) for accurate evaluation.
- Pay special attention to skin tones, grays, and foliage - these are hardest to reproduce accurately.
- For professional calibration, use a hardware colorimeter (X-Rite, Datacolor).
Testing guide
How to check monitor color accuracy
This test shows sRGB reference swatches, including skin tones, grays, and foliage, which are the colors human vision is most sensitive to getting wrong. Comparing them against a known-good reference reveals color casts, oversaturation, or dull colors before you trust a display for real work.
Best for
- Spot-checking a new monitor, laptop, or TV before doing color-sensitive work on it.
- Comparing two displays side by side to see which renders skin tones and grays more naturally.
- Deciding whether a display needs proper hardware calibration before photo or video editing.
How to run the test
- 1View the swatches at 100% brightness in a room with neutral, moderate lighting.
- 2Compare the grays first: 50% and 18% gray should look neutral, not green, pink, or blue.
- 3Check the skin tone and foliage patches, since these are the colors people notice being wrong fastest.
- 4Compare against a second calibrated device or a printed reference if you have one available.
How to read the result
A visible tint across all the gray patches usually means the white point is off, not a single color channel.
Oversaturated reds and greens on an otherwise normal-looking display often indicate a wide-gamut panel running without an sRGB clamp.
This is a visual sanity check, not a measurement. Paid color work still needs a hardware colorimeter.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
Can this test replace a hardware colorimeter?
No. This is a visual reference check for spotting obvious problems like color casts or oversaturation. A hardware colorimeter (X-Rite, Datacolor) measures actual color deviation in numbers and is required for any paid photo, video, or print work.
Why do skin tones matter so much for color accuracy?
Human vision is extremely sensitive to incorrect skin tones because we look at faces constantly. A small color shift that is hard to notice in a landscape photo becomes obvious the moment a face looks slightly orange, green, or pale.
My monitor colors look fine but the test says otherwise, why?
Your eyes adapt to a color cast over time, especially a subtle one, so a display can look normal purely because you got used to it. Comparing against a second screen or a printed reference removes that adaptation effect.
Does monitor brightness affect color accuracy?
Yes. Very high or very low brightness can shift how colors appear and how your eyes perceive them. Test at a moderate, comfortable brightness in normal room lighting for the most reliable comparison.
What causes a monitor to show inaccurate colors?
Common causes include an uncalibrated factory color profile, a wide-gamut panel displaying sRGB content without proper color management, incorrect color temperature settings, or a cheap panel with narrow viewing angles that shifts color even with a small head movement.
Testing guide
How to check monitor color accuracy
This test shows sRGB reference swatches, including skin tones, grays, and foliage, which are the colors human vision is most sensitive to getting wrong. Comparing them against a known-good reference reveals color casts, oversaturation, or dull colors before you trust a display for real work.
Best for
- Spot-checking a new monitor, laptop, or TV before doing color-sensitive work on it.
- Comparing two displays side by side to see which renders skin tones and grays more naturally.
- Deciding whether a display needs proper hardware calibration before photo or video editing.
How to run the test
- 1View the swatches at 100% brightness in a room with neutral, moderate lighting.
- 2Compare the grays first: 50% and 18% gray should look neutral, not green, pink, or blue.
- 3Check the skin tone and foliage patches, since these are the colors people notice being wrong fastest.
- 4Compare against a second calibrated device or a printed reference if you have one available.
How to read the result
A visible tint across all the gray patches usually means the white point is off, not a single color channel.
Oversaturated reds and greens on an otherwise normal-looking display often indicate a wide-gamut panel running without an sRGB clamp.
This is a visual sanity check, not a measurement. Paid color work still needs a hardware colorimeter.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
Can this test replace a hardware colorimeter?
No. This is a visual reference check for spotting obvious problems like color casts or oversaturation. A hardware colorimeter (X-Rite, Datacolor) measures actual color deviation in numbers and is required for any paid photo, video, or print work.
Why do skin tones matter so much for color accuracy?
Human vision is extremely sensitive to incorrect skin tones because we look at faces constantly. A small color shift that is hard to notice in a landscape photo becomes obvious the moment a face looks slightly orange, green, or pale.
My monitor colors look fine but the test says otherwise, why?
Your eyes adapt to a color cast over time, especially a subtle one, so a display can look normal purely because you got used to it. Comparing against a second screen or a printed reference removes that adaptation effect.
Does monitor brightness affect color accuracy?
Yes. Very high or very low brightness can shift how colors appear and how your eyes perceive them. Test at a moderate, comfortable brightness in normal room lighting for the most reliable comparison.
What causes a monitor to show inaccurate colors?
Common causes include an uncalibrated factory color profile, a wide-gamut panel displaying sRGB content without proper color management, incorrect color temperature settings, or a cheap panel with narrow viewing angles that shifts color even with a small head movement.