# Monitor Calibration **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 8, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186 "2003-09-08T00:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/1 "2003-09-08T00:32:21Z")
Despite my perfectionist nature in regards to my monitor picture, I have not yet acquired great skill in adjusting it. My new monitor, a 19 inch KDS flat screen CRT, has a distinct downward curvature of the top edge. This has stumped me, as I have a pincushion adjustment for the horizontal but not the vertical which is just what I need. I suspect that the fine-tuning I require can be achieved through a combination of the standard adjustments, but I cannot seem to figure out which they would be. Can anyone help me out here? ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/2 "2003-09-08T00:58:20Z")
Some monitors have this adjustment, some don’t. BTW, horizontal pincushion adjustment will take care of the top and bottom curvatures. You seem to have found the vertical pincushion control, which takes care of the left and right, at least that’s how my monitor describes it. New monitors should be degaussed as soon as they’re set up. This might take care of your problem if you haven’t already done it. In case it’s not spelled out, the degauss symbol typically looks like an upside-down U with a slash through it. Barring that, I would take it back for a replacement if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/3 "2003-09-08T01:02:53Z")
Kind of the same problem here. Got a new 19" Viewsonic flat screen CTR and it also has some type of curvature but mine is an upward curvature in the left hand bottom of the screen. Haven’t been able to figure out how to get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![gcarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@gcarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gcarroll)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/4 "2003-09-08T01:04:51Z")
Try changing the refresh rate and / or the resolution to see if the picture is better at other settings. I noted just the other day a monitor that was virtually perfect at 1280/1024 @ 75 hz but very blurry at 65. ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/5 "2003-09-08T01:32:40Z")
Now that **Amp** mentions it, there is a slight upward curvature of the right corner of mine as well. Drat, now I will never have peace! I tried to degauss, but there was no effect. I don’t see a horizontal pincushion adjustment, so I guess that I might just have to turn it in for a replacement. Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/6 "2003-09-08T02:19:18Z")
Unless CRT monitor technology has changed radically in the last 2 years, I’m pretty sure that if most people here just RTFM these problems can be fixed. Admittedly most of the monitors I have are fairly high-end (if old), but the only monitors I have that don’t support the type of adjustment are for my 286 and Apple IIgs. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-calibration/200186/7 "2003-09-08T02:20:43Z")
It’s an unfortunate side effect of analog displays, such as CRT monitors, and especially those that use analog signals, that the display can never be properly aligned. Even a very expensive CRT will have some geometry issues. To get perfect geometry, you need a digital display using digital signaling, such as an LCD display using a DVI connection.