NISTIR 6758

SETUP PATTERNS FOR DISPLAY

MEASUREMENTS—VERSION 1.0

Edward F. Kelley
Electricity Division
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

Joseph V. Miseli
Sun Microsystems

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899

June 2001

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Donald L. Evans, Secretary

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Cheryl L. Shavers, Under Secretary for Technology

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

TECHNOLOGY
Karen Brown, Acting Director
SETUP PATTERNS FOR DISPLAY MEASUREMENTS—
VERSION 1.0
In our work in the laboratory developing methods to measure displays as well as work on standards committees, we
have developed a number of targets for use in setting up displays, making measurements on displays, and giving
demonstrations of displays to visitors. We place these targets composed of images and patterns in the public domain
to be used as desired. (See Reference 1.) In Section 1, the first target in the setup series provides basic information
about the use and construction of the targets. Section 2 provides some of the construction details for a number of
pixel arrays. Section 3 provides the naming conventions used for any bit-mapped renderings of these images.
Section 4 shows the setup file sequence, and Section 5 shows special bit-mapped patterns. The setup sequence is
available (as of this writing) at ftp.fpdl.nist.gov/pub/patterns as files NISTSU.∗ and the bitmaps are in
NISTBM.ZIP.

1. DETAILS OF FIRST TARGET (INTRO)

The first target (see Fig. 1) in the series of
setup targets explains the usage of the setup targets,
National Institute of Standards and Technology
discusses how the gray scales were rendered, and Flat Panel Display Laboratory
Version 1.0, April 16, 2001
provides a disclaimer regarding their use.
TEST PATTERNS
A. USAGE: NISTSU01.∗
The following explanation of usage of these setup These patterns are provided for the setting up and examining an
adjustments and the manufacturer doesn’t specify how to set the
electronic display. If the display has
display up, adjust the display settings
(contrast, brightness, etc.) to obtain the most acceptable perfo rmance according to how the display is
targets is placed on the first target in the series (see intended to be used. The settings established with this method should not be changed during the course of
other measurements serving to characterize the display, unless the display is used in a manner that optimizes
Fig.1): These patterns are provided for setting up and the display performance for each measurement performed.
For more information contact Edward F. Kelley, 301 -975-3842, [email protected].
examining an electronic display. If the display has RENDERING GRAY LEVELS AT A LOWER GRAY -SCALE RESOLUTION:

adjustments and the manufacturer doesn’t specify Bits in software are associated with discrete levels of electrical signals to produce various shades of gray on the screen. These bit levels are called gray levels or
command levels. The relationship between the gray level (bits in software) and the gray shade is the gray scale or the electro-optical transfer function—sometimes
called the “gamma” because of the historical usage of the term. The number of gray shades actually produced will not necessarily be the same as the number of

how to set the display up, adjust the display settings gray levels depending upon the characteristics of the display used. Given n gray levels that can be employed to present gray shades on a screen, there are w = n − 1
gray levels above zero with gray-level 0 for black and gray-level w = n − 1 for white. We want to select a subset of m levels (m < n) that are relatively evenly
spaced within this larger set of n levels. The interval between the w levels to create m levels is ∆V = w/(m−1), which may not be an integer. The m levels we select

(contrast, brightness, etc.) to obtain the most are the (integer) values given by Vi = int[(i−1)∆V] for i = 1, 2, ..., m; or Vi = 0, int(∆V), int(2∆V), int(3∆V), ..., int[(m−1)∆V], with int[(m−1)∆V] = w for white. For
example, in an 8-bit gray scale, there are n = 256 = 28 levels with the white level as w = 255. Suppose we want to select m = 8 gray levels that are evenly spaced.
The needed interval is ∆V = 36.4286, and the chosen levels are: 0, 36, 73, 109, 146, 182, 219, 255. If we wanted to select m = 32 levels from the 256 levels, we’d

acceptable performance according to how the display use ∆V = 8.2258 to give levels: 0, 8, 16, 25, 33, 41, 49, 58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 99, 107, 115, 123, 132, 140, 148, 156, 165, 173, 181, 189, 197, 206, 214, 222, 230, 239,
247, 255.

is intended to be used. The settings established with DISCLAIMER

These patterns and test images are prototypes for our electronic -display standards development activities in standards committees and working groups. They are
not to be distributed as approved NIST test patterns nor are they standard reference material. They are supplied without any guarantee of their accuracy, suitability,

this method should not be changed during the course or completeness. It is anticipated that modifications will be ma de to this set in the future. These are supplied for your scient ific experimentation only. We would
value any suggestions or comments. The use of any commercial pro
endorsement by NIST.
ducts in connection with the development of these test patterns does not constitute an

of other measurements serving to characterize the

display, unless the display is used in a manner that Fig. 1. First target in setup series (named INTRO).
optimizes the display performance for each
measurement performed.

B. RENDERING GRAY LEVELS AT A LOWER GRAY-SCALE RESOLUTION:

Table 1 shows the levels selected from 256 levels (0 − 255) to make some of the patterns. The following explanation
of how the gray scales were generated in software from a larger set of bit levels is placed on the introduction target:
Bits in software are associated with discrete levels of electrical signals to produce various shades of gray on the
screen. These bit levels are called gray levels or command levels. The relationship between the gray level (bits in
software) and the gray shade is the gray scale or the electro-optical transfer function—sometimes called the
“gamma” because of the historical usage of the term. The number of gray shades actually produced will not
necessarily be the same as the number of gray levels depending upon the characteristics of the display used. Given n
gray levels that can be employed to present gray shades on a screen, there are w = n − 1 gray levels above zero with
gray-level 0 for black and gray-level w = n − 1 for white. We want to select a subset of m levels (m < n) that are
relatively evenly spaced within this larger set of n levels. The interval between the w levels to create m levels is
∆V = w/(m−1), which may not be an integer. The m levels we select are the (integer) values given by
Vi = int[(i−1)∆V] for i = 1, 2, ..., m; or Vi = 0, int(∆V), int(2∆V), int(3∆V), ..., int[(m−1)∆V], with int[(m−1)∆V] = w
8
for white. For example, in an 8-bit gray scale, there are n = 256 = 2 levels with the white level as w = 255. Suppose
we want to select m = 8 gray levels that are evenly spaced. The needed interval is ∆V = 36.4286, and the chosen
levels are: 0, 36, 73, 109, 146, 182, 219, 255. If we wanted to select m = 32 levels from the 256 levels, we’d use
∆V = 8.2258 to give levels: 0, 8, 16, 25, 33, 41, 49, 58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 99, 107, 115, 123, 132, 140, 148, 156, 165,
173, 181, 189, 197, 206, 214, 222, 230, 239, 247, 255.

1
 Table 1 Table 1 Continued
Selection of Levels from n = 28 = 256 Levels 64 Gray 32 Gray 16 Gray 8 Gray 5 Gray 4 Gray
Sh = Shade #, Lv = Level out of 0 to 255 Shades Shades Shades Shades Shades Shades
64 Gray 32 Gray 16 Gray 8 Gray 5 Gray 4 Gray Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv
Shades Shades Shades Shades Shades Shades 32 125
∆V=4.048 ∆V=8.226 ∆V=17 ∆V=36.429 ∆V=63.75 ∆V=85 3 127
Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv Sh Lv 33 129
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 17 131
2 4 34 133
3 8 2 8 9 136
4 12 35 137
5 16 3 16 18 139
2 17 36 141
6 20 37 145 5 145
7 24 4 24 19 148
8 28 38 149
9 32 5 32 39 153 10 153
3 34 20 156
10 36 2 36 40 157
11 40 41 161
6 41 21 164
12 44 42 165
13 48 43 170 11 170 3 170
7 49 22 172
4 51 44 174
14 52 45 178
15 56 23 180
8 57 46 182 6 182
16 60 47 186
2 63 12 187
17 64 24 189
9 65 48 190
18 68 5 68 4 191
19 72 3 72 49 194
10 74 25 197
20 76 50 198
21 80 51 202
11 82 13 204
22 85 6 85 2 85 26 205
23 89 52 206
12 90 53 210
24 93 27 213
25 97 54 214
13 98 55 218 7 218
26 101 14 221
7 102 56 222 28 222
27 105 57 226
14 106 58 230 29 230
28 109 4 109 59 234
29 113 60 238 30 238 15 238
15 115 61 242
30 117 62 246 31 246
8 119 63 250
31 121 64 255 32 255 16 255 8 255 5 255 4 255
16 123 Grayed cells indicate a larger interval from black to white than ∆V.

2
 Several patterns refer to percentages of white. Such gray levels (sometimes called Table 2
command values) come from the analog-signal world where use is made of a gray scale based Percent of White
upon an analog signal in percent of the difference between the white signal level and the black vs. Gray Level
signal level. An accurate correspondence between the percent-of-white gray-shade and the 256- % Level
level gray shade cannot be obtained to perfectly match the percentages desired in the pattern. 0% 0
We propose the following rule to get approximate bit-levels in a n = 256 gray scale with white
5% 13
specified by w = n − 1 and 0 for black: The bit level V associated with the percentage p
(fractional quantity) is V = int(wp) = int(255×percentage/100 %). This amounts to rounding all 10 % 25
the fractional values down. See Table 2 for the various levels used in the patterns. 15 % 38
20 % 51
C. DISCLAIMER 25 % 63
The following disclaimer is placed on the INTRO target and would apply to this 30 % 76
publication: These patterns and test images are prototypes for our electronic-display standards 40 % 102
development activities in standards committees and working groups. They are not to be
48 % 122
distributed as approved NIST test patterns nor are they standard reference materials. They are
supplied without any guarantee of their accuracy, suitability, or completeness. It is anticipated 50 % 127
that modifications will be made to this set in the future. These are supplied for your scientific 51 % 130
experimentation only. We would value any suggestions or comments. The use of any 53 % 135
commercial products in connection with the development of these test patterns does not 60 % 153
constitute an endorsement by NIST. 70 % 178
75 % 191
2. CONSTRUCTION DETAILS 80 % 204
Table 3 shows some of the specifications for various circles and boxes encountered in 85 % 216
the bit-mapped version of any of the patterns. In the array-names row, “GA” stands for graphics 90 % 229
array, “V” stands for video, “S” is for super, “X” is for extended, and “U” is for ultra. The pixel
95 % 242
(abbreviated “px”) is the smallest element of the display that can present the fully range of color
capabilities of the display. Often the pixel is composed of three subpixels, (RGB for red, green, 100 % 255
and blue). The variables used in the table are: d is the diameter and r is the radius of a circle; D is the diagonal of the
screen (here expressed in pixels), H is the horizontal number of pixels, V is the vertical number of pixels, and
NT = HV is the total number of pixels that compose the screen. In color displays, the pixel is the picture element that
can display the full color gamut of the display—often the pixel is composed of subpixels of RGB (red green and
blue) for many color display types. Note the use of the term “pixel array” to avoid confusion with “resolution” and
“addressability.” Resolution should only refer to how well the eye can resolve the pixels displayed. Addressability
refers to how many pixels can be addressed and can be different than the pixel array (although it is most often the
same as the pixel array).

3
 Table 3
LOCATIONS AND DIMENSIONS OF MAJOR OBJECTS
Pixel Array 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200
Array Name VGA SVGA XVGA SXVGA UGA
Diagonal, D 800 1000 1280 1639.2 2000
H 640 800 1024 1280 1600
V 480 600 768 1024 1200
NT (square px = px2) 307200 480000 786432 1310720 1920000
Values often adjusted to reflect even numbers via 2int(x/2):
3 % d (r) 24 (12) 30 (14) 38 (18) 48 (24) 60 (30)
5 % d (r) 40 (20) 50 (24) 64 (32) 80 (40) 100 (50)
20 % (1/5) Box (px2) 110 138 177 228 277
Top left corner of centered 20 % (1/5) box: (256, 192) (320, 240) (410, 308) (512, 410) (640, 480)
Corner of highlight box (30 px square) (304, 224) (380, 280) (487, 359) (608, 480) (760, 560)
Box % of A Area Obtained (Location of top left corner in parentheses.)
32 x 24 40 x 30 50 x 38 64 x 50 80 x 60
5% 0.25 %
(304, 228) (380, 286) (488, 366) (608, 488) (760, 570)
64 x 48 80 x 60 102 x 76 128 x 102 160 x 120
10 % 1.00 %
(288, 216) (360, 270) (462, 346) (576, 462) (720, 540)
96 x 72 120 x 90 152 x 114 192 x 152 240 x 180
15 % 2.25 %
(272, 204) (340, 256) (436, 328) (544, 436) (680, 510)
128 x 96 160 x 120 204 x 152 256 x 204 320 x 240
20 % 4.00 %
(256, 192) (320, 240) (410, 308) (512, 410) (640, 480)
160 x 120 200 x 150 256 x 192 320 x 256 400 x 300
25 % 6.25 %
(240, 180) (300, 226) (384, 288) (480, 384) (600, 450)
192 x 144 240 x 180 306 x 230 384 x 306 480 x 360
30 % 9.00 %
(224, 168) (280, 210) (360, 270) (448, 360) (560, 420)
256 x 192 320 x 240 408 x 306 512 x 408 640 x 480
40 % 16.00 %
(192, 144) (240, 180) (308, 232) (384, 308) (480, 360)
320 x 240 400 x 300 512 x 384 640 x 512 800 x 600
50 % 25.00 %
(160, 120) (200, 150) (256, 192) (320, 256) (400, 300)
384 x 288 480 x 360 614 x 460 768 x 614 960 x 720
60 % 36.00 %
(128, 96) (160, 120) (206, 154) (256, 206) (320, 240)
448 x 336 560 x 420 716 x 536 896 x 716 1120 x 840
70 % 49.00 %
(96, 72) (120, 90) (154, 116) (192, 154) (240, 180)
512 x 384 640 x 480 818 x 614 1024 x 818 1280 x 960
80 % 64.00 %
(64, 48) (80, 60) (104, 78) (128, 104) (160, 120)
576 x 432 720 x 540 920 x 690 1152 x 920 1440 x 1080
90 % 81.00 %
(32, 24) (40, 30) (52, 40) (64, 52) (80, 60)

3. NAMING AND FILE CONVENTIONS

Naming the targets (images and patterns) is a touchy task since just after you think you’ve come up with a good
naming convention, you find a pattern that doesn’t fit in with what you’ve invented. Table 4 is what we are using for
bitmapped files that must be named separately.

4
 Table 4
FILE & PATTERN NAMING CONVENTIONS:
PATTERN_####x####.TYP
NUMBERING CONVENTIONS: (To specify colors and gray levels of pattern or component parts.)
# When a single number (e.g., FS2), it refers to one of eight levels equally spaced from full luminance
= 7 to black = 0.
## When a two-digit number (e.g., FS26), it refers to the level in percent of full luminance.
-## When a two-digit number preceded by a dash (e.g., FS-12), it refers to one of sixteen levels equally
spaced from full luminance =15 to black = 0.
### When a three-digit number (e.g., 123), it refers to the ### 8-bit level out of 255 available levels.
###-###-### When three three-digit numbers (e.g., 123-050-012), it refers to a 24-bit RGB setting (###,###,###).
Should a greater or lesser bit depth than 24 be required, the bit depth used for each color can be
explicitly indicated by using the underscore character and a sufficient number of characters to
accommodate the largest number; e.g., for 8 bits of red, 10 bits of green, 6 bits of blue use
###_8−####_10−##_6.
FILE PIXEL ARRAY SPECIFICATION
_####x#### (underscore separator) Horizontal number of pixels × Vertical number of pixels (H × V) using at least
four digits for each number.
TYPE CONVENTIONS:
PDF Adobe Portable Document Format®.
PNG Portable Network Graphics (as of this writing see http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/) is in the public
domain and is used for all bit-mapped images and patterns connected with this document.
PPT Microsoft PowerPoint®.
DESCRIPTION CONVENTIONS
1. When we say a box is a certain percentage of the diagonal, e.g., 20 %, we are implying the box aspect ratio is
the same as the aspect ratio of the screen; e.g., 0.20H × 0.20V, as best as can be generated at the pixel level.
2. When speaking of the 10 % periphery, we mean the imaginary box made at 0.10H and 0.10V away from the
outer edges of the screen. Usually this is used to locate measurement points symmetrically placed about the
center of the screen. In the case of nine measurement points, they will be at the center and then at the corners
and centers of the 10 % periphery box. In the case of 25 points, they will be at the nine points and
symmetrically between them making a 5×5 symmetrical matrix.
PATTERN NAMING CONVENTIONS (Format at left, examples at right in first column):
nXn?… CHECKERBOARD: Specified with color = ? in the upper left corner (K or W assumes a
black and white checkerboard). If a color designation is left off, it will be a white-black
checkerboard with white in the upper left corner. C specifies alignment circles in all
rectangles, C# (#<n) means symmetrically placed, but not in all rectangles.
3X3K 3×3 checkerboard with black upper left corner.
4X4GM 4×4 checkerboard with green at upper left alternating with magenta.
2X2WC 2×2 checkerboard with white in upper left corner and alignment circles centered in all
rectangles.
5X5KC9 5×5 checkerboard with alignment circles in nine locations at the center, corners, and centers of
the edges.
AT…, P, N ALIGNMENT TARGETS: Provided to identify locations of cardinal points on the display
surface and are supplied in positive (dark lines on white) or negative (light lines on black)
formats.
AT01P, N Alignment target #01 in positive (negative) format: Concentric circles of 5 % and 3 % of
screen diagonal are placed at nine locations around the 10 % periphery, and 3 % circles are

5
 placed at 25 positions. Boxes of 5 % size are placed on a cross pattern and on the periphery.
Diagonal lines connect the corner measurement points.
CAT… CENTERING & ALIGNMENT TARGETS: Provided also in bit mapped versions where
the center target is a specified diameter and does not scale with the image size.
CAT01A This is the non-bitmapped version of CAT01 (see below) where the center target is replaced
with a crosshairs.
CBV, CBH … COLOR BARS VERTICAL, HORIZONTAL: If no level is specified via a number
designation (##) then it is assumed at 100 % level.
CBV50 Color bars at 50 % level.
CBV-32SH01 Vertical color bars at 100 % saturation with 32-level horizontal gray scales, pattern #01.
CINV… COLOR INVERSION targets:
CINV01 Color inversion target #01 where eight gray levels are displayed in a pie pattern placed on a
50 % (127/255) background. Within each pie piece is a colored pie composed of the gray level
plus a 36-bit level increase in red, then green, then blue—except for the white pie that has the
same color pie as the previous gray level (6) pie piece. The main pie pattern is reduced in size
and replicated at all nine points. The pattern can be used for spotting color and gray-scale
inversions. See Reference 2.
CS, CSS… COLOR SCALES:
CSSR##, G, B Color scales snaking from fully saturated red (or green or blue, etc.) to black displaying ##
evenly spaced colors.
CSGRAD01 Gradients from white to black through the saturated primary and secondary colors (also two
flesh tones).
CSD01 Discrete color scales from white to black through the saturated primary and secondary colors.
F… FULL-SCREEN color:
1. W=white, K=black, R=red, G=green, B=blue, C=cyan, M=magenta, Y=yellow,
2. S=gray scale and denotes level and intended shade. Because patterns FS… may have their
level written in the lower left hand corner, FS0 may be slightly different from FK and FS7
may be slightly different from FW, and so forth. This writing is included because it is not
often immediately obvious exactly what gray level is being displayed when using a full-
screen display mode.
3. C# (e.g., #=5, 9, 25) indicates that # alignment circles are included and placed
symmetrically centered in rectangles as if there were a checkerboard present (e.g., if #=9,
then a 3×3 checkerboard is imagined; if #=25, then a 5×5 is imagined). L10 means that
10 % (of diagonal) locations are used in the periphery (not at imaginary checkerboard
center locations). Any other circle arrangements (such as a weighting near center) will be
given unique names.
FW, FK, FG, FY Full-screen white, black, green, yellow.
F###-###-### Full-screen RGB color ###-###-###.
F123-207-035 Full-screen RGB color with R=123/255, G=207/255, B=35/255.
FG3 Full-screen green at level (or intended color) of 3 out of 8 (73/255).
FM-13 Full-screen magenta at level (or intended color) of 13 out of 16 (204/255).
FWC9 Full-screen white with nine alignment circles centered in an imaginary 3×3 checkerboard.
FWC9L10 Full-screen white with nine alignment circles placed at center and the remaining eight at the
10 % (H & V) periphery locations.
FS5 Full-screen gray scale (level or intended shade) for level 5 of 8 shades (182/255).
FS50 Full-screen gray scale (level or intended shade) of 50 % (127/255) = FS127 = F127-127-127.
FS067 Full-screen gray scale (level or intended shade) for level 67/255.
G… GEOMETRIC patterns: Often these will be line patterns. Adding “M” to the end of the name
denotes markers are included to identify many of the measurement points including the center.
Often, when the pattern is complicated, the center is always identified. Adding “H” denotes
the use of heavier lines. For the pixel generated equivalent of these, see P#Ln×m.

6
 G#X#WK Rectangular #×# grid in both the horizontal and vertical directions from edge to edge with
white (or other color) lines on black (or other color).
G11X11WKM 11×11 grid of white lines on black with markers included.
GV##WKH ## vertical heavy white lines on black from edge to edge (left to right).
GH##WK ## horizontal white lines on black from edge to edge (top to bottom).
H## HALATION pattern, black centered rectangle in white background. ## refers to linear size of
rectangle in percent of diagonal. H20 is a 20 % black rectangle in white, a shorthand
equivalent to pattern X20KW.
H05 Halation pattern of a centered black rectangular box 0.05H×0.05V on a white background.
INTRO INTRODUCTION image and title page with specifications for creation of gray scale.
I… IMAGE, bit-mapped, of various subjects.
IHF01 Image of human face #01.
INS01 Image of natural scenes #01.
IHFCB01 Image of human face and color bars #01.
L## LOADING pattern, white centered rectangle in black background. ## refers to linear size of
rectangle in percent of diagonal. L20 is a 20 % white rectangle in black, a shorthand
equivalent to pattern X20WK.
L60 Loading pattern of a centered white rectangular box 0.60H×0.60V on a black background.
P…, PIXEL patterns: It is not always possible to assure exactly even spacing and centering of lines
and dots because of the discreteness of the pixel array. Sometimes these pixilated patterns can
be somewhat adequately simulated in presentation software that scales an image rather than
creating a perfect bit-mapped image; in such a case the suffix “sim” will be added to the
pattern name to distinguish it from a true bit-mapped pixel image of the pattern. Such scaling
presentation software that does not create the pixel-based image precisely cannot generally be
used to display grilles or pixel-level checkerboards correctly. The simulated grid and dot
patterns, however, may be adequate for geometric measurements of distortions of the intended
screen geometry.
PG = pixel grille patterns in horizontal H or vertical V directions, n×m specifies an n×m
pixel grille with n pixels in one color and m pixels in anther color. The color is specified
after the n×m descriptor. No color designation implies white and black pixels used starting
with white in the left or top position. More than two lines can be specified.
Pn×n without the "G" implies a pixel checkerboard of n×n pixels. If no color specifications
are made, a white-black checkerboard is assumed with white in the upper left corner.
Otherwise the first color specified after the notation is in the upper left corner.
PLn×m, P2Ln×m, P#Ln×m … = grids of one, two, and # pixels wide lines in an n×m pattern
from edge to edge and top to bottom. Usually this will be single or double pixel lines.
White lines on black is assumed unless a color designation is supplied after the n×m
specification to denote the line color on the background color.
PD, P2D, … = dots of one, two, … pixels in horizontal and vertical size (i.e., square clusters)
placed in a n×m grid pattern. White dots on black are assumed unless a color designation is
supplied after the n×m specification to denote the dot color on the background color.
Usually these dots will have the size of one or two pixels.
PGV2X3GR Vertical 2×3 pixel grille, 2 green pixels by 3 red pixels.
PGH3X3 Horizontal 3×3 pixel grille, 3 white pixels (at top) by 3 black pixels.
PGV1X1 Vertical 1×1 pixel grille of white (at left) and black pixels.
PGH3X2X1GKW Pixel horizontal grille, 3 green pixels by 2 black pixels by 1 white pixel.
PL11X11 Single pixel lines in an 11×11 grid pattern, white lines on black assumed.
PL11X11KW Single pixel lines in an 11×11 grid pattern, black lines on white.
PD11X11GK Single pixel green dots on black in an 11×11 matrix pattern.
P2L11X11G Double pixel green lines on black (assumed) in an 11×11 grid pattern.

7
 P1X1, K Single-pixel checkerboard with white (black) pixel in upper left corner. P1X1 and P1X1W are
the same.
P3X3YM 3×3 pixel checkerboard composed of yellow and magenta pixels starting with yellow in the
upper left corner.
RT… REFLECTION TARGETS: Targets #01 and #02 are based upon symmetrized versions of
the reflection targets specified in the ISO 9241 series where 80 % loading of white or black is
suggested. See Reference 3.
RT01AP Reflection target #01-A in positive format (background of white with black rectangles).
RT02BN Reflection target #02-B in negative (background of black with white rectangles).
S, SE, SCX, SS… GRAY-SCALE SHADE patterns: S means gray-scale pattern, SE means gray-scale ends,
SCX is concentric boxes, SS is snaking. We use "S" to denote the level or the intended shade
in the gray scale to avoid confusion with green.
SET01S### Gray-scale ends displayed in pattern #01 on a background of a gray-level ###/255. Pattern #01
has two small horizontal gray scales at the top and bottom with four adjoining boxes of gray
levels in white and four in black placed near the center having levels at 100 %, 95 %, 90 %,
85 % and 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %. See Reference 4.
SET01W Gray-scale ends pattern #01 on white.
SET01K Gray-scale ends pattern #01 on black.
SECX01K Gray-scale ends in centered concentric boxes, pattern #01, having the six levels at each end of
the gray scale on a black background.
SECX01W Gray-scale ends in centered concentric boxes, pattern #01, having the six levels at each end of
the gray scale on a white background.
SVP32S01 Gray-scale ends pattern with 32 gray-levels in "V" pattern. Gray level ends are in concentric
boxes covering six levels at both ends of the 32-level gray scale.
SXP32S01 Gray-scale ends pattern with 32 gray-levels in "X" pattern. Gray level ends are in concentric
boxes covering six levels at both ends of the 32-level gray scale.
SCXK64 Concentric boxes of 64 gray shades with black center to white perimeter.
SCXW64 Concentric boxes of 64 gray shades with white center to black perimeter.
SCXKW64 Concentric boxes of 64 gray shades with black center left side and white center right side.
SSW64 Snaking 64 gray shades from white upper left to black lower right.
SSW256 Snaking 256 gray shades from white upper left to black lower right.
TXT…, P, N TEXT TARGETS: Various text targets are supplied in positive (black text on white) or
negative (white text on black) formats.
TXT01P Text pattern #01 in positive format.
X##?? BOX, centered, ## % of diagonal in size with color of box (color = ?) specified and
background (color = ?). Use underline separator for clarity if needed (?_?).
X20WB 20 % white box centered on blue screen.
X05B213R117 5 % blue 213/255 box centered on red 117/255 screen.
X05KW 5 % black box centered on white screen.
SPECIAL BIT-MAPPED TARGETS:
BUSY01 Pixel-specific composite pattern of different grilles, checkerboards, and blocks in gray.
BUSY01R Same as BUSY01 but in red only.
BUSY01G Same as BUSY01 but in green only.
BUSY01B Same as BUSY01 but in blue only.
CAT01 Centering and alignment target with red arrows locating the direction toward the center and a
60-pixel diameter center target with red border (outside the 60-pixel target).
HICON01 30-pixel square white box at the center of a black screen for making highlight-contrast
measurements.

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4. SETUP FILE SEQUENCE
Here are the setup targets found in NISTSU.∗.

A. Introduction target, alignment target, and images for adjustment of display controls.

INTRO AT01P IHF01 IHFCB01 INS01

B. 32-level gray scale, color inversion target, and color bars.

SXP32S01 CINV01 CBV CBV-32SH01

C. Gray-scale ends and text samples.

SECXK01 SECXW01 TXT01P TXT01N

D. Full-screen white, black, dark grays, and colors.

FW FK FS127 FS066 FR FG FB FC FM FY

E. Full-screen gray 8-level gray scale.

FS7 FS6 FS5 FS4 FS3 FS2 FS1 FS0

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F. Targets especially useful for projection displays.

FWC9L10 FKC9L10 AT01P FW FK SET01W SET01S50 SET01K

G. Targets for manifesting halation (contamination of darks with surrounding light areas).

FW H05 H10 H20 H30 H40 H50 H60 H70 H80 H90 FK

H. Targets for manifesting loading (change in luminance with size of white area).

L05 L10 L20 L30 L40 L50 L60 L70 L80 L90

I. Reflection targets.

FW FK L20 H20 RT01AP RT01BP RT01AN RT01BN RT02AN RT02BN RT02AP RT02BP

J. Checkerboards (with and without circles), black and white with circles in checkerboard center positions, and with
two extra targets similar to above.

2X2K 2X2W 2X2KC 2X2WC

FWC9 FKC9 3X3K 3X3W 3X3KC 3X3WC

4X4K 4X4W 4X4KC 4X4WC 5X5K 5X5W

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 5X5KC 5X5WC 6X6K 6X6W 7X7W 7X7K

8X8K 12X12K 16X16K 24X24K 32X32K

K. Snaking gray shades with 32 gray levels starting with white in the upper left corner and snaking color scales with
32 levels from fully saturated in the upper left corner, all ending with black in the lower left corner.

32 32 32

SSW32 CSSR32 CSSG32 CSSB32

L. Snaking gray shades with 64, 128, and the full 256 gray levels, all starting with white in the upper left corner and
ending with black in the lower left corner.

SSW64 SSW128 SSW256

M. Concentric boxes of 64 gray levels and a centering and alignment target.

SCXK64 SCXW64 SCXKW CAT01A

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N. Grid and line patterns with both thin and heavy line patterns included (both are not printed here).

G3X3WK, …H G3X3RK, …H G3X3GK, …H G3X3BK, …H

G11X11WK, …H G11X11RK, …H G11X11GK, …H G11X11BK, …H

G11X11WKM, …H GV11WKM, …H GH11WKM, …H

O. Miscellaneous patterns.
32 Gray Levels
Small circle diameters Large circle diameters
are 3% of diagonal. are 5% of diagonal.

SVP32S01 AT01N CSD01 CSGRAD01

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5. BITMAPPED PATTERNS
A. Grilles (magnified for demonstration purposes). Unless specified otherwise, these will always start with white at
left or top.

PGV1X1 PGH1X1 PGV2X2 PGH2X2 PGV3X3 PGH3X3

B. Pixel-based checkerboards (magnified for demonstration purposes). Unless specified otherwise, these will always
start with white at the upper-left corner.

P1X1W P2X2W P3X3W

P1X1K P2X2K P3X3K
= P1X1 = P2X2 = P3X3

C. Busy pattern (BUSY01). A busy pattern is designed to tax the display’s capabilities in several ways. A variety of
targets are used within—grilles, single and double-pixel checkerboards, diagonals, noise blocks, black and white
blocks, and text samples. The largest blocks are 72 px square, and the smallest blocks are 36 px square. There are
five gray levels used out of 256: 0, 63, 127, 191, 255 for 2 × 2 grilles and text samples. Noise blocks are single
pixels randomly generated covering the range of 0 to 255 gray levels. (Image is on next page.)

D. Centering and alignment target (CAT01) having a 60 px diameter round center black target. This pattern is useful
when using detectors having a narrow field of view in order to quickly find the center of the screen. (Image is on
next page.)

E. Highlight contrast pattern with a 30 px square center box of white on a black background. (Image is on next
page.)

REFERENCES
1. Patterns similar to this collection may be found associated with the Video Electronics Standards Association,
Flat Panel Display Measurements Standard (referred to as FPDM), Ver. 2, 2001; obtainable via www.vesa.org.
2. The color inversion target CINV01 has been referred to as the Brill-Kelley chart and was first published by
Michael H. Brill, “LCD Color Reversal at a Glance,” Information Display, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 36, 37,
June 2000, where a preliminary version of the target was inadvertently published. The corrected pattern (shown
in this document) is noted in the erratum in Vol. 16, No. 10, p. 46, October 2000 of Information Display.
3. International Organization for Standards (ISO), 9241-7, Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual
display terminals (VDTs), Part 7, Display requirements with reflections, 1997-02-15.
4. Pattern SET01W is a variation of a pattern used in ANSI/PIMA IT7.227-1998 Electronic Projection-Variable
Resolution Projectors (PIMA is Photographic and Imaging Manufacturers Association, Inc.) and ANSI/NAPM
IT7.228-1997 Electronic Projection-Fixed Resolution Projectors (NAPM is National Association of
Photographic Manufacturers, now changed to PIMA). Patterns SET01S50 and SET01K are variations of
patterns proposed to PIMA by the National Information Display Laboratory of the Sarnoff Corporation in
Princeton, N.J., used by permission. We have added full 32-level gray scales at the top and bottom.

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 BUSY01

CAT01 HICON01

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