It will help you set the correct white point and optimize your brightness and contrast settings to get the most of of the images displayed on this site.
Adjusting the Brightness and Contrast
If your monitor is properly adjusted, you hould see 11 distinct shades from pure black to pure white in the image below. If you do not see all 11 shades, use your monitors contrast and brightness controls to make any necessary adjustments.
Setting the White Point
The image below shows 24 shades of gray from pure white to solid black. The pure white square at the far left should merge with the pure white strip along the top, while the second square of the lightest gray should be just a bit darker than pure white. The solid black square at the far right should merge with the solid black strip along the bottom, while the darkest gray square just to the left should display just a bit lighter than solid black.
In the image to the left, there are four colors. One should be absolutely black. Nothing on your monitor should be darker than the black square. Next check the white square. Nothing should be lighter than the white square. The gray squares and the white box should have no tints of other colors in them.
Adjusting the Gamma
Viewing the chart below, below, there should be no color under the 0% column, just plain white. If it is gray or has a color cast, adjust your monitor until that area is plain white. Under the 100% column, the colors should be recognizable, with full color representation. If they appear washed out, your monitor is brightness is set too high.
The best way to set this is to adjust your gamma curve up or down until the 10% shade difference between the 90% bars and the 100% bars can just be seen. If you adjust it too dark, you will not be able to see a difference between 90% and 100%. As you lighten them up, just at the moment you start to see the difference between the 90% bars and the 100% bars, STOP. The cyan bar will always appear correct first, but keep going until you start to see the 90% tint in the magenta and black bars as well.
The yellow bar may never come in correctly, but don't worry about it. The magenta and black bars are the most important. Once your white point is set and your tint bars look correct, you should be ready to view the images on this and other sites, with the assurance you are seeing them as the photographer intended them to be seen.
Refer to your monitor's instructions for adjusting contrast, brightness, and setting gamma values. Most any monitor should have brightness and contrast controls, either adjustable wheels or buttons that allow up or down increments to be made. Gamma is probably set by selecting a color temperature value. If your monitor permits this, start with a white point value of 6500K (degrees Kelvin).