| |
|
|
Adjusting your Screen
Appearance |
(Note: This page is image rich and may be slow to load.)
The "best" appearance of your CRO type screen is very subjective, and is
largely of personal preference, however, if your have a "grainy"
or "amateurish" appearance to your screen it may well require
adjustment. In most cases your screen will have been correctly adjusted by
a professional and will not require further attention. If you ever have to
replace your screen or video card these adjustments can be very important.
Take each adjustment slowly and make sure that it's right before
progressing to the next step. Each adjustment is "Trial and
Error" based, and must be tried and tested. We advise that you print
this page now, but DO NOT attempt to make the Screen
Area/Refresh Rates adjustments
until you are off-line and with time to ensure that they are done
correctly.
Italic Text:
This is a simple adjustment, and takes only a few seconds.
Sample Italic Text:
The quick brown fox
jumped over the lazy dog.
If your screen shows this Italic Text sample as rough or wavy-edged
font
make the following adjustments. If it is smooth-edged there is no need to
change any setting.
Using Windows except XP:
Click "Start", go to "Settings", then
"Control Panel" and select "Display".
|
To print
this
page before
making any
adjustment,
please click
on this
book.
|
|
 |
Select "Effects"
from the top Options |
|
|
 |
Then ensure "Smooth edges of screen fonts" is ticked.
Click "OK" to close the windows and return to your
Desktop. The problem should be solved.
|
|
|
Using "XP":
Click "Start", go to "Settings",
then "Control Panel" and select "Display".
Select the "Appearance" tab , then "Effects".
Tick "Use the following method to smooth edges" then
select "Standard". Click "OK", "Apply",
"OK".
Screen Area, Refresh
Rate, and Colour:
This is a little more difficult than adjusting your Text Size, and
requires four separate adjustments. Screen Pixel Density, Screen Colour,
Screen Refresh Rate, and finally, the physical settings of display
position and shape.
The first three are done using electronic, screen activated settings. The
last is done using the knobs and controls at the front or base of your
screen.
To access the electronic adjustments, go to your "Display"
functions. There are a number of ways this can be found, the easiest is to
click "Start" on your Task Bar (the bar at the bottom of
your screen); select "Settings", then "Control
Panel", and finally "Display".
You will be presented with a screen with a range of options at the top as
per Fig (1).
|
|
|
Fig. 1
 |
Select "Settings" |
|
Fig. 2
|
This screen will appear.
First, we will adjust the screen area using the "Screen Area"
sliding size scale, then the screen colour using the "Color"
dropdown, and finally we will adjust the screen refresh rate accessed via
the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the screen.
Very Important:
After each adjustment, click "Apply". You
will be given a 15 second period to check the effects, after which time
your settings will revert to their prior values. To convert to the
new values you must click the "Yes" button asking you to
select the new setting within this 15 second interval.
|
|
|
Fig. 3
|
Fig. 4
|
Adjust the screen pixel size by clicking on the scale part of the slide.
As the size changes the position of the image in the small Display Screen
will also change.
|
|
|
Fig. 5
|
As you change the pixel setting the trial display image may move
off-centre in the Display Screen. Select a setting which is most central
in the display or slightly towards the upper left corner of the Display
Screen.
Click "Apply" and test the results. Your screen may not be
filled with the illuminated image but judge the setting by the size and
quality of the image. Screen fill is important, and should be as large as
possible, but the final "filling" can be adjusted later using
your screen control knobs. Note particularly the edges of your screen
display - they should not be overly rounded or distorted. Select the
optimal setting.
|
|
|
Fig. 6
|
Fig. 7
|
Next we adjust your video card setting for colour. Use the "Color"
adjustment as shown, selecting the highest colour vale that gives you the
best effects.
|
|
|
Fig. 8
|
After you have set the colour to its optimal value, click the "Advanced"
button (see Fig 2 above) to adjust the Screen Refresh Rate.
Select "Monitor" from the top options, then ensure that
the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" field
is ticked before progressing.
Click the "Refresh Frequency" dropdown and select
the next highest value to that already selected. Test, then progress to
the next. Select the highest value that gives the best results and just
stops screen flicker, keeping in
mind that values above 60-72 Hertz may shorten the effective life of your
monitor.
|
|
|
Fig. 9
|
After you have made this final selection close the "Control
Panel" and go back to your Desktop (your normal viewing
screen). Use the knob/press-button controls on your screen to make the
final positioning, size, shape, and alignment adjustments to correctly
position the screen image into the physical size of your screen.
|
|
|
Click on the
book
to print this page
|
Your viewing should now be optimal for your screen and your installed
video card - and you you should be feeling much more confident about your
ability to control and understand your computer.
So enjoy!
|
|
|
|
