SMART III - Video Calibration Toolkit

Steve Smallcombe's SMARTAVTWEAKS site

How to remove the blue cast from Dish 6000 HD images.

When the Dish 6000 is used with 3 component video cables in the HD mode, the picture typically has a blue cast, especially in the shadow area. Since there is no convenient test signals available I have found the following procedure helpful. Note is 5 RGB cables are used then the blue cast is not an issue.

The key is to get a good black reference. I do this by adjusting my digital keystone collection to about 50 units off what it should be, either plus or minus. This will make a nice projector generated black wedge as a reference area with which to compare the Dish 6000 generated black. Now find a 4x3 movie in the HD mode, and look at the projector generated black wedge vs the dish generated black bar. Chances are that it will look bluish or purple. It is often useful to raise the brightness at this point by 20 units or so as it will be easier to compare the colors of black when they are no so black. (This is one case where the black level of the 10HT can be too good!)

Now make a custom color temperature for Dish HD component input. I would recommend that you go back to the same gain settings that you use for DVDs, etc. and then try adjusting bias settings to get the black areas to match in their color. You will likely need to lower your blue bias by about 30 units. You will likely also need to lower your red bias a similar amount. Chances are this will fix your problem.
Now its time to adjust the brightness and contrast settings. I leave my video memories off so that whenever the Dish input is selected you will get the proper settings. Leave the keystone generated wedge there, for now, and lower the brightness until the wedge and black bars blend. This will likely be around 30. I also use some of the space scenes in the Demo loop. Leaving the wedge there, make sure that the black of space is little if any brighter than the wedge. Adjust contrast to keep good details in the clouds seen from space. There is one scene where their appears to be a dense oval cloud just above center and to the right. It will lose detail if contrast is too high.

Restore the keystone correction and you are done.

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Having trouble? Learn the most common mistakes people make using SMART

Read about using bias lights to improve perceived black levels.

Here are some additional tips for the SONY projectors and solution to common problems.