This is funny: Even the most experienced ISF Calibraters cannot "Eyeball" the picture to the correct gray scale, but a consumer can? 
Basic setup tip 1: Turn off the sound
Once the sound is off, it's much easier to focus on the picture.
Basic setup tip 2: Set the color levels to zero
This way, you'll know the black and white levels are right before you start fine tuning the color.
Basic setup tip 3: Get the brightness right
You want the whites to be clear and bright, but you don't want the blacks to start turning gray. Play around with the levels until you have a good balance.
Basic setup tip 4: Fix the contrast
Contrast settings will vary based on the amount of light in your TV room. Contrast should be high, but not so high that there's unnecessary glare.
Basic setup tip 5: Set the sharpness
Now you want to look specifically at the crispness of the images. Start low and work your way up to a good, crisp picture. Now you're ready to focus on the color levels!
Basic setup tip 6: Adjust the tint and color
The best way to get a starting point for your color balance is to compare the picture onscreen to the natural colors outside. One way to do this is by finding a nature program, then checking the colors of the natural elements (sky, grass, clouds) against the colors onscreen.
The final step involves personal preference. After years of TV watching, people tend to have an idea of what looks right to them. Once you have a good starting point, you can adjust the tint and color levels to taste.
And there you go! It's quick and easy to follow these basic setup tips. Now turn the sound back on and enjoy your improved picture quality.
Basic setup tip 1: Turn off the sound
Once the sound is off, it's much easier to focus on the picture.
Basic setup tip 2: Set the color levels to zero
This way, you'll know the black and white levels are right before you start fine tuning the color.
Basic setup tip 3: Get the brightness right
You want the whites to be clear and bright, but you don't want the blacks to start turning gray. Play around with the levels until you have a good balance.
Basic setup tip 4: Fix the contrast
Contrast settings will vary based on the amount of light in your TV room. Contrast should be high, but not so high that there's unnecessary glare.
Basic setup tip 5: Set the sharpness
Now you want to look specifically at the crispness of the images. Start low and work your way up to a good, crisp picture. Now you're ready to focus on the color levels!
Basic setup tip 6: Adjust the tint and color
The best way to get a starting point for your color balance is to compare the picture onscreen to the natural colors outside. One way to do this is by finding a nature program, then checking the colors of the natural elements (sky, grass, clouds) against the colors onscreen.
The final step involves personal preference. After years of TV watching, people tend to have an idea of what looks right to them. Once you have a good starting point, you can adjust the tint and color levels to taste.
And there you go! It's quick and easy to follow these basic setup tips. Now turn the sound back on and enjoy your improved picture quality.
