Mathematically, if $Y_ref$ represents the reference black level (16), and $Y_max$ represents reference white (235), the PLUGE bars are calculated as relative percentage offsets.
The "Below Black" and "Reference Black" bars become visible as shades of gray. This kills your contrast ratio, making the image look thin and flat. pluge pattern
A bar that is darker than the standard black level (often -2% or -4%). A bar that is darker than the standard
Some patterns include a black border around the active image. This helps detect incorrect overscan or issues with display edge brightness. | What you see | What it means
| What you see | What it means | What to do | |--------------|----------------|--------------| | Left bar visible | Brightness too high | Lower brightness | | Middle bar invisible | Brightness too low | Raise brightness | | Right bar invisible | Brightness much too low | Raise brightness significantly | | All bars equally gray | Brightness extremely high | Lower brightness aggressively | | Left invisible, middle just visible, right clearly visible | Black level correct | Stop |
The "Above Black" bar disappears. This is known as "crushing blacks." You lose all the detail in shadows, such as the texture of a dark suit or the debris in a dim alleyway. How to Use the Pluge Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide