Why use a test pattern generator?
There are two reasons to use a high-quality test pattern generator.
- The first reason is accuracy. Thousands of hours of engineering effort has gone into creating the AccuPel line of generators all for the purpose of creating test patterns of the highest possible quality. All professional calibrators should use an external video test pattern generator, such as the AccuPel.
- The second reason is speed. Each AccuPel ships with a remote control that allows very rapid access to any test pattern. More importantly, the AccuPel interfaces a PC and video calibration software, such as ChromaPure, via USB. This allows the software to control the AccuPel automatically. This means that whenever the user takes a measurement from the software, the AccuPel first provides the necessary test pattern without further user invention. If you have not used automation with your calibration sessions, you cannot imagine how much faster the process flows and how much easier the calibration procedures become.
Why choose AccuPel?
There are three reasons to prefer an AccuPel.
- The first reason is quality. The quality of the engineering that has gone into the AccuPel line of video test pattern generators is unsurpassed.
- The second reason is ease-of-use. The DVG-5000 is remarkably light-weight and small. Also, each generator ships with its own remote control. This is a feature that test pattern generators that cost thousands of dollars more do not provide. The DVG-5000 is also backwards compatible, including 3D, for any software that supported the HDG-3000/4000. You will only lose the test patterns that are new for the DVG-5000, and even these will be accessible from the remote control.
- The third reason is cost. AccuPel’s have always been a labor of love by a few dedicated and hugely talented individuals. Given the low overhead, it has always been priced at a level lower than other similar products on the market. The DVG-5000 will continue and enhance that tradition with an MSRP even lower than previous models.
- The DVG-5000 offers full support for all major 3D formats. The full selection of test patterns available in the standard mode are also available in the 3D mode. In addition to 3D test patterns, the DVG-5000 also provides a special interactive 3D crosstalk test pattern.
3D Test Patterns
The AccuPel 3D update provides 3D performance for ALL of the AccuPel test patterns with a selection of 33 3D Formats. Each 3D format is a combination of a 3D structure and an existing video resolution. The DVG-5000 supports all of the structures that are in actual use for distributing 3D content. This includes:
| Frame Packing (8 Formats) |
Side-by-Side (14 Formats) |
Top-and-Bottom (11 Formats) |
| 1080p23.98/24 |
1080i59.94/60 |
1080p23.98/24 |
| 720p59.94/60 |
1080i50 |
720p59.94/60 |
| 720p50 |
1080p23.98/24 |
720p50 |
| 1080p29.97/30 |
720p59.94/60 |
1080p59.94/60 |
| 1080p25 |
720p50 |
1080p29.97/30 |
|
1080p59.94/60 |
1080p50 |
|
1080p29.97/30 |
1080p25 |
|
1080p50 |
|
|
1080p25 |
|
The generator is very smart and will not allow the user to get into an invalid combination of video resolutions and 3D structures. The front panel Format button will skip all invalid 3D formats, and invalid 3D formats will be ignored if attempted to enter from the remote control. There is no way to enter an invalid format over the USB either. When entering the 3D mode the generator will automatically change to a valid format if necessary. There are no Standard Definition 3D formats implemented, so the user must leave the 3D mode to return to a standard definition format.
ALL previous DVG-5000 test patterns work in ALL 33 3D formats and produce patterns that simply look like their 2D versions. They do not appear in 3D (i.e. they have no depth). It is not the purpose of the generator to produce wild 3D demonstration patterns to entertain the user. The patterns can be used for all of the same purposes they are used on 2D displays (i.e. setting grayscale, color encoding, CMS adjustments, black level, white level, checking overscan, measuring ANSI contrast, measuring full-field contrast, checking scaling, checking convergence on 3 panel projectors, checking resolution, adjusting sharpness and detail enhancement, etc.), but with 3D signals placing the display in its 3D Display Modes instead of displaying 2D signals in its very different 2D Display mode.
It is obvious immediately that a display that is calibrated and looks perfect using 2D signals may look VERY different with 3D signals and need separate calibration in the 3D signal modes. In addition the 3D modes may show bugs, and implementation errors that are not present using 2D signals. In particular the patterns with fine lines (16:9 pattern, overscan pattern, sharpness pattern, crosshatch pattern) can be used to spot various problems and bugs in the displays 3D implementation.
Although the patterns appear to be the same in the 2D and 3D signal output modes there are some changes due to the half vertical resolution of the Top-Bottom signal structure and the half horizontal resolution of the Side-by-Side (Half) signal structure. For instance, the multiburst pattern highest resolution burst is half its 2D version resolution in the 3D Side-by-Side mode because that structure only supports half the horizontal resolution of the 2D display mode.
CROSSTALK TEST PATTERN
In addition to the 33 3D formats, there is also an entirely new, interactive test pattern and menu system in the 3D Mode menu for testing 3D Crosstalk from the left eye to the right eye (and visa-versa). Crosstalk is one of the most important determinants of 3D image quality.
The Professional AccuPel option adds motion test patterns. This version is designed for those who engineer and test video displays, as well as professional calibrators and reviewers.
Motion Test Patterns
| Motion Group |
Motion Pattern |
Variations |
# of Patterns |
| Circular Zone Plates |
71% Nyquist Zone Plate |
Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large |
12 |
|
Nyquist (Zone Plate) |
|
|
|
ZP (Zone Plate) Field |
|
|
| Hyperbolic Zone Plates |
Zone Plate 1 |
|
5 |
|
Zone Plate 2 |
|
|
|
Zone Plate 3 |
|
|
|
Zone Plate 4 |
|
|
|
Zone Plate 5 |
|
|
| Resolution Wedges |
V Res 1 |
Left, Right |
15 |
|
V Res 2 |
|
|
|
V Res 3 |
|
|
|
H Res 1 Top |
Top, Bottom |
|
|
H Res 2 Top |
|
|
|
H Res 3 Top |
|
|
|
HV Res 1 |
|
|
|
HV Res 2 |
|
|
|
HV Res 3 |
|
|
| Linear Frequency Sweeps |
H1 |
Rectangle, Field |
16 |
|
H2 |
|
|
|
H3 |
|
|
|
H4 |
|
|
|
V1 |
Rectangle, Field |
|
|
V2 |
|
|
|
V3 |
|
|
|
V4 |
|
|
| Detail Discs |
H Slice |
1, 2, 4, 8 |
16 |
|
V Slice |
|
|
|
Squares |
|
|
|
Checkerboard |
|
|
| Cosine Balls |
Ball 91 |
|
|
|
Ball 128 |
|
|
|
Ball 181 |
|
|
|
Ball 256 |
|
|
|
Ball 362 |
|
|
|
Ball 512 |
|
6 |
