ScreenVitals
Gray uniformity and DSE check

Spot dirty screen effect and uneven brightness.

Compare near-black, mid-gray, white, and slow panning patterns to reveal patches, bands, tint, and edge variation.

FreeAbout 3 minutesRuns locally
No sign-up · Nothing uploaded

How to run this test

  1. Prepare a neutral view

    Use native resolution, normal brightness, and neutral picture settings. Avoid direct sunlight and strong reflections.

  2. Inspect several gray levels

    Begin with mid-gray, then inspect near-black gray and white. Different defects appear at different luminance levels.

  3. Watch the pan pattern

    Track the moving uniform field from your normal viewing distance. Stationary streaks or patches may be more noticeable in motion.

  4. Separate screen from camera

    Trust your eyes first. If you take a photo, lock exposure when possible and analyze it only as supporting evidence.

How to interpret what you see

Vertical or horizontal bands

Fixed darker or brighter stripes that stay visible while the uniform field moves can indicate panel nonuniformity or OLED near-black banding.

Cloudy patches

Broad stationary patches may be dirty screen effect, backlight nonuniformity, or a viewing-angle effect.

Color tint

A green, pink, blue, or yellow area on gray or white can indicate tint variation, but color filters and viewing angle should be ruled out.

Measure a photo locally

If the variation is visible to your eyes, use a separate camera and keep it centered and parallel to the screen. The Screen Photo Analyzer maps relative brightness across the image without uploading it.

Important limitation

ScreenVitals provides a controlled visual aid. Results depend on your panel, brightness, viewing angle, room lighting, browser, and—when photos are used—camera exposure. It does not replace manufacturer testing or calibrated measurement equipment.

Questions about this test

Know what the pattern can—and cannot—tell you.

What is dirty screen effect?

Dirty screen effect is visible unevenness that can resemble smudges, darker bands, or cloudy patches, especially during camera pans across uniform fields such as sky, ice, or a football pitch.

Which gray level should I use?

Start around 50% gray for general brightness uniformity, then compare 5%, 10%, and 20% gray for near-black banding. White can reveal tint and edge dimming but may be uncomfortable at high brightness.

Is some variation normal?

Most consumer panels show some variation under demanding uniform patterns. Evaluate whether it is visible from your normal distance in real content, and compare with the manufacturer’s policy rather than expecting laboratory-perfect uniformity.

Can a screenshot show dirty screen effect?

No. A screenshot captures the digital image sent to the panel and therefore does not include physical panel nonuniformity. You must inspect the actual screen or use a separate camera photo.

Can the photo analyzer give an absolute score?

No. Gray and white photos receive a relative score for that uploaded image, while black photos receive a qualitative Low, Moderate, or Strong variation result. Camera exposure, lens shading, reflections, perspective, and the displayed pattern all influence the result.

Continue your screen check

2 min

Dead pixel test

Find black, bright, or color-stuck pixels with clean full-screen patterns.

Open test 3 min

OLED burn-in test

Reveal image retention, logo shadows, tint, and near-black banding.

Open test 2 min

Backlight bleed test

Inspect dark scenes for edge glow, light leakage, and IPS glow.

Open test 3 min

Screen uniformity test

Check dirty screen effect, tint, brightness shifts, and vertical bands.

Open test 4 min

Monitor color test

Review gradients, grayscale, contrast, clipping, and color separation.

Open test 1 min

Refresh rate test

Measure browser refresh timing and inspect motion smoothness.

Open test