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Black Level Test

Check black depth and shadow detail near black.

View the screen in normal viewing conditions. Look for black that appears noticeably gray or uneven.

What do you see?

Pure Black

This is a visual check, not a black-luminance measurement.

Keys: ← / → switch · F full screen · Esc exit

Guide

How to test

01

Darken the room

Lower ambient light so near-black differences are easier to see.

02

Go Fullscreen

Press Start or F so the pattern fills the whole display.

03

Check Pure Black

Look at the screen for black that appears gray, raised, or uneven.

04

Inspect Near-Black Steps

Note the darkest steps that stay distinguishable from black.

05

Record Observations

Pick the result that best matches each mode.

About

About this test

Visual inspection only

Black-level testing is a visual inspection of black and near-black reproduction. Your browser cannot measure the display's physical black luminance.

What can affect what you see

Ambient light, display brightness, viewing angle, OS/GPU settings, and panel characteristics can affect how black and shadow detail appear.

How it differs

  • Black Level

    Black depth and very-low-level shadow visibility.

  • Backlight Bleed

    Light leakage around edges or corners on dark screens.

  • Greyscale & Uniformity

    Shade discrimination across the full range and spatial evenness.

What is Black Level Test?

A Black Level Test displays pure black and near-black patterns so you can visually inspect black depth and shadow detail. It is a visual check only — it does not measure luminance, contrast, or panel performance.

FAQ

Black Level Test FAQ

01How do I test the black level of my monitor?

Use the pure-black and near-black patterns and check how dark the screen appears and whether very dark shades remain visible.

02What should black look like on a monitor?

Black should appear as dark as the display and viewing conditions allow, without unnecessary gray or uneven areas.

03What is black crush?

Black crush happens when very dark shades merge into black, causing shadow detail to disappear.

04Why does black look gray on my monitor?

Ambient light, viewing angle, display settings, panel characteristics, and the display chain can all affect how black appears.

05What is the difference between black level and contrast?

Black level focuses on how dark black and near-black shades appear. Contrast looks more broadly at the separation between dark and bright levels.

06Can an online test measure my monitor's exact black level?

No. A browser test can help you visually inspect black and near-black reproduction, but it cannot measure physical luminance.