What does Calibeam do?
Calibeam calibrates your projector or TV using its own picture settings. A colorimeter reads the picture, Calibeam works out which setting to change and by how much, and you make the change with your remote. Calibeam then measures again to confirm the result, step by step through levels, grayscale, gamma, and color. At the end, a report shows how close the picture is to the standard and lists every setting you changed.
Which projectors and TVs does it work with?
Calibeam is built to work with any projector or TV that has picture controls to calibrate.
- Displays in Calibeam’s list. Calibeam includes guidance for popular projectors from brands such as Epson, JVC, Sony, BenQ, and Optoma, and for high-end TVs including LG OLED, Sony OLED, and Samsung OLED models. For these, it knows the picture modes and controls, so it can tell you exactly which menu setting to change.
- Any other display. If your model isn’t listed, you can add it yourself by telling Calibeam which controls its menu has. The calibration works the same way, and the profile stays on your computer.
The list grows through the beta and after launch.
What does my display need?
At a minimum, a picture mode you can adjust, with brightness and contrast controls. The more calibration controls the menu has, the more Calibeam can correct:
- White balance (gain and offset, or two-point) sets the color of grays.
- Multipoint white balance (typically 11-point on projectors) corrects grays across the whole range.
- Gamma settings shape how quickly the picture brightens from black.
- Color management (CMS) corrects individual colors.
Calibeam uses whichever of these your display has. If a display can’t reach the target because it lacks a control, the report says so, so you know the limit is the display, not the calibration.
Does Calibeam change my display’s settings for me?
No. You make each change with your display’s own remote and menus, and Calibeam tells you which setting to change and confirms the result with the meter. This works with every display, with no network connection or pairing needed.
Network control is planned for a later release: for projectors that accept picture adjustments over the network, Calibeam will be able to make the changes itself.
Do I need a meter?
Yes. Calibeam needs a colorimeter to measure the picture. A spectrophotometer is optional, and lets Calibeam make a correction for your display’s light so the colorimeter reads it more accurately. See the supported meters.
Does Calibeam support HDR as well as SDR?
Both SDR and HDR are planned for version 1.0.
During the beta, SDR is the focus. HDR will reach beta testers gradually, first as an experimental mode in some builds, and its support will widen over the course of the beta.
Does it make 3D LUTs or work with video processors?
No. Calibeam calibrates your display using its own picture controls, so the result lives in the display itself and works with every source you connect. It does not create 3D LUTs or program external video processors.
Which computers does it run on?
macOS 13 or later, and Windows 10 or later (64-bit). Both are supported from the first beta build. Everything Calibeam needs, including the meter software, comes with the app.
How does Calibeam get a clean signal from my computer to the display?
Calibeam fully supports a clean HDMI output from both Mac and Windows. It draws its own test patterns, so the display receives exactly the values Calibeam sends.
- Patterns skip color management. Calibeam shows each pattern in its own full-screen window, outside the system’s color management, display profiles, and scaling. It checks the output on every pattern and stops if anything alters it.
- Your computer’s settings are checked. HDR, night-time color filters, or a graphics card sending a video format instead of full-range RGB can change the picture before it reaches the display. Calibeam handles what it can automatically and restores your settings afterward. For the rest, it gives step-by-step instructions, including the exact settings for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics on Windows.
- The signal is measured before calibrating. At the start of each run, Calibeam measures steps near black and near white to confirm that no detail is lost on the way to the display, and tells you before the run if any is.
For HDR, macOS decides some details of the HDR signal itself, so HDR from a Mac has some limits. Calibeam also works with PGenerator+, a pattern generator that runs on a Raspberry Pi connected to the display over HDMI. It works with both Mac and Windows, and gives the most accurate HDR results.
Is Calibeam free?
Calibeam will be a paid app from version 1.0. Pricing will be announced before launch.
Taking part in the beta is free. Beta testers may be offered a free 1.0 license, at our discretion, in recognition of their help during the beta.
How do I send feedback during the beta?
From inside the app. Send feedback, under Settings › Help & about, takes bug reports, ideas, and general feedback, and you can also send a report from a run in progress. A bug report can include diagnostic details from your last run, and you can review them before sending. Adding your email is optional, only if you would like a reply.
What information does Calibeam send?
By default, Calibeam shares anonymous run data and crash reports, which help improve calibration for every display. Neither includes your name, email, or license key, and you can turn each one off in the app’s settings. The privacy policy lists exactly what is sent.
Is Calibeam open source?
Calibeam is a commercial app. It reads meters through ArgyllCMS, an open-source color measurement system, which comes included. The open-source notices cover its license and where to download its source code.
Still stuck? Email [email protected].