Picture Perfect Step 1

We help you set up your TV. Step 1 starts you off with the basics.
In this step we guide you through the process of selecting the best picture mode and picture size on your TV to get a natural and detailed picture.

Selecting the correct picture mode

Called Picture Mode, Mode, Viewing Mode, Smart Picture, AV Selection or AV Mode.

Hopefully you have watched the first video in our Picture Perfect series here which highlights the importance of selecting the correct picture mode.
Let's go ahead and select the correct picture mode now.

Do you have your TV on and your remote ready? Click the video below to play.


Did you change your TV's settings? Was this guide useful? If so, please...

The table below gives the names of the ideal picture mode for the most common makes of TV.

  Which picture mode to choose  
Alba Cinema
Bush Cinema
Hitachi Cinema
LG THX/ Cinema/ Expert
Linsar Cinema
Loewe Premium Mode
Panasonic THX/ Professional/ True Cinema/ Cinema
Philips Cinema
Pioneer Pure/Movie
Samsung Movie
Sharp Movie
Sony Press THEATRE button on remote or SCENE button and select Cinema
Technika Movie
Toshiba Movie/ Expert/ Hollywood

Your TV not listed here? Got questions? Want to let us know how you used our advice?
Go to our Television forums.

Attention gamers! If you have a Game mode on your TV, then this will be fine for your game console inputs. The Game mode usually bypasses all picture processing in order to reduce the delay between the action in your game and the picture on your TV.

Done the picture mode?
We're half way through step 1

Selecting the correct picture size

Called P. Size, Aspect, Ratio, Aspect Ratio, Picture Size, Picture Zoom, Picture Format, Wide Mode, Screen Format or Display Area.

Once you've selected the correct picture mode, you need to select the correct picture size (also known as the aspect ratio).
If you're still in the TV's menu, then please exit out to watch normal TV.

Aspect icon There will be a button on your remote control, specifically for changing the picture size. The name of the button varies depending on the make of your TV, but the most common are P. Size, Aspect, Ratio.
Some manufacturers use a symbol instead, which looks like the image on the left.

In this video we show you how to select the correct picture size. Click the video below to play.


Did you change your TV's settings? Was this guide useful?

This table shows the names of the best picture size settings.

  Which picture size to choose  
Alba Full
Bush Full
Hitachi Full
LG Just Scan
Linsar Full
Loewe 16:9
Panasonic 16:9 with Overscan off
Philips Unscaled
Pioneer Dot by Dot
Samsung Screen Fit
Sharp Dot by Dot
Sony Full
Technika Full
Toshiba Native

Your TV not listed here? Got questions? Want to let us know how you used our advice?
Go to our Television forums.

Go to Step 2Hopefully our videos and instructions have helped you get the best Picture Mode and Picture Size settings and you have a far more natural and detailed TV picture.

Whilst this is a good start, there are of course a whole host of other controls on your TV, some of which need to be set correctly and others that should be turned off. We cover these in more detail in Step 2, so if you're interested in getting closer to that perfect picture, go to Step 2 now.

If you want to discuss any aspect of setting up your TV, you will find help in our Television forums.


  • Published
    Oct 6, 2013
  • Page views
    359,771
The AVForums Picture Perfect Campaign
AVForums' Picture Perfect Campaign to raise awareness that most TVs will look better with a bit of easy tweaking.
We explain why, and show you how to improve the picture.

Navigation

Introduction Is your TV Picture Perfect?
Step 1 Step 1 - start with the basics
Step 2 Step 2 - picture processing
Step 3 Step 3 - main picture controls
Step 3 Forums - for more help

Campaign supporters

listed alphabetically by type

Standards Specialists

The Imaging Science Foundation Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Spectracal Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
THX Support the Picture Perfect Campaign

Manufacturers

Alba Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Bush Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Hitachi Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
JVC Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
LG Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Linsar Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Panasonic Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Sharp Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
SIM2 Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Sony Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Toshiba Support the Picture Perfect Campaign

National Retailers

Argos Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Richer Sounds Support the Picture Perfect Campaign

Independent Retailers

TPS Support the Picture Perfect Campaign

Distributors

Awe Support the Picture Perfect Campaign
Genesis Technologies Support the Picture Perfect Campaign

Become a Supporter

If you would like to support the Picture Perfect campaign, please click here for information.
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