Guide: How to set up a TCL TV

We have prepared a guide to adjusting the image of the TCL QLED TV with the best parameters, suitable for all TCL TV lines. When our brand new Smart TV arrives, we want to see it in action as soon as possible that we do not always remember that we would need to check the matrix for pixel integrity and critically analyze the factory settings. But in principle, this is an omission.

We recommend that you spend some time to set up the TV in the best possible way. It is known that most TV matrices have a standard scale for brightness, color and gamma, so we start by looking at the possible picture modes. And then we adjust each of the parameters to our liking, increasing one value or slightly lowering another.

But at the same time, we always remain at some “basic” steps. Our recommendations apply to all 2022 and 2023 TCL QLED TV models: C635 , C735 , C835 , C935 , C645 , C745 , C845 . The general principles of optimal tuning can be applied to other series of TCL LCD TVs. Keep in mind that the same parameters do not always have the same names in different TV series. However, the general meaning of assigning one or another option is clear from the description.

TCL TV settings (calibration)

Image Adjustment Options

Before we start getting acquainted with the picture options, make sure that the home location of the TV is selected. To do this, press the gear button on the remote control, and select System -> Advanced settings in the settings menu. Location Setting – Home, Store Auto Setting – Off. Our next step is to turn off smart settings.

In the TV settings menu, go to Smart settings -> Smart picture and turn off Adaptive brightness control and Adaptive content. Having done this, we can start setting up picture modes. To do this, you always need to connect the content of the format that you want to configure (SDR, HDR10, HDR10 + or Dolby Vision). After that, we click Settings -> Image and start setting the parameters. Which ones?

1. Image mode – select combinations of settings selected by the type of content (Standard, Cinema, etc.).
2. Brightness – adjusts the amount of light coming from the screen.
3. Color saturation – adjusts the pallor / richness of the picture.

Before setting the actual image parameters, you will need to enter the Screen Settings, where we will find three more parameters:
1. Auto Format – the image fills the entire screen, deforming 4:3 formats. It must be turned off.
2. Screen Mode – controls the forced setting of the aspect ratio. It should always be in 16:9 format.
3. Overscan – controls screen scaling, should always be disabled.

And now we can move on to explaining each image option that appears after selecting the Advanced Settings submenu. And the first of them – Adjusting the brightness:
1. Brightness – controls the backlight level.
2. Contrast – changes the brightness of light shades (white color).
3. Black level – changes the brightness of dark shades, which affects the detail in the shadows.
4. Dynamic Contrast – Detects IRE 0-2 zones to subtract details and increases the brightness of IRE 90-100, thereby increasing the contrast of the picture on the screen.
5. Black Stretch – Smooths out shadow details to make the screen appear more contrasty.
6.ECO mode – automatically adjusts the brightness by analyzing the signal from the light sensor.
7. Local Dimming – Controls the Full Array Local Dimming algorithm with Off, Low, and High.
8. Local contrast – reduces the black level (makes it deeper).
9. Gamma – choose different gamuts of shades for a more natural image, where 2 is 2.4 and 0 is 2.2.
10. Dynamic Tone Mapping (HDR only) – Turns tone mapping on or off for HDR sources, but affects EOTF very aggressively.

Next we will have a Color sub-menu:

1. Saturation – changes the color level of all shades on the screen. To avoid the acidity of the picture, you should not overestimate.
2. Hue – this mainly concerns NTSC, and it’s better to forget about this parameter for now.
3. Dynamic Color – saturates primary and secondary colors to give the impression of more color.
4. Blue Light Filter – Changes colorimetry by reducing blue light saturation.
5. Color temperature – changes the set of shades. A colder image has a bluish tint, while a warmer image has a yellowish tint.
6. Color range– choose different color standards (Rec.601, Rec.709 and BT.202), you can do it automatically.
7. White Balance – Changes the color temperature in small increments.

Let’s move on to the next section on Clarity:

1. Sharpen – Emphasizes texture and detail by simulating sharpening. Don’t get carried away.
2. MPEG NR – removes video compression artifacts. Image detail deteriorates.
3. Noise Reduction – blurs the picture to remove digital noise.
4. Smoothing – applies an interpolation filter to increase the smoothness of color transitions.

Go to the Driving Mode section. Here we activate the Clarity of motion parameter to unlock the settings of other parameters:
1. Clarity of motion – turns on the insertion of a black frame, it is recommended to turn it off.
2. Elimination of blur (de-Blur) – reduces blur when moving quickly in the frame.
3. Dejudder (de-Judder) – allows you to set the interpolation level from 1 to 10.
4. Dynamic acceleration – activates the panel refresh rate of 144 Hz. Only available on C845 and above.

It remains only to list the parameters of the Expert section:
1. White balance – gives access to white balance settings for 2 or 20 calibration points.
2. Color space – change color spaces (REC.601, 709, BT2020, DCI P3, etc.) automatically or manually. Recommended in automatic mode.
3. DDC – allows you to connect to the calibration software. This interface is only present on C845 and above.
4. HDR-mode – turns on / off HDR.
5. HDR Peak Brightness – Allows you to set the number of nits (brightness) of the panel. Only for C845 and above.

Best settings for TCL

We have explained the purpose of the main parameters. And as a result, we will have a selection of the values ​​​​of these options, summarized in a table. Moreover, for each type of content displayed on the screen, the selections will be different. Separately, we will highlight the parameters for the game mode, which is activated in advance using the Game Wizard.

SDR mode and TV

HDR mode

Game Mode

Not all users have the same color perception, not all have the same inertia of vision. Therefore, the values ​​of the parameters given above are of a basic nature. But at least with their help, you won’t have to turn to professional calibration equipment for help. And if something doesn’t go according to plan, you can roll back to the TCL factory settings.