View a 25% Grey Screen Display
A deep grey background (#404040). The ultimate test for monitor shadow details, black crush, and OLED vertical banding.
Checking black levels? Tap below to launch full-screen mode instantly.
Specific Screen Defect Tests
Why Use a 25% Dark Grey Screen?
Test Shadow Detail
Can you distinguish this grey from pure black? If this screen looks pitch black, your monitor is crushing shadows (Black Crush), meaning you are losing detail in dark movie scenes or games.
Check OLED Banding
OLED panels often suffer from vertical streaks or bands in near-black colors. A 25% or 5% grey screen is the standard way to check for panel uniformity issues.
Gamma Calibration
This shade sits at the lower end of the gamma curve. It helps you adjust your monitor's gamma settings to ensure dark scenes aren't too washed out or too dark.
Dark Mode Ambience
Provides a low-light, neutral background that is easier on the eyes than white, but not as stark as pure black. Ideal for late-night reading backlights.
How to Test for Black Crush?
- Launch Fullscreen: Click the button above to fill your screen with Dark Grey.
- Observe: Does it look like a distinct grey, or does it merge into the black bezel of your monitor?
- Adjust: If it looks black, try increasing your monitor's 'Brightness' or 'Black Level' settings until the grey is visible.
- Exit: Click anywhere or press ESC to return.
Technical Details: Dark Grey
- Hex Code: #404040 RGB (64, 64, 64). This represents roughly 25% signal strength on the 0-255 scale.
- Perceived Brightness Due to human vision perception, 25% signal strength actually appears darker than 25% brightness to our eyes. It is a critical zone for image quality.
Dark Grey FAQs
My OLED screen has vertical lines on this color. Is it broken?
Not necessarily broken, but it is a common defect called "vertical banding" inherent to OLED technology. It is most visible on dark greys like this.
Should this look black?
No. It should look clearly distinct from the black frame of your monitor. If it looks black, your monitor's gamma is too high or brightness is too low.