It’s not uncommon to experience a situation where the picture and color on your TV are off and seem a bit faded. While trying to calibrate the settings might seem like an easy fix, it might not always work. Many TV owners go through the same color distortion issue, often leaving them helpless and frustrated. Additionally, understanding what is TV resolution can help you understand what’s causing these issues and how to properly address them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Strangely-hued colors and overly saturated and muddy images result from poorly configured TV built-in color settings.
- Poor settings for example a cable TV box outputting 480p x 640p, connected to a 1080p x 640p will create a temporary blur leading to color problems.
- The magnet in the speakers will have a strange effect if they are positioned too close to the TV screen.
If you are experiencing TV color distortion issues where the colors don’t seem real, don’t panic. It is common to even the best TVs. We have outlined a simple guideline to help you learn how to fix tv color problems.
Although, if you need to do mainboard repairs, you’ll want to know how to repair the TV main board. Or, for an easy fix, if you have asked, why is my TV in Spanish, we have a nice short guide to help you get your TV back to how it was.
What causes Color Distortion on TVs?
Due to the influx of TV models and types in the market worldwide, the causes of color issues are numerous and diverse. However, strangely-hued colors and overly saturated and muddy images result from poorly configured TV built-in color settings.
On the other hand, severe TV color problems may be due to malfunctioned hardware or screen damage.
- Built-in TV color settings: Most times, TV owners will experience color distortion due to poor picture settings.
- LCD color issues: LCDs work by realigning the molecular structure of their crystals to form a color display. These monitors rely on a single pixel to form an entire image. Therefore, if one pixel malfunctions, a colorless black dot will take its place. Faulty manufacturing could also lead to dead pixels. Poor settings for example a cable TV box outputting 480p x 640p, connected to a 1080p x 640p will create a temporary blur leading to color problems. Be sure to know how to change the TV resolution to always get the highest quality image available on your TV.
- Loose input cables: Mismatched, damaged, or poorly fitted cables will lead to color distortions where the pictures appear to be fuzzy, blurry or sometimes flicker. This can lead to the ‘blue screen of death’ but you can easily find out how to get rid of the blue screen on tv.
- Surround speakers close to the TV screen: If you have set surround speakers close to your TV, it will cause some color distortion issues. The magnet in the speakers will have a strange effect if they are positioned too close to the TV screen.
- Faulty T-Con Board: Sometimes, color problems and distortions are hardware issues. It’s often a sign of a faulty or failing T-Con board.
Fixing Color distortion issues on your TV
Fixing color problems on modern TVs is relatively easy and doesn’t require any technical know-how.
- First, go to your TV’s settings menu and desaturate its color settings until it gets to black and white. Calibrate the contrasts and brightness so that both the whites are blacks are distinct. Turn the sharpness level to the highest point, then down—then added color.
- Next, ensure all wires at the back of the TV and Cable TV box are tightly fitted and plugged into the right inputs. Doing this might bring colors back to normal. If you use an antenna, be sure to check it as well. Additionally, you should know that interference to an antenna can cause other issues with the image on your TV like making the picture pixelated. Also anytime you mess around with your antenna, it would be smart to rescan your TV to ensure you are getting the most channels possible. As a note, rescanning should be done when the weather is nice and clear for best results.
- Move any surround speakers away from the TV screen, and ensure all magnets are far away from your TV screens.
- Check all your inputs, including HDMI, USB, Coaxial, and other inputs, for any physical signs of damage or dirt. Replace any inputs you suspect could be faulty. You may also experience some sound problems due to this but you can learn how to fix sound delay on tv.
STAT: US is the third-largest market for Cable TV globally, with more than 90 million Pay-TV subscribers. China is the highest with 342 million Cable TV subscribers (source)
If changing all the above settings doesn’t help, your T-Con board could be faulty. This will need the TV user to disassemble the TV and fix the issue. While disassembling your TV can be done at home, it is essential to note that it needs some technical know-how.
F.A.Q.S
What causes color problems on a TV?
Due to the influx of TV models and types in the market worldwide, the causes of color issues are numerous and diverse. However, strangely-hued colors and overly saturated and muddy images result from poorly configured TV built-in color settings.
Can a magnetic field affect the colors on my TV?
If you have set surround speakers close to your TV, it will cause some color distortion issues. The magnet in the speakers will have a strange effect if they are positioned too close to the TV screen.
How do faulty inputs affect TV color?
Mismatched, damaged, or poorly fitted cables will lead to color distortions where the pictures appear to be fuzzy, blurry or sometimes flicker.
Do hardware faults cause color issues?
Severe TV color problems may be due to malfunctioned hardware or screen damage.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00028899
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_display_controller
- http://eng-ca.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/33072/~/troubleshooting—the-color-contrast-on-the-television-appears-to-be-off.r
- https://www.digitaltvresearch.com/ugc/press/236.pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ok1VEHctc
