Decent calibration/set-up discs for Blu-ray, HD and DVD

[Escape-To-88]

Hi all,
Used to using the THX test on a DVD copy of the Lion King to set up my TV, but since having a projector the disc isn't really cutting it.
I have Snow White on Blu-ray, as yet unopened, which I'm assuming would have a similar set up option. However I was looking for something a bit more pro. to set up my projector with my 360 and PS3. I find the image a little 'hazy' at the best of times and wondered if anyone could recommend a set up disc? Or alternatively, if I could find a willing volunteer in the South West to help
I'm guessing the only HD-DVD disc will be the 'DVE essentials' disc (which I don't own), but wondered if there was anything else for standard def and Blu-ray?
Cheers

[smouty]

I used the free ones from HERE.
They are downloadable iso files that you burn to DVD but are HD-DVD and BR format.

[paulus]

but since having a projector the disc isn't really cutting it.

Theres some really good videos / guides on basic calibration over at the AVForums.

What PJ did you go for in the end?

[NekoFever]

There's a DVE version for Blu-ray as well. I used it to calibrate my TV and it did a great job.

http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/3475913/Digital-Video-Essentials-HD-Basics/Product.html

[Escape-To-88]

What PJ did you go for in the end?

The HD700X, picked it up for £440 so seemed not a bad price, bit lower end than yours I know mate! And a bit more expensive than it was priced at last year - but hey, I'm happy!

[paulus]

Very nice mate, you get a screen too or are trying it on those high walls of yours?

[Lyris]

I find the image a little 'hazy' at the best of times and wondered if anyone could recommend a set up disc? Or alternatively, if I could find a willing volunteer in the South West to help

If you find the image on a projector hazy, it's most likely that your room is the problem. Do you have light-coloured/reflective walls and ceiling? If so, these will be reflecting light back onto the screen and washing the picture out.

Solution: buy black, light-absorbing fabric (I was recommended this stuff by forum member AndrewFee and it works a treat: http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/p...?productID=124 ) and staple it to the offending areas.

Second, if you have a projector, get it professionally calibrated. This is tremendously important to picture quality to make sure Greyscale and Colour are the way the director intended and not the way an engineer intended (which usually means "blue-tinted and exaggerated"). The reason you can't do this yourself is because it needs specialist training, software, and equipment to actually measure the colours in your room and on the screen. If you're interested in that, AVForums has an ISF Calibration forum where you can post and ask if there's someone in your area.

If you don't want to pay extra for the best performance though, use the AVS test disc that was linked to, and make sure you're using what's probably the most accurate Colour temperature on the projector (usually "Warm2"). Unfortunately you need to pay up (or get into calibration yourself) to fine-tune it beyond basic controls like Brightness and Sharpness, though.