This monitor test provides a set of full-screen test patterns for judging the quality of any display. Smooth gradients reveal colour banding, grids and geometry patterns expose sharpness and alignment issues, and colour bars let you check that red, green, blue, white and grey render cleanly. It is a practical way to evaluate a new monitor, compare two screens, or dial in your settings, all from the browser without installing anything.
The gradient patterns are the quickest way to see banding, the visible steps that appear when a panel or its settings cannot render a smooth transition between shades. On a good display the gradient looks continuous, while a weaker panel or an aggressive contrast setting breaks it into distinct bands. Grey gradients also help you check that shadow and highlight detail are not being crushed: you should be able to make out the darkest and lightest steps rather than seeing them collapse into pure black or white.
Grid and geometry patterns test sharpness, focus and alignment. Fine lines should stay crisp from edge to edge, and a grid should look even across the whole screen rather than stretching or blurring toward the corners. These patterns also make backlight bleed and clouding easier to see on a dark field, and they help you confirm that a screen is running at its native resolution, since a mismatched resolution makes thin lines shimmer or appear uneven. Colour-bar patterns round out the set, letting you confirm each primary colour is pure and that whites are neutral rather than tinted.
All the patterns display full screen so nothing competes with the image, and you move between them with a click or the arrow keys, exiting whenever you like with the on-screen button or the Escape key. The test runs entirely in your browser with no downloads, which makes it a convenient tool for checking a monitor in a shop, verifying a second-hand display before you buy, or simply making sure your own screen is set up well.
How to use the monitor test
- Set your display to its native resolution for the most accurate results.
- Start the test and enter full-screen mode.
- Cycle through the gradient, grid and colour-bar patterns with a click or the arrow keys.
- Check gradients for banding, grids for sharpness, and colour bars for pure colour.
- Exit with the on-screen button or the Escape key when you are finished.
Frequently asked questions
What is colour banding and how do I spot it?
Colour banding is visible stepping in what should be a smooth gradient. Display a gradient pattern full screen: if you see distinct bands rather than a continuous blend, the panel or your current settings are struggling to render the full range of shades.
How do I check for backlight bleed?
Use a solid black or dark pattern in a dark room and look at the edges and corners of the screen. Uneven brighter patches are backlight bleed or clouding, most common on LCD panels with edge lighting.
Why do the grid lines look uneven or shimmery?
Thin lines shimmer when the display is not running at its native resolution and has to scale the image. Set your operating system to the monitor native resolution and the grid should look crisp and even across the whole screen.
More hardware tests
Keep checking your gear with the rest of the MyGearCheck suite: