Judging: Screen Calibration

This guidance applies to:

 

Minor amendments and clarifications may be made throughout the competition year.

 Last updated: Thursday 20th August 2026 (revision history). 

Screen calibration - expectations

As a matter of respect for our entrants, we expect our judges, as professional photographers, to assess and score competition entries using desktop screens and systems capable of a calibrated colour managed workflow.

We require your screen to be capable of displaying 100% sRGB, 99% or greater of P3, and have the ability to calibrate brightness for viewing subtle tones in a controlled environment. Judging should be performed in a location without distractions from lights or windows, but equally not in an excessively dark environment.

This test chart is a sanity check to help assess viewing conditions, not a calibration tool.

And while this is offered as part of our judging guidance, it is also good advice for entrants to check their screen calibration too.

Hint: a judge viewing images on a calibrated desktop screen will see details a cheap or laptop screen doesn’t show.

Grayscale wedge – all steps should be distinguishable.

Black point – the darkest patches should be just separable.

White point – the brightest patches should be just separable.

Sharpness test pattern – lines should appear clearly separated.

Revision History

  • 20th August 2026 – Initial publication