Color Range & Banding Test
Test your monitor's bit-depth (8-bit vs 10-bit) and color gamut. Look for harsh lines ("banding") in the smooth gradient mode.
Color Spectrum
Banding Simulation
What is the Color Range Test?
The color range test evaluates how smoothly your monitor can transition between different shades of color. It is primarily used to detect 'color banding', a visual artifact where smooth gradients appear as distinct, jagged stripes or bands of color rather than a seamless transition. Regular diagnostic verification ensures that your hardware operates at peak factory specifications and delivers reliable performance across gaming and professional tasks.
Why Does Color Banding Happen?
Color banding usually occurs when a monitor has a low bit depth (like a 6-bit panel) or when a high-quality monitor is receiving a low-quality, compressed signal (like watching a heavily compressed YouTube video). An 8-bit monitor can display 16.7 million colors, which is usually enough for a smooth gradient. A 10-bit monitor can display 1.07 billion colors, making banding virtually non-existent under ideal conditions. Utilizing standardized browser benchmarks eliminates the guesswork from troubleshooting, giving you real-time data to optimize your setup without third-party software.
How to Use This Tool
Enter fullscreen mode and select the 'Smooth (Infinite)' banding level. Look closely at the gradients (especially Grayscale). If you see distinct vertical lines separating the shades, your monitor is exhibiting color banding. You can use the 'Banding Simulation' settings to see what 8-bit (256 steps) or 6-bit (64 steps) color looks like on your display for comparison. Whether you are fine-tuning hardware parameters, calibrating settings, or inspecting for defects, our tools run with sub-millisecond precision directly on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this tool and benchmarks