Backlight or Color/Tint uniformity policy

Built-in Diagnostic = We need to see pictures of the monitor while disconnected from the PC video card running the stand alone Built-in Diagnostic.

There is no full dark room validation = Dell monitors and Laptop LCD are not tested/validated in a full dark room. Consumer monitors are inspected at 150 Lux ambient lighting (similar to typical office lighting). UltraSharp, Gaming, and Alienware monitors are inspected with a tighter criteria of 70 Lux ambient lighting (dimly lit room but not full dark).

UltraSharp, Gaming, and Alienware monitors may have some light leakage or backlight bleeding when used in a dark room and dark background with ambient light less than 70 Lux. These monitors are working as designed and are within specifications. The following is an example of acceptable backlight leakage on the Alienware AW3418xx

All monitors will have some form of backlight leakage and replacing these monitors is not a suitable option since the replacement will also show the same symptoms. This is a common issue seen on LCD screens. It is not specific to Dell monitors but can be seen on any LCD screen by any manufacturer.

Full screen matching uniformity = It is acceptable for the corners, sides, bottom, and top to differ from each other or the center and still be within manufacturer specifications. The following monitors pass our manufacturer specifications for overall uniformity and should not be exchanged =

U3415W passes
U3419W passes

AW3418DW passes

UP2516D passes

Uniformity Compensation = If your monitor has a curved screen, optimal viewing position should be from the center of the screen. Due to the screen curvature, some corners of the screen may appear slight yellowish or pinkish, especially when displaying a dark image in a dark room. This is normal monitor behavior for curved screen and typically does not affect overall viewing performance. Always view from the center of the screen for optimal viewing performance. Turn ON Uniformity Compensation in the Menu OSD- Display.

Side looks different than head on = When viewing a monitor from too far to either side, above, or below, the panel may appear darker than it will appear when viewed from straight ahead. This is expected and normal.

Same model backlight and color matching =
Even of the same model, no two monitor panels will look exactly like the other. Every monitor panel is unique and the factory default for each one is based on specific manufacturer guidelines, not a cross comparison of other monitors. The only way to get a closer match is to purchase monitor calibration hardware and software.

Reset the video card to default colors
If the video card is set to the wrong color settings, it can affect what you see on the monitor. To change the graphic settings to their default:
* Go to Start- Settings- Control Panel
* Find the video display settings. The exact location will vary with the type of video card on your computer as well as which version of Windows you are running. Look for any button that allows you to restore the video card to factory default settings. You may be asked to choose a display profile. There should be a default profile among the choices

Test all of the Preset Modes
Monitor appearance can be changed by choosing different preset modes from the OSD menu. Changing the preset mode may result in a more appealing overall appearance. To do this:
* Press the Menu button to open the monitor OSD
* Find the selection for Preset Modes and choose it
* Scroll through the different preset modes that are available and choose the one that appears to be most acceptable

Making custom color adjustments
If you want to make detailed adjustments to the appearance, choose Custom Color from the preset mode options. In this mode, you may adjust the color balance and various other detailed settings that affect the monitor's appearance. If you need to undo changes made in the Custom Color mode, go to the OSD and select Color Settings and then Reset Color.

Adjusting brightness and contrast
After you have reset the monitor to Factory defaults in the OSD, any brightness and contrast changes should be made in the video card control panel display settings.