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DisplayCAL

displaycal.net

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Spec score 8.0 #5 of 24 in Display Calibration Software

What it is

DisplayCAL is a free display calibration and profiling solution built on ArgyllCMS, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. With a supported measurement instrument, it measures displays and creates calibrations and ICC profiles, including for multi-display setups. Users can verify profiles and display devices, measure screen uniformity, and create video 3D LUTs with optional CIECAM02 gamut mapping. Colorimeter corrections can be imported from vendor software or created from measurements when a spectrometer is available. A test chart editor makes patch charts and accepts pasted data from CGATS, tab-delimited CSV, and spreadsheet applications. Documented pattern generators include madVR and DaVinci Resolve 10.1 or later; Chromecast support is optional. DisplayCAL requires ArgyllCMS 1.0 or newer and a supported measurement instrument. The software is licensed under GNU GPL version 3 or later and comes without warranty. The download page provides SHA-256 checksums, while the site links to forums, a wiki, documentation, help, and an issue tracker.

Spec sheet

Purpose
DisplayCAL is a display calibration and profiling solution built on ArgyllCMS.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Platforms
The site provides downloads for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Integrations
The site documents madVR and DaVinci Resolve (10.1+) as pattern generators and Chromecast support as an optional dependency.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Support
The site links to forums, a wiki, documentation, help, and an issue tracker; it also invites voluntary contributions toward development and technical assistance.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
License
DisplayCAL is free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later and is supplied without warranty.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Calibration
It measures displays with supported instruments and creates calibrations and ICC profiles.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Colorimeter corrections
It supports colorimeter corrections that can be imported from vendor software or created from measurements when a spectrometer is available.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Integrity
The download page provides SHA-256 checksums to verify downloaded files.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Maintainer
DisplayCAL is developed and maintained by Florian Höch, and ArgyllCMS is maintained by Graeme W. Gill.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Multi-display
It supports multi-display setups.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Requirements
Using DisplayCAL requires ArgyllCMS 1.0 or newer and a supported measurement instrument.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Test chart editor
Its test chart editor creates patch charts and accepts copy-and-paste from CGATS, tab-delimited CSV, and spreadsheet applications.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Uniformity
It can check display uniformity through measurements.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Verification
It can verify and report on ICC profiles and display devices.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net
Video LUTs
It can create video 3D LUTs and offers optional CIECAM02 gamut mapping.Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net

Plans and prices

DisplayCAL Free Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later · financial contributions are optional Read 30 Sep 2026 · displaycal.net

Every DisplayCAL plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later.
  • Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • Creates and verifies ICC profiles.
  • Supports multi-display setups and uniformity measurements.
  • Can create video 3D LUTs.

Limits

  • Requires ArgyllCMS 1.0 or newer.
  • Requires a supported measurement instrument.
  • Supplied without warranty.
  • Chromecast support is an optional dependency.

Who it suits

DisplayCAL suits people who need to calibrate or profile one or more displays and have a supported measurement instrument. Its chart editor and video 3D LUT tools may also suit users working with display test patterns or video workflows.

Verdict

DisplayCAL covers calibration, profiling, verification, and video LUT creation, with multi-display support. Before choosing it, confirm that you have a compatible instrument and ArgyllCMS installed; the software is supplied without warranty.

Where Specifiction places it

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