DisplayCAL vs PatternSpace

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.

PatternSpace is a macOS app for generating test patterns used in display calibration. It creates SDR and HDR patches, pattern grids, clipping checks, gamma tools, and color swatches. Its library contains more than 100 GPU-rendered patterns in Color, Checks, Geometry, Swatch, Gamma, and Clipping categories. Rendering uses a Metal EDR pipeline with up to 16-bit-per-channel output and patches locked to display refresh timing. It works with connected internal or external displays and requires macOS 15.6 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel Macs. The free plan includes 100+ patterns and 14 SDR reference presets; PatternSpace Pro costs $39.99, paid once and adds calibration integrations, unlimited Remote rendering, advanced HDR, and LUT and ICC export. DeckLink SDI Output is a separate $39.99, paid once and requires compatible Blackmagic hardware and Desktop Video 16.4.x. PatternSpace supplies patches but does not measure or automatically correct a display; display accuracy requires measurement hardware.