How to Lighten the Color on a Computer Screen

Windows 7 Professional for small businesses includes the Display Color Calibration, a feature that allows you to adjust your monitor's settings to display images, business reports and websites in rich color. Almost everything you do on your business computer, from displaying a business portfolio to going over business solutions with clients, will benefit from accurate color. These display settings must be configured properly to ensure dark colors and shadows are presented in a rich and accurate way for optimal image display, even when you lighten the color.

Click the Start button and the "Control Panel." Enter "calibrate display" without quotes in the search box and press "Enter." If prompted, enter your administrator password to start the Display Color Calibration wizard.

Click "Next." From the "Find the Brightness and Contrast Controls for Your Display" page, locate the Brightness and Contrast tools, and then click "Next."

Set the contrast setting to the default factory setting your monitor supports. This is especially efficient for LCD or flat panel monitors. If you're using a CRT monitor, set the contrast value to the highest setting.

Observe the sample images in the How to Adjust Brightness page to determine which ones display dark or light colors. If the dark colors lack details, click "Next" to display the Adjust Brightness page.

Press the "Menu" button on the front or side of your monitor, depending on the model, and then use the arrow buttons to select the brightness setting. If you're using a laptop, press the brightness keys to increase the brightness.

Increase the brightness until the color on the screen is properly displayed. If the dark colors start to appear light and gray, it means you've taken it a little too far, so reduce it to an optimal level. An optimal brightness level ensures dark and shadowy areas are dark enough but still rich in details. Use the image of the man on the calibration wizard to set the optimal brightness setting. If you see the large X behind him, lower the brightness until the X disappears.

Click the "Next" button on the How to Adjust Contrast page to display the Adjust Contrast page. Click "Next," and then press the "Menu" button on your computer monitor.

Select the contrast setting, and then adjust the contrast level. Use the image of the man on the Adjust Contrast page to determine whether the contrast is perfectly calibrated. Contrast determines how white and light colors appear, so increase the level until the man's white shirt including buttons and wrinkles are still perfectly visible

Click "Next" on the How to Adjust Color Balance page.

Drag the red, green and blue sliders on the screen until the grey bar appears natural and neutral. Keep adjusting the sliders if a color cast appears on the neutral gray colors. Click "Next" when you finish to complete the color calibration.

Click "Current Calibration" on the "You've Successfully Created a New Calibration" screen to view your new display settings. Click "Finish" to use the new color settings.