TestMyGears

Gradient & banding test

Free monitor gradient test in your browser. Smooth greyscale ramps, RGB spectrum patterns, and 10-bit / 8-bit / 6-bit simulation reveal gradient banding on any screen. Fullscreen on a monitor, laptop, or tablet and tune steps live instead of downloading static test images.

Click for fullscreen · F for fullscreen · Adjust controls live
Gradient ramp 256 steps · horizontal

Pattern & direction

Gradient test pattern
Direction

Ramp & bit depth

Bit depth simulation

Colors

Assessment guide

Smooth ramp

No visible stripes at 256 greyscale steps — panel dithering and bit depth look healthy for photo and video work.

Banding detected

Distinct steps in the gradient — try 10-bit simulation off, lower Vivid mode, or check cable/GPU output depth in driver settings.

Bit depth reference

Default

Native output

No quantization — what your GPU and browser send today

10-bit

10-bit (~1024 levels)

Simulates pro photo and HDR panels — smooth on good hardware

8-bit

8-bit (~256 levels)

Typical desktop monitor — banding may appear on long ramps

6-bit

6-bit + FRC (~64 levels)

Budget laptop panels — visible steps on skies and shadows

Free gradient banding test for monitors and screens

TestMyGears is a browser gradient test screen for display QA, not a chemistry HPLC gradient, microbiology assay, MOT driving test, or calc-3 math problem. Adjustable step ramps replace static Lagom and EIZO gradient test images with live greyscale, color, and HDR-style black-to-white patterns you can tune without downloading PNGs.

Live greyscale ramp

A 256-step black-to-white ramp shows banding that static grayscale gradient test images catch on Lagom and review sites. Lower the step slider until stripes vanish to estimate effective bit depth on your panel.

10-bit / 8-bit / 6-bit simulation

Quantize output to about 1024, 256, or 64 levels per channel. If banding appears only after you drop to 8-bit or 6-bit, the chain likely handles deep greys well enough for photo or grading work.

Color and custom ramps

RGB spectrum mode steps through primaries for per-channel banding. Custom start and end colors build any color gradient test pattern for skies, shadows, or dark UI fills.

What gradient banding is (on a display)

Gradient banding is visible stepping between adjacent brightness or color levels. A monitor gradient test hunts that defect on screens. Lab chromatography, driving exams, and calculus gradients are unrelated searches.

Bit depth and distinct levels

An 8-bit channel has 256 grey levels; 6-bit plus FRC drops toward 64; 10-bit targets about 1024. When a smooth photo ramp needs more levels than the chain provides, you see bands. Banding at 256 steps often means 8-bit output or weak dithering.

Live test vs static image

Downloadable gradient test PNGs are fixed. This online tool lets you change direction (horizontal, vertical, radial), step count, and simulated bit depth live, closer to a QA gradient generator than a single Lagom JPEG.

HDR and near-black ramps

HDR tone mapping clips near-black and near-white code values. Black-to-white and low-step greyscale ramps mimic crushed shadows you see in streaming apps and games after the OS maps HDR to the panel.

How to run a monitor gradient test

About three minutes: fullscreen greyscale, flip bit-depth simulation, then check color and near-black ramps in a dim room.

  1. Baseline greyscale ramp

    Load the default 256-step horizontal greyscale pattern. Enter fullscreen and look for stripes. Note the step count where banding disappears when you reduce the slider. See also: Gradient test by scenario .

    Tip Dim the room; banding is easier to see off-axis on IPS panels

  2. Compare 10-bit vs 8-bit output

    Enable 10-bit simulation. Smooth ramps suggest good dithering or deep output. Switch to 8-bit and 6-bit to preview cheaper panels the way reviewers use 10-bit gradient test images. See also: HDR test .

    Tip Match GPU output depth in NVIDIA or AMD control panel when testing desktop banding

  3. Color and black gradient checks

    Run RGB spectrum for per-channel banding. Set custom black-to-grey ramps for near-black UI banding (common in dark themes). After the ramp pass, open real photos with skies to confirm what the test predicted. See also: Color calibration .

    Tip Radial direction mimics vignette banding on ultrawide monitors

Gradient test terms worth knowing

Gradient banding

Visible steps in what should be a smooth luminance or color ramp. Distinct from dead pixels (point defects) and uniformity clouding (large-area tint).

10-bit, 8-bit, and 6-bit

Bits per channel set output levels: 10-bit ≈ 1024, 8-bit = 256, 6-bit ≈ 64. A 10-bit gradient test assumes smooth deep output; banding at 256 steps on native mode hints at 8-bit panels or GPU settings.

Lagom and static references

Lagom LCD pages and downloadable monitor gradient PNGs are industry references. This tool reproduces those greyscale and color ideas interactively when you need more steps or bit-depth simulation than a fixed file.

FRC dithering

Frame Rate Control toggles adjacent levels quickly to fake extra bit depth on 6-bit and 8-bit panels. Some panels look clean head-on but show temporal noise. Our static ramp focuses on spatial steps only.

When to run a gradient banding test

Banding shows up differently in photo grades, HDR streams, return-window QA, and dark UI fills.

Photo and video editing

  • Skies and skin tones use long smooth ramps where banding ruins grades.
  • Target a clean 256-step greyscale on a calibrated 10-bit path.
  • If banding appears, check OS output depth and the panel’s native bit depth.

Recommended 256-step greyscale + 10-bit simulation

HDR and streaming

  • Near-black UI and shadow ramps expose HDR tone-map banding.
  • Use black-to-dark-grey custom ramps for HDR gradient behavior.
  • Compare SDR fullscreen versus HDR mode in OS settings.

Recommended Black-to-grey ramp at low step counts

Pre-purchase monitor QA

  • Run the same 256-step pattern on two laptops side by side.
  • Better panels stay smooth; 6-bit units show stripes immediately.
  • Pair with dead-pixel and uniformity tests before the return window closes.

Recommended Side-by-side 256-step ramp

Gaming and dark UI

  • Dark grey UI gradients (Discord-style) band on cheap VA panels.
  • Custom dark grey ramps at 64–128 steps mimic real UI fills.
  • Radial mode helps spot vignette banding on curved displays.

Recommended Custom dark grey ramp

Reliable gradient test setup

Room lighting

Test in a dim room with no direct glare. Banding is subtle; reflected light hides steps that show up in editing suites.

Native resolution and scaling

Run at 100% OS scaling and native resolution. Fractional scaling re-quantizes output and can create false banding on an otherwise good panel.

Not lab, driving, or math tests

Searches for gradient test HPLC, microbiology gradients, MOT gradient tests, or calc-3 gradients refer to chemistry, biology, driving exams, or math. This page only tests display pixels.

Screenshot for RMA notes

Fullscreen the ramp and capture a still for support tickets. Include step count and bit-depth simulation so the vendor can reproduce the result.

Why banding still shows up after calibration

A clean greyscale ICC profile does not guarantee smooth ramps. Bit depth, dithering, and tone mapping sit later in the chain.

Why a live online gradient test beats a fixed PNG

Static gradient test images (Lagom pages, TFTCentral downloads, reviewer packs) are excellent references but fixed. A free gradient test online lets you change step count, direction, colors, and simulated bit depth without hunting a new PNG for every GPU setting.

For buyers, a banding check is one of the fastest pass/fail gates before a return window closes. Stripes at 128–256 greyscale steps usually predict visible banding in real photos and video gradients.

How many levels you actually get

True 10-bit needs panel, cable, and GPU output support. Many “10-bit” marketing claims are 8-bit panels with FRC. This browser test simulates quantization so you can compare native, 10-bit, 8-bit, and 6-bit looks side by side.

Mild banding on an extreme 256-step ramp can be normal on well-dithered 8-bit panels. Severe stripes at moderate step counts, or banding in everyday photos, point to weak dithering, a wrong color mode, or a 6-bit panel.

Gradient & banding test FAQs

Is this a gradient test for monitors or for lab / HPLC / MOT work?

This is a monitor and screen gradient test for display banding only. It is not gradient elution in HPLC, a microbiology assay, an MOT driving test, or a multivariable calculus (calc 3) problem. Those searches refer to chemistry, biology, driving exams, and math. TestMyGears tests hardware pixels.

How do I run a 10-bit gradient test?

Select “Simulate 10-bit (~1024 levels)” and use a 256-step greyscale ramp. If the ramp stays smooth at 10-bit but shows stripes at 8-bit or 6-bit, the panel likely handles deep output well. True 10-bit still needs GPU, cable, and panel support; this browser tool simulates quantization for comparison.

How does this compare to Lagom gradient tests?

Lagom LCD pages provide trusted static patterns. TestMyGears covers the same greyscale and color ideas live: adjustable steps, directions, custom colors, and bit-depth simulation, without downloading gradient test image files.

What step count should I use?

Start at 256 steps for maximum sensitivity. If no banding appears, try 128, then 64, and enable 6-bit simulation. Real content rarely uses full-screen 256-step ramps, but the test is intentionally harsh. Visible stripes at 256 steps matter for photo and HDR work.

Can I use this as a gradient generator?

Yes for QA: pick custom start/end colors, direction, and step count to build color ramps on screen. It is tuned for banding detection, not wallpaper export. Use fullscreen and screenshots if you need a still for documentation.

Why banding on black or HDR gradients?

Near-black and near-white regions keep fewer distinct code values after tone mapping, so HDR and black ramps often show banding even when mid-grey looks fine. Test with black-to-dark-grey custom ramps and compare SDR versus HDR modes in your OS.

Does this work on phones and tablets?

Yes. Open the free gradient test in mobile Safari or Chrome, enter fullscreen, and run the same greyscale ramp. OLED phones often band less on near-black but can still show steps on long grey ramps at low brightness.

Is gradient banding always a defect?

Mild banding on extreme 256-step ramps can be normal on 8-bit panels with good dithering. Severe stripes at moderate step counts, or banding in everyday photos, suggest poor dithering, a wrong color mode, or a 6-bit panel worth exchanging during QA.

Related display tests

After the gradient banding test, check gamma, uniformity, and HDR output on the same panel.