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PSA: Don't use CPS3's Test Patterns

notsonic

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I have been trying to adjust convergence, focus, color balance, etc on my MS8 monitor. I've been using SF3 Third Strike for the test signals since that's what I plan on mostly using the cabinet for. One problem I've encountered is that CPS3's signal doesn't seem to play well with the MS8 and creates ghosting/ringing/double images.
Here's some threads about that:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=162118.0
https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/astro-city-restoration-and-monitor-fix.11781/page-2
https://www.arcade-projects.com/thr...e-mister-for-jamma-cabinets.19382/post-305946

I've added in the suggested resistors and it cleared up a lot of the CPS3's picture.


In addition to that though, I've been going crazy trying to get convergence adjusted with the grid pattern. I booted Third Strike up in Mame just to see what it looks like, and it turns out the grid pattern has a drop shadow on it.
sf3-hatch.png sf3-hatch-zoom.png

Not only that but the text in the menu is anti-aliased so it's got basically a color gradient on it.
sf3-menu-text.png sf3-menu-text-zoom.png

Finally all of the other text has a drop shadow on it.
sf3-color-bars.png sf3-color-bars-zoom.png

The color bars are probably still pretty useful, but I highly recommend testing with something else.
 
For convergence, purity, geometry, I use my Test Pattern Generator. For reference color balance, I use the CPS2. But each game has its own calibration that has to be adjusted. CPS2 is a good reference point.
 
The Naomi test pattern isn't ideal for adjusting convergence / dialing in focus either. There's no shadow on it, but the lines are 4px wide:

naomi_test_pattern.png
 
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Here's some pics of my MS8 with the CPS3 test patterns up.

I was going crazy trying to adjust away the gray lines on the grid thinking they were convergence or blooming issues. The convergence is still bad but it's not as bad as I thought.

PXL_20230211_170232301.jpg PXL_20230211_170217459.jpg PXL_20230211_170153858.jpg
 
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I use the CPS2 for monitor setup, as well. I can adjust the Horizontal and Vertical for any other game and be confident everything else is good.

I use the gray Naomi boot up screen to test tubes for burn in. I've mentioned this a few times on the forum before, but the gray screen is how you test for burn in on commercial grade monitors. Works amazing when you're scoping out a used tube.
 
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