Input Performance Lab methodology

Monitor Motion and Ghosting Test Methodology

A controlled visual protocol for evaluating monitor motion blur, inverse ghosting, and response behavior.

What this method can establish

This method supports a structured visual check of moving-edge clarity and artifacts. It is suitable for troubleshooting and comparisons on one setup, not for publishing instrument-grade response-time numbers.

Browser limitations

1.Browser animation timing, dropped frames, refresh-rate detection, compositor behavior, and variable refresh rate can change the test pattern.
2.Human visual inspection cannot produce precise gray-to-gray transition times, overshoot percentages, or input-lag measurements.
3.Photos depend on camera shutter, focus, exposure, pursuit accuracy, and rolling shutter; uncontrolled photos are not directly comparable.

Repeatable protocol

1.Warm the display for 30 minutes, select its native resolution and target refresh rate, and confirm the browser reports a stable frame rate.
2.Disable dynamic contrast and other changing picture controls. Record overdrive mode, refresh rate, brightness, VRR state, and connection type.
3.Observe the same moving pattern for at least 30 seconds in each overdrive mode. Look at both dark-on-light and light-on-dark edges.
4.Repeat the full sequence three times. For comparisons, keep the pattern speed, room light, viewing distance, display settings, and browser identical.

How to interpret results

1.A trailing smear indicates slow transitions; a bright or dark halo can indicate overshoot or inverse ghosting.
2.Prefer the setting with the best overall clarity across multiple edge tones, not the one that looks best in one transition.
3.Report observations with the exact refresh rate and overdrive mode. Do not generalize one refresh-rate result to the display’s entire VRR range.

Privacy

The motion pattern runs locally in the browser. Visual observations stay on the device unless you choose to save or share them; camera access is not required.

Run the motion blur test Explore Input Performance Lab guides

Monitor Motion and Ghosting Test Methodology

A controlled visual protocol for evaluating monitor motion blur, inverse ghosting, and response behavior.