xcalib(1) General Commands Manual xcalib(1)

xcalib v0.12.0 - Monitor Calibration Loader

xcalib ICC_FILE_NAME
xcalib -c -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v]
xcalib -i -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
xcalib -g NUMBER -b NUMBER -k NUMBER -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] [-c] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
xcalib -R NUMBER -G NUMBER -B NUMBER -d STRING -s NUMBER [-S NUMBER] [-T NUMBER] [-H NUMBER] [-I NUMBER] [-C NUMBER] [-D NUMBER] [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] [-c] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
xcalib -p[=FORMAT] -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v]
xcalib -h[=synopsis|...] -V --render STRING [-v]

The tool loads ’vcgt’‐tag of ICC profiles to the server using the XRandR/XVidMode/GDI Extension in order to load calibrate curves to your graphics card.

-d|--display STRING host:dpy
-s|--screen NUMBER Screen Number
-o|--output NUMBER Output Number

It appears in the order as listed in xrandr tool.
-a|--alter Alter Table
Works according to parameters without ICC Profile.
-n|--noaction Do not alter video-LUTs.
Work's best in conjunction with -v!
-p|--printramps[=FORMAT] Print Values on stdout.
-p TEXT # TEXT
-p SVG # SVG
-l|--loss Print error introduced by applying ramps to stdout.
-c|--clear Clear Gamma LUT
Reset the Video Card Gamma Table (VCGT) to linear values.

xcalib ICC_FILE_NAME
ICC_FILE_NAME File Name of a ICC Profile

xcalib -c -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v]
-c|--clear Clear Gamma LUT

Reset the Video Card Gamma Table (VCGT) to linear values.

xcalib -i -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
-i|--invert Invert the LUT

xcalib -g NUMBER -b NUMBER -k NUMBER -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] [-c] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
-g|--gamma NUMBER Specify Gamma (NUMBER:1 [≥0.1 ≤5 Δ0.1])

Global gamma correction value (use 2.2 for WinXP Color Control-like behaviour)
-b|--brightness NUMBER Specify Lightness Percentage (NUMBER:0 [≥0 ≤99 Δ1])
-k|--contrast NUMBER Specify Contrast Percentage (NUMBER:100 [≥1 ≤100 Δ1])
Set maximum value relative to brightness.

xcalib -R NUMBER -G NUMBER -B NUMBER -d STRING -s NUMBER [-S NUMBER] [-T NUMBER] [-H NUMBER] [-I NUMBER] [-C NUMBER] [-D NUMBER] [-o NUMBER] [-v] [-n] [-p[=FORMAT]] [-l] [-c] ICC_FILE_NAME | -a
-R|--red-gamma NUMBER Specify Red Gamma (NUMBER:1 [≥0.1 ≤5 Δ0.1])
-S|--red-brightness NUMBER Specify Red Brightness Percentage (NUMBER:0 [≥0 ≤99 Δ1])
-T|--red-contrast NUMBER Specify Red Contrast Percentage (NUMBER:100 [≥1 ≤100 Δ1])

Set maximum value relative to brightness.
-G|--green-gamma NUMBER Specify Green Gamma (NUMBER:1 [≥0.1 ≤5 Δ0.1])
-H|--green-brightness NUMBER Specify Green Brightness Percentage (NUMBER:0 [≥0 ≤99 Δ1])
-I|--green-contrast NUMBER Specify Green Contrast Percentage (NUMBER:100 [≥1 ≤100 Δ1])
Set maximum value relative to brightness.
-B|--blue-gamma NUMBER Specify Blue Gamma (NUMBER:1 [≥0.1 ≤5 Δ0.1])
-C|--blue-brightness NUMBER Specify Blue Brightness Percentage (NUMBER:0 [≥0 ≤99 Δ1])
-D|--blue-contrast NUMBER Specify Blue Contrast Percentage (NUMBER:100 [≥1 ≤100 Δ1])
Set maximum value relative to brightness.

xcalib -p[=FORMAT] -d STRING -s NUMBER [-o NUMBER] [-v]
-p|--printramps[=FORMAT] Print Values on stdout.
-p TEXT # TEXT
-p SVG # SVG

xcalib -h[=synopsis|...] -V --render STRING [-v]
-h|--help[=synopsis|...] Print help text

Show usage information and hints for the tool.
-h - # Full Help : Print help for all groups
-h synopsis # Synopsis : List groups - Show all groups including syntax
--render STRING Render
-V|--version Version
-v|--verbose Verbose


Under X11 systems this variable will hold the display name as used for the -d and -s option.

Assign the VCGT curves of a ICC profile to a screen

xcalib ‐d :0 ‐s 0 ‐v profile_with_vcgt_tag.icc

xcalib ‐d :0 ‐s 0 ‐c


Stefan Dohla <stefan AT doehla DOT de>
http://www.etg.e‐technik.uni‐erlangen.de/web/doe/xcalib/

Copyright © 2013-2026 Kai-Uwe Behrmann
License: GPL-2.0 https://opensource.org/license/gpl-2.0

15 June 2026 User Commands