Motion Blur Test
Analyze your monitor's ghosting and response time performance.
How to read this test:
- Trailing/Ghosting: If you see a "shadow" behind the moving object, your monitor has a slower response time.
- Motion Blur: High-persistence displays (most LCDs) cause the object to look blurry while moving.
- Corona/Overshoot: If you see a bright glow behind the object, your monitor's "Overdrive" setting might be too high.
Instructions:
- 1. Keep your eyes fixed on the moving UFO.
- 2. Try different speeds. Higher speeds reveal more blur.
- 3. Use this to test different monitor "Response Time" or "Overdrive" settings.
Why Motion Clarity Matters?
For gamers, especially in FPS (First-Person Shooters), motion clarity can be the difference between seeing an enemy clearly or seeing a blurred streak.
High motion blur can cause eye strain and make it difficult to track fast-moving objects on the screen, even if your frame rate is high.
Response Time vs Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate (Hz) is how many times the screen updates. Response Time (ms) is how quickly pixels can change from one color to another.
A 144Hz monitor with slow response time will still look blurry. You need both a high refresh rate and a fast response time for the smoothest experience.
Common Artifacts to Look For
Dark Smearing
Common on VA panels. Moving dark objects leave a long black trail against lighter backgrounds.
Inverse Ghosting
Caused by aggressive 'Overdrive' settings. A bright halo or 'glow' appears behind moving objects.
Persistence Blur
The blurring caused by the fact that pixels stay illuminated for the entire duration of a frame.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Tuning Your Monitor
Set this test to 960 px/s. Go into your monitor's OSD menu and find 'Response Time' or 'Overdrive'. Cycle through 'Off', 'Normal', and 'Extreme'. You will likely see ghosting at 'Off' and inverse ghosting (bright halos) at 'Extreme'. 'Normal' is usually the sweet spot.
Example 2: Comparing Displays
Run this test on an OLED screen versus an older IPS or VA panel. You will notice that OLEDs have near-instant response times, resulting in much cleaner motion with almost zero ghosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is motion blur?
Motion blur is the perceived blurring of moving objects on a screen, caused by the display's response time and the human eye's persistence of vision.
How do I reduce motion blur?
You can reduce motion blur by using a higher refresh rate (Hz), enabling 'Overdrive' or 'Response Time' settings on your monitor, or using Motion Blur Reduction (MBR) features like ULMB or DyAc.
What is ghosting?
Ghosting is a trail or 'shadow' that follows moving objects on a screen, typically caused by slow pixel response times where pixels can't change colors fast enough to keep up with the motion.
Does FPS affect motion blur?
Yes. Higher FPS (Frames Per Second) reduces the time between updates, which can lead to smoother motion perception and less persistence blur on high-refresh displays.
What is the 'UFO Test'?
The UFO test is a popular industry-standard method for evaluating display motion clarity. It uses moving 'UFO' icons to reveal ghosting, smearing, and other motion-related artifacts.