R&D Report 1972-37 : The contrast handling requirements of a colour television display R.N. Robinson A survey of domestic television viewing conditions is described. These conditions were reproduced in a laboratory in order to determine the contrast range of the eye. The dependence of the contrast range visible to the eye upon ambient illumination and upon the form and brightness of the displayed picture have been investigated; these results are then interpreted in terms of the contrast range available from a practical display tube under similar conditions. It is found that under normal viewing conditions the visible contrast range of a television picture is severely limited by flare within the display tube and ambient light reflected from the tube face. A reduction of the reflectance of the tube face to approximately 28% of its present value is required for good reproduction of the luminance range visible under typical viewing conditions.