Modern televisions offer a myriad of customization features, allowing users to tailor their viewing experience to their preferences. However, navigating through numerous settings to optimize picture quality can be daunting for many. Fortunately, most users only need to adjust a single setting to significantly enhance their TV’s picture quality. One such feature is Clear Motion Rate, which is particularly effective in improving the picture quality on Samsung TVs.
The Evolution of Clear Motion Rate and Motion Quality Indices in LED TVs
In the analog television era, TV shows were broadcast at frame rates of 25 frames per second (fps) in Europe and 30 fps in the United States and Canada. With the transition to flat panel televisions, display manufacturers adopted a 60 fps standard. However, most available content had frame rates lower than what the TVs could technically display. Additionally, LCD TVs exhibited residual images on the screen—a technical nuance inherent to liquid crystal display technology. This residual image caused fast-moving objects on the screen to appear blurry.
Addressing Motion Blur and Insufficient Frames
To mitigate the negative effects of motion blur and inadequate frame rates, technologies were developed to enhance motion clarity. Samsung introduced Clear Motion Rate (CMR) as a solution. Initially, Samsung used indexes like CMR 400 or CMR 600 to denote different levels of motion enhancement. Over time, these indexes phased out, and CMR became a standalone setting within the TV’s menu. The nomenclature also evolved, with terms like Clarity Settings, LED Clear Motion, and simply Clear Motion emerging, although the underlying operational principles have remained consistent for over 15 years since their inception.
How Clear Motion Rate Works
Clear Motion Rate operates based on two primary factors: frame duplication and backlight control.
Frame Duplication and Clarity Settings
The first factor, affecting image quality through Clarity Settings, is particularly relevant when the content’s frame rate is lower than the TV’s display capability of 60 fps. Without enabling the Clear Motion setting, the TV would simply duplicate several frames to reach the necessary frame rate, resulting in a less smooth image. When the setting is activated, the TV intelligently analyzes the content to determine which frames to duplicate and which to omit. This results in a smoother image, though it may introduce the “soap opera effect”, where the motion appears unnaturally fluid.
LED Clear Motion and Backlight Control
The second factor, LED Clear Motion, focuses on reducing image blur and jitter. This issue arises from the peculiarities of human perception, where the brain subconsciously retains images even after they have disappeared from the screen. To counteract this, the Clear Motion setting inserts a black frame between real image frames. Instead of displaying a solid black frame, the backlight is turned off for just a few milliseconds. This rapid backlight control effectively erases the image from the viewer’s retina, minimizing the perception of blur and jitter.
Clear Motion Rate, Settings
Legacy Samsung TVs
Older Samsung TV models featured Clear Motion Rate as a distinct setting with several sub-options:
- Off: Disables Clear Motion Rate.
- Clear: Sharpens the picture without reducing jitter.
- Standard: Enhances sharpness and reduces jitter.
- Smooth: Increases smoothness by reducing sharpness.
- Custom: Allows users to manually adjust blur and jitter settings.
Modern Samsung TVs
In contemporary Samsung TVs, the Clear Motion setting has been streamlined into two main options:
- Clarity Settings: Increases the smoothness of the picture.
- LED Clear Motion: Reduces blur and jitter.
These settings are often available only in specific modes of operation, such as Game Mode, to optimize performance based on the content being viewed.
