Tint control

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Because the NTSC color television standard is susceptible to color errors, there is a tint control on NTSC television sets, which allows the image hue to be corrected. This control was traditionally a knob, but on modern sets it is mostly available through a menu (OSD).

The control allows the image to be adjusted between a green and a magenta tint, with the correct hue lying somewhere in between. Dynamic adjustment may be needed in case of an antenna signal, because the path of the signal changes according to atmospheric conditions. The tint can oscillate during a storm. If the signal travels a fixed path, e.g. from a cable television network or a DVD player, dynamic adjustment should not be necessary.

On broadcast equipment, such as timebase correctors and studio monitors, this control is typically marked "phase," as it adjusts the phase of the color signal with respect to the luminance signal.

Fixing NTSC's tint problems was the primary technical objective during the development of the European PAL and SECAM color television standards. TV sets for these standards don't always have tint controls and need them less.