OK, you likely got a yourself a new screen at some point in the last five years. Maybe even a new receiver, and probably a bluray player.

Each of these devices probably has a video adjustment menu. So short of hiring an ISF calibrator, how do you, the hobbyist videophile, go about tweaking your video output?

Do you use the menu of the screen only and leave well enough alone with the other devices, or do you experiment with all of the options available to you? What gave the best results? In your experience, what isn't worth messing with?

And what, if anything, are you using for calibration material? I have the old Avia DVD, but clearly things have changed a lot since it was produced. I've read good things about the Spears & Munsil disc, but haven't seen it mentioned here, iirc.