A method for evaluating the image retention of a display device comprising: instructing the display device to output a test pattern (206, 306, 406, 606, 706) having at least one dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610) and at least one light feature (208, 308, 408, 608); and immediately following display of the test pattern, instructing the display device to output an analysis pattern (202, 302, 402, 602) having an intermediate brightness feature and at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) comprising a plurality of regions of different levels, wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610), and wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a light feature (208, 308, 408, 608). wherein the intermediate brightness feature comprises at least one of a dark analysis intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c) which corresponds to a region near the gradient feature that has a brightness residing within the spectrum of brightness present in the gradient feature and which is in the location of the display formerly showing a dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610), or a light analysis intermediate brightness feature (216, 316, 416, 616a-c) which corresponds to a region near the gradient feature that has a brightness residing within the spectrum of brightness present in the gradient feature in the location of the display formerly showing a light feature (208, 308, 408, 608); - comparing the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c, 216, 316, 416, 616a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) to determine a first location of the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) at which a difference in brightness between the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is minimized, which first location determines the image retention. instructing the display device to output a test pattern (206, 306, 406, 606, 706) having at least one dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610) and at least one light feature (208, 308, 408, 608); and immediately following display of the test pattern, instructing the display device to output an analysis pattern (202, 302, 402, 602) having an intermediate brightness feature and at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) comprising a plurality of regions of different levels, wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610), and wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a light feature (208, 308, 408, 608). wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610), and wherein at least one of the at least one gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is near a location of the display formerly showing a light feature (208, 308, 408, 608). wherein the intermediate brightness feature comprises at least one of a dark analysis intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c) which corresponds to a region near the gradient feature that has a brightness residing within the spectrum of brightness present in the gradient feature and which is in the location of the display formerly showing a dark feature (210, 310, 410, 610), or a light analysis intermediate brightness feature (216, 316, 416, 616a-c) which corresponds to a region near the gradient feature that has a brightness residing within the spectrum of brightness present in the gradient feature in the location of the display formerly showing a light feature (208, 308, 408, 608); - comparing the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c, 216, 316, 416, 616a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) to determine a first location of the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) at which a difference in brightness between the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is minimized, which first location determines the image retention. - comparing the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c, 216, 316, 416, 616a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) to determine a first location of the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) at which a difference in brightness between the intermediate brightness feature (218, 318, 418, 618a-c) and the gradient feature (204, 304, 404, 604a-c) is minimized, which first location determines the image retention.