Abstract
We investigated the off-axis luminance and color properties of the bright states of common liquid crystal device modes when the dark states are optically compensated. The investigation was carried out as a function of the on-axis luminance of the devices, and analyzed in terms of a simple universal model of the bright state. We show good agreement of the simple model with the calculations of actual vertical alignment and electrically controlled birefringence devices, and explain deviations from this model for twisted nematic and Pi-cell devices. The results of the study add insight into the nature of the color shift problems in common liquid crystal devices.