Various systems and methods of lighting a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a method includes applying a voltage waveform to the interferometric modulators, applying a voltage pulse to the interferometric modulators, detecting reflectivity of light from the interferometric modulators, and determining one or more quality parameters of the interferometric modulators based on the detecting reflectivity of light, where the applied voltage pulse causes the interferometric modulators to vary between an actuated and a non-actuated state, or an non-actuated state and an actuated state.