Calibration procedures are described for use with electronic x-ray detectors, with an emphasis on detectors based on fiber-optically coupled charge-coupled devices. Methods are detailed for removing spurious events, pixel pedestals, dark-current, spatial distortion, and intensity response variations for both small-angle and wide-angle applications. The accuracy of the calibration procedures is discussed. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)02207-8].