Understanding Color Gamuts & Spaces in TVs & Monitors: Why They Matter

Imagine a world where color TVs were either black-and-white or color, with no in-between. Fast forward to today, where the market is flooded with TVs and monitors that boast even more colors. But what does that really mean? And why are manufacturers throwing around terms like color spaces and color gamuts? Let’s dive into the world of color displays.

Chances are, you’ve stumbled upon the terms “color space” or “color gamut” while hunting for that perfect high-dynamic-range TV. These terms also tend to surface when exploring gaming-optimized computer monitors. Manufacturers often claim that a display covers a certain percentage of a specific color space, like DCI-P3 or Rec. 2020.

If these technical terms leave you scratching your head, don’t worry. Most folks just need to know if their display supports HDR, which enhances color detail by producing over a billion vibrant shades. But for those who work with media editing or crave precise color accuracy, decoding the jargon is key.

Breaking Down Color Gamuts

Picture yourself back in middle school science class, learning about how our eyes perceive light wavelengths as color. The visible light spectrum is a mere fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, which is what a color display aims to replicate.

Here’s the catch: every display you’ve ever encountered showcases only a fraction of the colors our eyes can see. This fraction is known as the “color gamut,” representing the range of colors within the visible light spectrum that a display can reproduce.

While you may not notice missing colors on your screen, there are hues that simply cannot be displayed. For instance, SDR TVs can show over 16.7 million colors through unique combinations of red, green, and blue levels. In contrast, an HDR display can produce over 1.07 billion color combinations, expanding the visible spectrum significantly.

Deciphering Color Spaces

The concept of “color space” is more than just a range of colors; it’s a structured way of organizing colors that device manufacturers implement and support. For instance, the sRGB color space specifies the 16.7 million colors typical of SDR monitors and TVs.

Many color spaces, including sRGB, are related to the CIE 1931 color space, which encompasses all visible colors. Various other color spaces define subsets of these colors, with specific applications like printing. When shopping for a display, keep an eye out for these key color spaces to ensure an optimal viewing experience.