Färgbild

Färgbild is a term used to describe an image that encodes color information for each element of the picture, as opposed to grayscale or black-and-white images. In Swedish usage it typically refers to color photographs or digital images where color is represented by separate channels. A color image stores data for several color components, most commonly red, green and blue (RGB).

In digital imaging, color images are formed by combining values in the RGB color model. Each pixel has channel values that determine its hue and brightness, and the overall appearance depends on color depth, commonly 8 bits per channel (24 bits per pixel) or higher. Color spaces such as sRGB, Adobe RGB and ProPhoto RGB define the mapping from numeric values to perceivable colors and differ in gamut, or range of colors they can represent.

Viewing and printing color involves color management. Displays use additive mixing (RGB), while printing relies on subtractive mixing (CMYK). ICC profiles and gamma correction are used to translate colors consistently across capture, editing, display and print, aiming for faithful reproduction of the original scene or artwork.

Historically, color images emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with methods like autochrome and Technicolor. In the digital era, common file formats for färgbild include JPEG, PNG, TIFF and RAW; compression and bit depth influence color fidelity. Färgbild encompasses photographs, computer-generated imagery and scanned artwork, and remains central in media, art, science and design.