colorconversion

Color conversion is the process of translating color representations from one color space or encoding to another to preserve perceived color across devices. Color spaces can be device-dependent, such as RGB for displays or CMYK for printing, or device-independent, such as XYZ, CIELAB, and CIELUV, which aim to describe colors regardless of device. In practice, color management systems and ICC profiles coordinate conversions between spaces to maintain consistent appearance.

Common spaces include RGB (red-green-blue), typically used by digital screens; CMYK (cyan-magenta-yellow-black), used in printing; and device-independent spaces like XYZ, Lab, and Luv. For digital workflows, sRGB is a standardized RGB space, with gamma-corrected encoding to match display response.

Conversion typically involves linearization, color-space matrices, and non-linear transforms. For example, converting RGB to XYZ uses a 3x3 linear matrix after correcting for gamma. Converting XYZ to Lab or Luv uses nonlinear functions relative to a reference white point. Chromatic adaptation may be applied to account for lighting differences. YCbCr or YUV are common for video, often derived from RGB with luminance and chroma components.

Challenges include gamut mapping when converting to spaces with smaller gamuts, where colors may be clipped or perceptually adjusted. Printing adds further complexity because CMYK conversion depends on printer profiles and inks.

Applications span digital photography, web design, video, and printing. Accurate color conversion relies on consistent color management, device calibration, and the use of ICC profiles to link color spaces across tools and devices.