colorprocessing

Colorprocessing is the set of operations applied to color information in digital images and video to capture, interpret, transform, and render colors consistently across devices. It encompasses color management, color correction, and artistic grading, and it spans capture hardware, processing pipelines, and display systems. Core ideas include color spaces and primaries, gamma correction, white balance, and perceptual models that guide how colors are represented and perceived.

In a typical imaging pipeline, raw sensor data are demosaiced to produce RGB values, then white balance and exposure adjustments are applied. Gamma encoding is used to align digital values with display brightness, after which colors may be corrected for accuracy or adjusted for a particular look through color grading. Additional steps such as gamut mapping and tone mapping are used when working with wide or device-dependent color spaces, and dithering or quantization control helps preserve perceived detail in limited bit depths. Perceptual color spaces and color-difference metrics guide color adjustments to maintain consistent appearance under varying viewing conditions.

Color management relies on standardized color profiles and systems to translate colors between devices, ensuring a uniform appearance from camera to display to printer. ICC profiles and color management systems (CMS) map colors from one device’s color space to another, often requiring calibration of monitors and printers with colorimeters or spectrophotometers.

Applications include photography, cinematography, broadcasting, and printing, where precise color reproduction and artistic intent are important. Related concepts include color spaces (RGB, CMYK, Lab), gamma, white balance, gamut and tone mapping, and color difference assessment such as Delta E.