multiprimary

MultiPrimary, in color science and display technology, refers to color reproduction systems that use more than the conventional three primary colors to generate a wide range of colors. By employing four, five, or more spectral primaries, these systems can extend the achievable gamut beyond standard RGB and enable more precise color rendering and luminance control.

In operation, colors are produced by linearly combining the primaries. The achievable colors occupy the convex hull of the primaries in a color space such as CIE XYZ or CIELAB. Additional primaries help cover spectral regions difficult to reach with RGB alone, potentially enabling wider gamuts and improved metameric matching to reference sources. However, multi-primary systems introduce calibration complexity and require color management across devices, content, and viewing conditions.

Common configurations include RGBW (red, green, blue, white), used in some displays to boost brightness and efficiency, as well as schemes that add primaries such as amber, cyan, or lime for professional monitors and projectors. The specific selection of primaries depends on the desired balance between gamut coverage, luminance performance, and manufacturing considerations.

Advantages of multi-primary designs include wider gamut coverage, potential improvements in color accuracy when properly calibrated, and enhanced luminance efficiency. They can support wide color gamut content and certain HDR workflows more effectively than RGB alone.

Challenges involve higher hardware and controller complexity, the need for advanced color-management pipelines and calibration, potential metamerism issues, and compatibility with existing content and standards. MultiPrimary approaches are most commonly discussed in professional imaging, cinema projection, medical displays, and high-end visualization where gamut and color accuracy are critical.