Is 130%sRGB really better than 100% sRGB?

2024-07-30

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Color gamut refers to the range of colors that can be displayed. Since it's a range, 100% indicates full coverage. However, when specifications like 130% sRGB and 110% sRGB frequently appear in advertisements, many of TiMaster's followers wonder if these figures above 100% sRGB are just numerical games.

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Frequent Exceedance of 100% sRGB Gamut

The concept of exceeding 100% sRGB isn't new. As early as 2017, Acer released a professional monitor claiming "up to 130% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 color gamut performance." In 2018, AOC's LV323WUPX monitor also claimed a 134% sRGB gamut.

By 2019, Acer continued to launch products with 130% sRGB, and new players like Thunderobot began exploring high-end professional and gaming products, reigniting discussions about surpassing 100% sRGB in the market.

From a gamut coverage perspective, calculating beyond 100% is problematic since colors can't be counted twice. Once 100% coverage is achieved, how is the excess calculated?

Clearly, 130% sRGB is likely a result of manufacturers playing with concepts. For example, a 114% NTSC gamut essentially refers to 72% NTSC being equivalent to 100% sRGB. Hence, a monitor with 114% NTSC actually covers 82.08% NTSC, roughly 86.4% Adobe RGB.

It's not that values beyond 100% are meaningless, but their conceptual shifts can be misleading. Larger gamut values are better, but such comparisons should be within a standardized context. Forcing higher values out of context lacks significance.

Starting with sRGB to Discuss Gamut

sRGB represents standard Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) colors used in CRT monitors, LCDs, projectors, printers, and other devices. Based on independent color coordinates, sRGB ensures consistent color reproduction across different devices.

Gamut is a method of encoding color and refers to the total colors a system can produce. In computer graphics, it represents a complete subset of colors used for precise representation in given contexts, like a specific color space or device.

 

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In 1931, CIE (International Commission on Illumination) introduced the first mathematically defined color space standard, CIE 1931, providing an initial systematic understanding of "color space."

Since its inception, color science aims for precise color conversion and correction adjustments. The evolution from CIE 1931 RGB to CIE 1931 XYZ, CIE 1960 UCS, and CIE 1976 LAB systems shows a trend towards uniformity. Post-1976, color space uniformity improved significantly, aligning more closely with human vision. When manufacturers publish color standards, consider the CIE standard used, especially for color-critical professional monitors.

Different color standards cover varying color ranges. DCI-P3, sRGB, NTSC, and Adobe RGB are all derived from CIE color standards but differ in application and color range.

 

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Application Focus of Different Standards

DCI-P3: Applied in digital cinema, emphasizing visual impact.

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Introduced in 2002 by American film industry giants, DCI-P3 is a wide color gamut standard for digital cinema. Although it doesn't cover much of the CIE gamut, it meets all cinematic color requirements, focusing on visual impact rather than color completeness.

For film, TV, and gaming, DCI-P3 offers excellent visual impact, though its limited color coverage is noteworthy.

sRGB: Low green coverage, 100% is mediocre now.

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Once a significant standard developed by HP and Microsoft in 1996 for displays, printers, and the web, sRGB now seems mediocre due to limited green coverage and only encompassing 30% of the CIE gamut.

NTSC: Neutral colors, phase easily lost.

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NTSC, a color broadcast standard developed in 1952 by the National Television System Committee, is often used to test TV and monitor color ranges. Despite its broad acceptance, it doesn't fully cover sRGB, leaning more towards neutral colors.

Adobe RGB: Enhanced cyan-green, benefits printing industry.

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Developed by Adobe Systems in 1998, Adobe RGB is widely used in the printing industry, aiming for "what you see is what you get." Covering roughly 50% of the CIE gamut, it excels in cyan-green areas, addressing the color discrepancy between displays and printed materials.

Emotional Summary

1. 100% sRGB is equivalent to 72% NTSC; such screens are average by today's standards.

2. Screens with over 90% Adobe RGB and 90% NTSC are considered excellent.

3. Screens covering only about 60% sRGB or 50% NTSC aren't worth buying, regardless of price.

After this detailed and practical explanation, it's clear that different gamut standards can't be outrightly declared better or worse. Originating from the film industry, DCI-P3 offers excellent visual impact, while Adobe RGB is revered in the printing industry, and NTSC stems from television.