Different color spaces play crucial roles in photography, videography, design, and content editing. Cameras and monitors will market what percentage/average of the different color spaces they cover because this will directly affect the ability to edit and adjust the content of your choice. But that begs the question, what are the different color spaces, and which one do I need to utilize for my field of work? In this article, we will discuss what a color space is, break down the four primary color spaces, Adobe RGB, sRGB, DCI-P3, and Rec.709, and review which is best for photography, design, film, and video content. 

A color space is defined as a specific organization of colors that can be viewed and edited on different devices. Each color space reaches a certain point of the primary colors, Red, Blue, and Green, on the color space graph. These color spaces support accurate colors for analog and digital representations of content, but when broken down they are sometimes referred to as color gamuts. The concept of color space was first introduced in the early 1800’s, and later developed as technology and science advanced. While there are multiple color spaces available on the chart, the primary four that cameras and monitors advertise for are Adobe RGB, sRGB, DCI-P3, and Rec. 709. Let’s break down what professions each is the best option for. 

Adobe RGB is the most widely used color space for photography. It utilizes the RGB (red, green, blue) primary colors on a computer display while encompassing most of the colors achievable on CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key black) color printers. That means with Adobe RGB, the photos you edit on a monitor will be color-accurate during the editing process and when printed. Each color, R, G, and B, have values ranging between 0 and 1, which reference the white point and black point that help Adobe RGB achieve color accuracy. As a larger color space, Adobe RGB covers richer cyans and greens, and expands to areas of more intense orange, yellow, and magenta, providing more colors to utilize. 

From the scene captured on camera to the editing process on the monitor to the printed versions, maintaining color accuracy is a necessity, and using the same color space throughout the process will help maintain those colors. Adobe RGB is important because it is available in multiple cameras and monitors, is supported by major editing programs like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or Capture One, and will represent accurate colors for printing. The wider range of colors available will provide better-quality edits and is ideal for photography projects or printed works. 

sRGB is the most widely used color space for websites and online content. It covers the RGB (red, green, blue) primaries that came from HDTV, which means the colors it represents match typical viewing conditions and every color within the sRGB range is visible to the average human eye. It is also assumed to be the default working color space of many digital cameras, scanners, and printers, but if they’re not calibrated it cannot be confirmed that the colors they represent are within the sRGB parameters. Checking for sRGB mode or settings on devices and calibrating them to this color space will provide the best results when working with digital art and other creative works. 

sRGB is important because this color space is available on the majority of monitors, is widely accepted as the default color space that websites are created in, and covers all the colors you see in real life. When posting digital creations online or making content for a website, utilizing the sRGB color space for your work means everyone will see the content exactly as it was intended to be seen without the worry of variations. 

DCI-P3 is the most widely used color space for the film industry, specifically in theaters. It covers the red and blue primaries equally but covers far more of the green primary. The exact specifications were designed for viewing in a fully darkened theater environment with a projector, but today the colors work well for video content editing or vibrant images. The Apple Inc. variant, Display P3, is similar to the original DCI-P3 color space but uses a different white point which directly affects displays and devices. Certain cameras tag images with the Display P3 color space while streaming services provide color ranges closer to the original DCI-P3 color space. 

Every step of the creative process for content involves color. For video content creation or professional film, having a larger spectrum of colors to use during the color grading or video editing process is extremely beneficial. When entering the film industry, being familiar with DCI-P3 and having content that’s utilized the color space before will greatly benefit a career in that field. 

Rec.709 is the standard color space for high-definition television (HDTV). It has wide coverage for the red primary and general coverage for the blue and green primaries, fundamentally defining which R, G, and B will be used in the content. Rec.709 is specifically used in video production, editing, color grading, and post-production, to support consistent color representation from the start of production to the final product. It also ensures that colors will remain consistent across different HDTV systems and online streaming services. Despite technology changing and advancing, Rec.709 remains the strong baseline that is available on HDTV systems and video production technologies. 

Consistency across HDTV systems and streaming services allows for better experiences and content consumption. Rec.709 provides a color baseline for all content being created for those formats to ensure consistency and representation. The majority of professional monitors will provide their Rec.709 specifications alongside the other color space percentages. 

At BenQ, we strive to reproduce accurate colors in every one of our professional photography monitors. AQCOLOR, a proprietary technology developed by BenQ, is built on meeting industrial standards, emphasizing display details, and providing an out-of-the-box guarantee. Monitor capabilities are backed by third-party qualifications such as a Pantone Validated Certificate and Calman certification. The goal is to create products that will deliver on the promise of “Always Accurate and Consistent Colors” and empower creative professionals in every aspect of their work.

With BenQ Proprietary software, Display ColorTalk and Palette Master Ultimate (PMU), to ensure your colors are accurate and match across multiple screens. With creativity in mind, this software was designed to support your needs and elevate your creative processes.

Join the AQCOLOR Community and get the color accuracy you need with BenQ PhotoVue Monitors and DesignVue Monitors, backed by AQCOLOR technology and Paper Color Sync, guaranteeing color accuracy from screen to print. If you’re a student, take advantage of our special student offer here to get great quality for a great price. Additionally, SW and PD series purchasers and existing owners can get one FREE year of the new Pantone Connect Premium to bring the benefits of your smart device to your computer.