Color Space

defined range of colors (gamut) and the mathematical model used to represent them as numerical values. Color spaces are the coordinate systems of color—they define which colors can be represented and how. In post-production, the most relevant color spaces are: Rec.709 (the standard for HD broadcast and most consumer displays), DCI-P3 (the theatrical digital cinema standard with a wider gamut), Rec.2020 (the ultra-wide gamut target for HDR content), and various camera-native spaces (ARRI Wide Gamut, Sony S-Gamut, RED Wide Gamut). Understanding color spaces is essential because every handoff in the pipeline—camera to dailies, editorial to color, color to deliverables—involves either staying within or converting between color spaces. Mismatched color spaces produce shifted colors, clipped highlights, or washed-out images.