What’s the difference between a color model and a color space?
Asked 3/26/2014
3 views
2 answers
0
I often see “color model” and “color space” used as if they mean the same thing. In photography and imaging, what is the actual difference between them, and how are they related? For example, how do RGB, CMYK, sRGB, and Adobe RGB fit into these definitions?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
13
A color model is the mathematical (or computer science) way of describing colors. It is independent from physical devices.
RGB-8 or RGB-16 are color models as well as CYMK or HSL.
A color space is the method of mapping real colors to the color model's discrete values. sRGB and AdobRGB are color spaces that both use RGB as model. But in one the color represneted by, lets say RGB(16,69,201) may be differently displayed in sRGB and AdobeRGB.
Another RGB model is describing each "channel" with a floating point rather than an integer. Both sRGB and AdobeRGB would work nicely with this mode.
Lab is a color space that agrees well with the HSL (or HSV, I am not sure) color model.
The color room is called a room because the total number of colors available inclusive of all shadeds of brightness can be shown best in some 3-dimensional corpus, rooms.
They are often used interchangeably because their separation is rather abstract. Practically you cannot really discuss color spaces without having a specific color model in mind.
Originally by user17711. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user17711
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A color model is the abstract way color is described numerically. Examples include RGB, CMYK, HSL/HSV, and Lab. It defines the components used to represent color, such as red/green/blue or cyan/magenta/yellow/black.
A color space is a specific implementation of a color model that defines what real colors those numbers correspond to. In other words, it maps the model’s values to reproducible colors, usually for a device or workflow.
So:
- RGB is a color model.
- sRGB and Adobe RGB are color spaces built on the RGB model.
- The same RGB numbers can represent different actual colors in different RGB color spaces.
Another useful way to think of it:
- color model = the coordinate system
- color space = the defined range/meaning of coordinates within that system
A color space is often tied to practical reproduction or display limits, while the model is just the mathematical description. That’s why the terms are related, but not interchangeable.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can you convert between sRGB or Adobe RGB and Lab without quality loss?
How do color space, display gamut, and bit depth relate?
When should I use sRGB vs a wider color space like Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB?
What’s the difference between sRGB and Adobe RGB, and which should I use when shooting RAW?
What color space does Lightroom use in the Develop module, and why export in ProPhoto or Adobe RGB?