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APPENDIX
OUTPUT COLOUR SPACE
The choice of output colour space is dependent on how the image will be reproduced. For most
home use where the image is displayed on a monitor or printed with a small printer, sRGB colour
space is adequate. Other colour spaces have been included for professional and technical applica-
tions. For recommendations for colour space use, see page 90.
sRGB
The colour space promoted by Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. Since it reflects the average PC
monitor characteristics, this standard is widely used around the world, and is considered to be the
standard for multi-media and Internet usage. However, sRGB is not suitable for professional pre-
press applications because of its narrower saturation reproduction range compared with other
colour spaces.
Apple RGB
This has been available since the introduction of the Apple 13” monitor. It is widely used in DTP, and
was used as a standard default setting in many common graphic arts and design applications:
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, etc. Because the colour space is wider than sRGB, it is commonly
used in the production of printed material.
SMPTE-C
This is the current standard used in television broadcasting in the United States.
PAL/SECAM
This is the current standard used in television broadcasting in Europe.
ColourMatch RGB
This colour space standard has a wide colour space and is ideal for use with Radius Press View
monitors, which are commonly used in prepress production.
Adobe RGB
This colour space standard is wider than ColourMatch RGB. The extensive range of colours avail-
able makes this standard ideal for prepress use. However, the range is so great that it includes
many colours that cannot be printed with a four-colour (CMYK) printing process.
Broad Spectrum Colour Scale RGB
Utilising the colour coordinates of the spectrum, this standard offers an extremely extensive range of
colours. However, most of the colours that can be generated cannot be reproduced on standard
computer monitors or by printing technology.
NTSC
This is the current standard used in television broadcasting in Japan.
CIE RGB
This colour space is defined by the CIE (Commission Internationale d`Eclairage).
Monitor RGB
This colour space is defined by the monitors ICC profile.
