Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (2024)

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Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (15)

If you’re using a PC monitor, then the difference between full and limited RGB has important implications for image quality. So the answer is a definite yes. The divergence has to do with the differing needs of monitors and TVs in the digital image processing age. Also, please keep in mind full or limited dynamic RGB ranges refer to degrees of light and dark intensity. They have no direct relation to bit color depth, and HDR works just fine with both.

The full and limited ranges apply to each individual monitor or TV regardless of peak brightness. In other words, a 300-nit TV and a 1000-nit monitor will have their own versions of the same full/limited counting system. Just as many steps for both, but each identical step will have a different value on the TV and monitor (presumably three times more intense on the latter). The individual nature of RGB ranges makes monitor and TV calibration very important.

How do we define full and limited RGB?

Currently an industry standard, the above terms apply to sRGB, or standard RGB, or just RGB. Originally developed by engineers from Microsoft, HP, Intel, and other companies, the scale has 255 levels. That means 0 represents absolute black on a display, while 255 stands for absolute white. Or darkest and brightest. In between are 253 shades, essentially. Other scales exist for more niche uses such as CAD/CAM, ranging from 0 to 147 for example, but we won’t get into those as they don’t apply to mainstream computing. Full RGB means the ability to show 0-255, or the full range. That’s what PC monitors have been using for years. Limited RGB has a range of 16-235. Its absolute black is 16 levels brighter (or less dark) than full RGB. By the same token, max white (or brightness) for limited RGB is 15 levels lower (less bright) than for full RGB.

Why does limited RGB even exist?

When displays transitioned into an all-digital phase, content creators such as cinematographers and directors noticed that the default full RGB range causes issues for movies and TV shows. Full RGB has a wider darkness range, so details in dark areas show more clearly. For content makers that’s a problem because it makes “hiding” stuff harder. Horror movies, for example, love hiding things in dark visuals. Action shows use wires to make people fly but need to conceal said wires in post production. Science fiction movies and series have lots of effects and CGI. In a full and vivid dynamic range a lot of these elements look less realistic and overly exposed. After much experimentation, the 16-235 range was adopted by pretty much all cinematic and creative arts applications. Your streaming services and Blu-rays carry content that’s nearly always mastered in limited RGB.

Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (16)

Full RGB uses the full range and is ideal for PC use.

Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (17)


Limited RGB uses the 16-235 range and is ideal for movies and TV.

Why is this a problem?

Well, PC monitors by default run the full RGB range. But if you leave it at that and then use the monitor to view limited RGB sources, you’ll get crushed black levels. In essence, the dark areas of the image will appear too dark and completely lacking in detail. So, to enjoy movies and TV shows on a monitor you should theoretically switch to limited RGB. Fortunately, internal or downloaded apps like Netflix have gotten pretty good at auto adjusting to the HDMI or DisplayPort connection used to convey them. Blu-rays are hardcoded to limited RGB and just look bad on a full RGB display.

The reverse is true as well. Force your full RGB monitor to always run limited RGB, including in the OS, and you’ll get a washed out image. Blacks become dark grey and a lot of detail disappears. Similarly, if you use a TV as your monitor, chances are you should be on limited RGB. Forcing the TV to work in full RGB will cause crushed blacks, as mentioned above.

Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (18)

Full RGB on a limited RGB display leads to “crushed” blacks and lost details.

Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (19)

Source and display RGB range match. More details appear on the image.

What’s the solution?

Simple, like with a lot of video-related topics, make sure your display and sources match. Watch Blu-rays on a limited RGB TV and do your gaming and computing on a full RGB monitor. Just make sure everything is set to the same dynamic range, as any mismatch will promptly ruin your image quality.

Sure, it would be great if the industry could standardize even more and simply settle on one scale. Or if all displays could auto switch between limited and full RGB based on content. However, neither has transpired just yet so for now you should be aware of this.

Check your graphics card driver settings and display menus to pick the right scale, if such options are provided. Remember, for PC on a monitor choose full RGB whenever possible. For PC on a TV or Blu-rays on a monitor, limited RGB should be the better option.

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Many current displays aimed at entertainment and gaming include impressive dual speaker designs.Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (22)

Do Gaming Monitors Deliver Good Sound or Do I Need External Speakers?

Once upon a time reality forced PC users, especially gamers, into buying often-costly external audio devices. Monitors frequently had no speakers and when they did, sound quality left much to be desired. In other words, sound quality wasn’t good at all. Everything sounded flat and weak, so external speakers were needed. But just as motherboards evolved to the point where most gamers don’t buy dedicated sound cards, so have monitors improved. Many current displays aimed at entertainment and gaming include impressive dual speaker designs with an independent subwoofer, known as 2.1 audio. They produce strong stereo with deep bass, so you don’t have to go out and get external speakers unless you really want to.

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Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Full RGB vs. Limited RGB: Is There a Difference? ›

Full RGB means the ability to show 0-255, or the full range. That's what PC monitors have been using for years. Limited RGB has a range of 16-235. Its absolute black is 16 levels brighter (or less dark) than full RGB.

What is the difference between limited and full range RGB? ›

Full RGB means that a machine has the ability to show absolute blackness and absolute white and all the other 253 shades in between. RGB Limited has a range of 16 – 235.

Why do TVs use limited RGB? ›

Similarly, if you use a TV as your monitor, chances are you should be on limited RGB. Forcing the TV to work in full RGB will cause crushed blacks, as mentioned above. Full RGB on a limited RGB display leads to “crushed” blacks and lost details. Source and display RGB range match.

Which RGB is better? ›

For broad-gamut monitors, Adobe RGB will work better than sRGB. In addition, Adobe RGB will be a better option if you work on non-color-managed applications. When printing photos on a wide-gamut monitor, using Adobe RGB is the best option.

Should dynamic range be full or limited? ›

The Full setting should be used when you would like the signal range fixed to full range. An example may be a high-definition signal from a device connected using an HDMI cable. Limited: The signal range is fixed to limited range. This should be used when less color is desired.

Is RGB full or limited for gaming? ›

RGB ranges gets converted to full or limited depending on the source. But if your console and TV have mismatched ranges it will show incorrect picture, like crushed blacks or grey blacks. full range is better, more detail in shades. So for games FULL range.

What happens if you increase the range of RGB? ›

If you increase the value of a pixel in an RGB image, it will make that particular color brighter. Similarly, in a CMYK image, increasing the value of a pixel will increase the amount of that particular ink used, making the color more intense.

How do I know if my TV supports full RGB range? ›

Check if your TV has "Black levels" or "Gamma levels" settings. These settings usually come in with options of [Off Low Medium High] rather than numbers. If your TV has this, it means that it can support full RGB range, just set the settings to medium or high if your Switch is set to full.

Is RGB better for screen? ›

Because the mediums emit color as red, green, or blue light, RGB is perfect for digital media design. In the RGB color paradigm, pixels on a digital screen are all one of three hues when magnified: red, green, or blue.

Is RGB good for eyes? ›

The RGB system is just a hack that use the limits of our visual system to display coloured images in a technically practical way. Does infrared light hurt your eyes? This answer is easy to answer enough: Yes, but it's extremely rare to develop eyes problems relating to infrared. But it's also much more dangerous.

What is the best color space setting for TV? ›

sRGB is the most widely used color space and is compatible with the largest range of TV models. It is used in operating systems, TV shows, and games. Choosing the DCI-P3 color space can result in videos that appear more vivid and lifelike.

Should I get RGB or RGBW? ›

RGBW LEDs perform substantially better than RGB LEDs in terms of full-spectrum lighting. With the added white color, RGBW LED can display more sorts and precise colors to achieve full-color lighting.

Should I use RGB or YCbCr? ›

There's basically no difference between RGB 4:4:4 and YCbCr 4:4:4 IF the latter option supports full range. When it doesn't, you're limited to a color ramp of 16-235 vs 0-255. But, you'll always want to use RGB on computer monitors because it's been the standard since forever.

What is the best output color format? ›

The color format that's best for your needs is dependent on a single question: what do you plan to do with your design? If your design will end up on digital screens like computer monitors or TVs, you should use RGB. If you need to physically print anything like product labels, brochures, or more, you should use CMYK.

Does dynamic range really matter? ›

Dynamic range is just as important in videography.

Wherever you're shooting, pay close attention to how the light changes as your subjects and/or your camera move.

What is the difference between Nvidia full color range and limited? ›

Full (0-255) to use the full RGB range of applications on HD displays that support it. LIMITED (16-235) to use the limited RGB range - for example, if the display is not capable of showing the full RGB range.

What is full RGB vs Limited RGB AMD? ›

The RGB format contains Limited (16-235 bits) and Full (0-255 bits) options which represents the range of the white and black levels that can be displayed. Depending on the source content and output resolution, each format may offer a slight difference in picture quality.

What is full vs limited RGB ps4? ›

"RGB Full" uses values from 0 to 255, where 0 is reference black, and 255 is reference white. This is most commonly used on PCs. "RGB Limited" represents colors using values from 16 to 235, where 16 is reference black and 235 is reference white.

Does my TV support full RGB? ›

Check if your TV has "Black levels" or "Gamma levels" settings. These settings usually come in with options of [Off Low Medium High] rather than numbers. If your TV has this, it means that it can support full RGB range, just set the settings to medium or high if your Switch is set to full.

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