What Is Color Gamut? (sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3)

Colors vary in hue, saturation, brightness, and gloss. Light reflects differently to create the colors we see, from deep blues to vibrant reds and subtle earth tones.

However, people do not always perceive colors in the same way. Lighting conditions, surroundings, and even individual vision can affect how colors appear.

The same applies to how different screens display and reproduce color. Each display has its own range of colors it can produce. It also follows one or more color standards that define its color gamut. With so many options available today, there is likely one that fits your specific needs.

So what exactly is a color gamut, and which one do you need on your monitor? Find out in our article below. Or learn more about ViewSonic’s color-accurate monitors for creative work here.

What Is Color Gamut in a Monitor?

The color gamut describes a range of colors within the spectrum of colors, or a color space, that can be reproduced on an output device. Depending on how wide the gamut is, every screen will display different quantities of color. For example, most standard monitors support 8-bit color (16.7 million colors), while many modern displays now offer 10-bit color or 8-bit + FRC, enabling over 1 billion colors for smoother gradients and improved accuracy.

How Does Color Gamut Impact Image Quality

Consider what you primarily notice when you go shopping for a television or monitor. Sure, the physical size and width are important factors, but you may also pay close attention to the colors contained within the images presented. Dark blacks, vibrant reds, and greens, and so on. A striking, color-dominant spec video that reflects reality in ways previously unseen may make the difference between a browser and a shopper.

It’s easy to confuse color gamut with resolution. This confusion is understandable, as both affect overall image quality. However, they are not the same.

Color representation varies between devices due to differences in color gamut, color coverage, and color standards.

What Is Color Coverage and How Is It Different?

A product’s color coverage indicates its ability to reproduce and communicate colors from its source. For the sake of understanding, consider the visual difference between a modern cinema projector, a previous-gen iPhone camera, and a TV from the 1990s. The way they depict colors couldn’t be more different, not only in terms of breadth and depth but also in how it creates the colors themselves. This is where color standards become a relevant part of this discussion. 

Before we get there, however, first you must understand how color gamut is depicted on a technical level. Presented as a triangle on an XYZ axis, the Y refers to the maximum color luminance possible within the gamut, while the X and Z points indicate the complete range of chromaticity — a color’s hue and colorfulness. When all is said and done, the final result perfectly reflects a color gamut’s range of capabilities.  

What Are Color Standards?

Oftentimes, especially in commercial applications, colors are generated via the mixture of other colors, rather than natively producing the color on its own. This is mostly due to cost-related factors. Consider for a moment that home printers typically only contain ink for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. All other colors you may see on your printed page are the result of a combination of those base colors. 

What Are the Different Types of Color Standards?

Which frameworks set the standard for color production, regardless of whether it’s via printers, monitors, or cameras? The answer lies in color standards, which relate directly to the standardized color gamut. With that in mind, common color standards include sRGB, Adobe RGB, NTSC, EBU, and DCI-P3.

sRGB

sRGB is the most widely used color standard. You will find it in cameras, monitors, and televisions. Most people encounter sRGB every day.

Its popularity comes from its consistency and reliability. It delivers stable color output with minimal discrepancies. This makes sRGB a standard choice across many devices and applications.

Adobe RGB

Adobe RGB is a color standard designed to offer a wider color gamut than sRGB, especially in green and cyan tones. It plays a key role in professional photography, design, and print workflows. These fields require accurate and vivid color reproduction.

Modern display and imaging technologies now fully support Adobe RGB. Many high-end monitors and cameras use it. As a result, it has become a standard choice for color-critical work.

DCI-P3

DCI-P3 is a color standard developed for digital cinema, offering a color gamut that is approximately 25% wider than sRGB. Originally designed for film production and projection, it has since become widely adopted across modern displays, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, and monitors. Today, DCI-P3 plays a key role in delivering richer, more vibrant visuals, particularly in HDR content and streaming media.

NTSC

The National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) developed its color standard to define early television color reproduction. Its color gamut is relatively wide and shares some similarities with Adobe RGB.

Today, NTSC is considered a legacy reference rather than a practical standard. Modern workflows no longer use it. However, it may still appear as a comparative specification in display marketing.

EBU

The EBU, or European Broadcasting Union, developed its color standard to support broadcast and professional video production across Europe. Closely aligned with Rec.709, it has traditionally been used in television, video editing, and content creation workflows.

Today, as the industry shifts toward higher resolutions and wider color gamuts, standards like Rec.709 for HD and Rec.2020 for UHD and HDR have become more prominent. While the EBU standard remains relevant in certain broadcast contexts, it is now largely integrated into these broader, globally adopted frameworks.

Modern Color Standards (Rec.709, Rec.2020, Display P3)

Modern color workflows rely on standards that go beyond sRGB and Adobe RGB. Rec.709 serves as the baseline for HD video content. Rec.2020 defines a much wider color space for UHD and HDR formats.

Display P3 has also become increasingly important. It offers a wider gamut than sRGB. Many smartphones, laptops, and monitors now support it, especially in the Apple ecosystem.

Together, these standards drive richer and more immersive visual experiences. This is especially true for high-resolution and HDR content.

Wide Color Gamut Displays: What You Need to Know

As previously mentioned, a color gamut’s range is defined by its position on the X and Z axes of the chromaticity diagram. Historically, these boundaries changed very little across different standards due to the technological limitations of display and imaging devices at the time.

With advancements such as OLED and quantum dot technology, modern displays can achieve significantly wider color gamuts and more precise color reproduction, while remaining aligned with industry standards like DCI-P3 and Rec.2020.

Final Thoughts: Why Color Gamut Is Important

As display technology continues to evolve, color gamut plays an increasingly important role in how we experience digital content. From creative workflows to everyday viewing, wider gamuts and improved color accuracy help bring images closer to real life.

Understanding the differences between color standards can help you choose a monitor that fits your needs—whether that’s reliable consistency with sRGB or expanded color performance with wider gamuts like DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB.

Find out how you can achieve more authentic colors with ViewSonic’s ColorPro creative monitors here.

Frequently Asked Question About Color Gamut