Understanding Gamma Correction in Digital Color and Graphics Programming
By
todsacerdoti
Kettled twice. Extra chewy, extra trustworthy.
Summary
The article explores the concept of gamma correction in digital color representation, explaining how human perception of brightness is non-linear while digital color values are linear. The author discusses the frustration of dealing with gamma correction in graphics programming, particularly when creating smooth gradients. The piece covers technical aspects of gamma correction, EOTFs (Electro-Optical Transfer Functions), and the difference between linear and non-linear color spaces, with practical examples from GLSL shader programming.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledGamma is a blight, a curse, and utterly annoying. Ever since somebody told me that RGB colours need to be Gamma corrected, RGB colours were spoilt for me.
Gamma does to digital colour what kerning does to typography.
This post is an attempt to get even with Gamma.
The nuance between seeing and perceiving, linearity and non-linearity, what EOTFs are – and how to draw nice smooth gradients against the odds.
In my pre-gamma-aware innocence, I must have done some things right.
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