Method of digitizing color information, including chroma subsampling ratios like 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0.
Definition
Color Sampling describes how digital video systems capture and store color information. The term encompasses both color depth (8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit) and the chroma subsampling ratio (4:4:4, 4:2:2, 4:2:0).
Practical Application
The choice of Color Sampling influences image quality, file size, and editability. For VFX work, 4:4:4 10-bit or higher is standard. For broadcast, 4:2:2 8-bit is often sufficient. Consumer formats typically use 4:2:0 8-bit.
Technical Details
YCbCr separates luminance (Y) from chrominance (Cb, Cr). The human eye is more sensitive to luminance, so chrominance can be compressed more. The first number (4) is the reference, the following describe the Cb/Cr sampling.