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What Do Y, R−Y, and B−Y Mean in Component Video?

Y is the brightness-related component in component video; R−Y and B−Y are red- and blue-difference signals. Their exact encoding depends on the applicable standard.
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In component video, Y is the brightness-related signal, while R−Y and B−Y are color-difference signals: red minus Y and blue minus Y. The labels describe the signal roles, but not a complete encoding: the exact coefficients, scaling, and ranges depend on the video standard and whether the signal is analog or digital.

What each signal means

  • Y: the brightness-related component in a component-video signal set. It is commonly described as luminance, though encoded Y′ is more precisely called luma.
  • R−Y: a color-difference component formed from the red signal minus Y.
  • B−Y: a color-difference component formed from the blue signal minus Y.

Together, Y and the two color-difference components represent brightness-related and color information separately. When the applicable matrix is known, a decoder can derive the green component from Y and the red and blue differences; the coefficients are system-dependent.

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Is Y the same as luminance?

Not necessarily. In many video systems, the RGB inputs are gamma-corrected before they are combined into Y′. Because gamma-corrected RGB values are nonlinear with respect to light, their weighted combination is not exact physical CIE luminance. SMPTE 240M-1999 calls the encoded result “luma” to distinguish it from luminance. SMPTE 240M-1999, Annex A.3.1.

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Some glossaries and historical descriptions still use “luminance” for Y. For example, the Tektronix glossary describes Y as luminance and R−Y and B−Y as the first and second color-difference signals. That is useful shorthand, but it does not erase the distinction between encoded luma and physical luminance. Tektronix Video Glossary Part 3.

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Why the labels do not give a complete conversion formula

The names R−Y and B−Y identify which signal differences are involved; by themselves, they do not specify the full matrix, gain, code range, transfer characteristic, or sampling arrangement. Standards can use different luma coefficients, and analog and digital color-difference signals can use different scaling. SMPTE EG 36-2000 discusses transformations between component color signal sets and these differences. SMPTE EG 36-2000.

For that reason, do not use an equation, level, or conversion formula without naming the relevant video standard. The standard supplies the coefficients and conventions needed to interpret the signal values correctly.

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How related component-video names differ

  • Y′Pb′Pr′: analog component-video notation. Pb and Pr are scaled color-difference signals related to B−Y and R−Y.
  • Y′Cb′Cr′: digital component-video notation, with its own scaling and code ranges.
  • Y, U, V: terminology associated with PAL systems; U and V are scaled color-difference signals, not universally interchangeable with unscaled R−Y and B−Y.

These labels are related, but they are not exact, universal synonyms. Their meaning depends on the system and coding conventions. The Tektronix glossary gives historical coding context; its values should be read as applying to the versions it identifies, not as universal current settings. Tektronix Video Glossary Part 3.

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Standards set the context

ITU-R BT.799-4 is an in-force recommendation for a digital component-video interface in 525-line and 625-line television systems operating at the 4:4:4 level of ITU-R BT.601. It is a specific interface recommendation, not a universal origin for every use of Y, R−Y, and B−Y. The ITU lists edition BT.799-4 (12/2007), approved 14 December 2007, as “In force (Main).” ITU-R BT.799-4.

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Practical way to read the notation

  1. Read Y as the brightness-related channel; check whether the material uses Y or encoded Y′ and whether it uses “luminance” informally or precisely.
  2. Read R−Y and B−Y as red- and blue-difference components, respectively.
  3. Before comparing numbers or converting signals, identify the standard, analog or digital coding, and relevant scaling and range.

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