What is DCI P3 color profile in TVs and monitors
DCI-P3 is one of the color tone (color space) display standards. DCI-P3 was developed by the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) and published in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) RP 431-2 standard. The standard was developed by various studios to create a common standard for displaying video in movie theaters.
Why use the DCI P3 color profile?
The DCI-P3 color profile is one of many profiles similar to RGB. The main purpose of DCI-P3 is to ensure the compatibility of manufactured recording equipment and the compatibility of equipment for displaying digital video in cinemas. Filmmakers are interested in this. It is very good when a film transmits all shades of color without distortion.
Initially, DCI-P3 was only supported by digital cinemas using professional equipment. But the developers of the profile hope that monitor and TV manufacturers will include support for the DCI-P3 profile in their products. For example, Samsung claims that its quantum dot TVs cover 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, but there is no mention of TVs supporting the profile. Whether QLED TVs actually support 100% of the DCI-P3 profile is hard to say, without lab tests it’s impossible. But the very fact that Samsung claims to support DCI-P3 on 8-bit panels, such as the QN65Q60TAFXZA dithering TV model, already seems odd. It all seems like digital manipulation, remember when monitor and TV manufacturers claimed to support the SRGB-125% color space. After explaining that big numbers meant nothing, a new DCI-P3 comparison was invented.
What DCI P3 support means to the user
Let’s just say that it means nothing to the average user. You have to be an expert in the field to navigate through all the possible standards. And, for example, if your TV supports 80% of the DCI P3 color space, that’s not all. For example, a TV screen may support 110% green and only 70% red. So do not pay much attention to such parameters, if there is such a parameter, let it be. It is much more informative to look at the image of the TV or monitor in reality, for example in the store.
