What Color Space Should You Deliver In

What Color Space Should You Deliver In — Rec.709, DCI-P3, or Rec.2020?

The right color space depends entirely on where a project will be seen. Rec.709 is the standard for most broadcast and standard-definition streaming, DCI-P3 is used for theatrical projection, and Rec.2020 is the wide-gamut space behind most HDR streaming delivery. Choosing wrong means colors that look correct in the suite but shift or clip on the actual viewing platform.

What Is Rec.709 Used For?

Rec.709 is the standard color space for SDR (standard dynamic range) delivery — most broadcast television and a large share of standard streaming content. It has the narrowest color gamut of the three, which is why grading decisions made for Rec.709 don't automatically translate to a wider space without adjustment.

What Is DCI-P3 and Why Does Theatrical Use It?

DCI-P3 is a wider gamut than Rec.709, developed for digital cinema projection. It can reproduce more saturated reds and greens than Rec.709 can display, which is part of why a grade built for theatrical projection can look oversaturated if the same file is delivered without conversion for a Rec.709 broadcast spec.

What Is Rec.2020 and When Is It Required?

Rec.2020 is the widest gamut of the three and underpins most HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10) streaming delivery specs. Grading for Rec.2020 involves not just a wider color range but a different approach to highlight and shadow detail, since HDR delivery is built around a much larger dynamic range than SDR content.

Do You Need Separate Grades for Each Delivery Spec?

Often, yes. An HDR master and an SDR master are not simply the same grade compressed into a smaller range — they typically require a separate trim pass to make correct creative decisions about where highlight and shadow detail live in each version. This is covered in more depth in the difference between a dailies grade and a final color finish.

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*Coloring Book is a Los Angeles–based color finishing studio founded by cinematographer and colorist Alexander Lakin. Learn more at wearecoloringbook.com.*