Digital booths
RGB values do not describe every property of the original light
A digital colour is an encoding, not a complete record of the scene’s spectrum.
A file’s RGB triplet can match a patch on screen while the original illumination and material remain unknown. This matters when describing a historical print or trying to reproduce a scene precisely.
Separate encoded colour from spectral data
An RGB image encodes colour values for a defined space and rendering pipeline. Many distinct combinations of light spectrum and material reflectance can produce similar camera values, so the file does not fully identify the original light source or object spectrum.
Evidence: Standards body technical guide
Keep the capture context
Record the camera, lighting, white balance and profile when colour fidelity matters. A neutral patch helps establish a reference but cannot measure every spectral property. For a scanned old print, the original capture light may no longer be known.
Phrase claims precisely
Describe measured RGB values or visible colour under stated viewing conditions rather than claiming an exact original colour. A digital recreation can match a reference appearance on one calibrated device without reproducing the light and material that created it.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- International Color Consortium, About ICC ProfilesStandards body technical guide
- CIE, Position Statement on CRI and Colour Quality MetricsInternational lighting body position statement