Application of the CIECAM02 colour appearance model to predict the effect of gamma on the colours viewed on CRT monitors

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to develop a prediction process for the subjective response of human viewers to the colours of a range of samples displayed on a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, for a range of different values of monitor gamma. We have used the gain-offset-gamma (GOG) model of the behaviour of the CRT, together with the assumption of “standard” CRT colorimetry, to permit an assessment of the influence of monitor gamma on the appearance of the colours reproduced on its screen. Colour differences have been computed in a colour space, based on the CIECAM02 colour appearance model, here termed the ( J, a C , b C ) colour space. A total of 76 numerically defined colour samples were used, and were subjected to the influence of eight different gamma values. The results show that there can be significant colour appearance differences as a consequence of erroneous CRT gamma values. Such errors in colour appearance are highly likely to present problems when dealing with applications where an accurate impression or understanding the displayed colour is important.