RGB-YCbCr Converter

About This Tool

The RGB-YCbCr converter translates color channel data between the RGB color space and the YCbCr space used in video encoding and image processing. It supports both directions: RGB to YCbCr and YCbCr to RGB. By default, it adopts ITU-R BT.601 for standard-definition content and BT.709 for high-definition content, and it offers a range choice between full-range 0–255 and limited-range 16–235 (Y) with 16–240 (Cb/Cr). The tool is designed for numeric fidelity, reproducibility, and easy automation in pipelines, validation tasks, and testing scenarios where exact chroma-luminance relationships must be preserved.
Core algorithms implement linear color-mspace transforms with explicit coefficients and a 128 bias for the chroma channels. RGB to YCbCr uses a Y' computation from the luminance coefficients and derives Cb and Cr with offsets to center chroma around 128. YCbCr to RGB applies the inverse equations, restoring approximate RGB values from Y', Cb, and Cr. The implementation supports both standard definitions and a clear path for future extensions, such as alternative primaries or additional range rules. Outputs are numeric values that are suitable for scripting, logging, or downstream encoding steps.
Who benefits: color scientists validating color pipelines, VFX and post-production teams checking color transforms, software developers building image and video tooling, and QA engineers verifying encoding consistency. Unique value lies in explicit range handling, standard selection, and deterministic, unit-tested outputs that avoid rounding ambiguities during automated checks. Use cases include cross-space validation in transcoding, color grading comparisons, and debugging color-space mismatches across pipelines.

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