What Is Chroma Subsampling?
A technique that reduces color data in video to save bandwidth. 4:2:0 is standard for streaming, 4:4:4 preserves full color.
Chroma subsampling reduces the resolution of color information in video while keeping full luminance (brightness) detail. The human eye is more sensitive to brightness than color, so this compression is mostly invisible. 4:2:0 (used in all streaming) reduces color resolution by 75%. 4:2:2 (used in ProRes 422) reduces it by 50%. 4:4:4 preserves full color and is used for graphics, text overlays, and professional production where color accuracy is critical.
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Related Terms
Color Depth (Bit Depth)
The number of bits used to represent color per pixel. 8-bit is standard, 10-bit enables HDR and smoother gradients.
Codec
Software or hardware that compresses and decompresses video data. Common codecs include H.264, HEVC, VP9, and AV1.
Encoding
The process of compressing raw video data into a smaller format using a codec like H.264, HEVC, or AV1.