The colour range between specified references. Typically three references are quoted in television: RGB, Y R-Y B-Y and Hue Saturation and Luminance (HSL). In print, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) are used. Film is RGB. Moving pictures between these is possible but requires careful attention to the accuracy of processing involved. Operating across the media – print, film and TV, as well as between computers and TV equipment – will require conversions in colour space.

Electronic light sensors detect red, blue and green light but TV signals are usually changed into Y, R-Y and B-Y components at, or very soon after the camera or telecine. There is some discussion about which colour space is best for post production – the main potential advantages being in the area of keying. However, with most mass storage and infrastructure being component-based the full RGB signal is usually not available so, any of its advantages can be hard to realise.

The increasing use of disk storage and networking able to carry RGB is beginning to allow its wider use. Even so, it takes up 50 percent more storage and, for most productions, its benefits over component working are rarely noticed. One area that is fixed on RGB use is 2k film. Modern digital techniques allow the use of both RGB and Y R-Y B-Y to best suit production requirements.