Color representation

color representation protocol extension

This protocol extension delivers the metadata required to define alpha mode, the color model, sub-sampling and quantization range used when interpreting buffer contents. The main use case is defining how the YCbCr family of pixel formats convert to RGB.

Note that this protocol does not define the colorimetry of the resulting RGB channels / tristimulus values. Without the help of other extensions the resulting colorimetry is therefore implementation defined.

If this extension is not used, the color representation used is compositor implementation defined.

Recommendation ITU-T H.273 "Coding-independent code points for video signal type identification" shall be referred to as simply H.273 here.

color representation manager singleton

A singleton global interface used for getting color representation extensions for wl_surface. The extension interfaces allow setting the color representation of surfaces.

Compositors should never remove this global.

destroy()
destroy the manager

Destroy the wp_color_representation_manager_v1 object. This does not affect any other objects in any way.

Argument
Type
Description
idnew_id<wp_color_representation_surface_v1>
surfaceobject<wl_surface>
create a color representation interface for a wl_surface

If a wp_color_representation_surface_v1 object already exists for the given wl_surface, the protocol error surface_exists is raised.

This creates a new color wp_color_representation_surface_v1 object for the given wl_surface.

See the wp_color_representation_surface_v1 interface for more details.

Argument
Type
Description
alpha_modeuint<wp_color_representation_surface_v1.alpha_mode>
supported alpha mode
supported alpha modes

When this object is created, it shall immediately send this event once for each alpha mode the compositor supports.

For the definition of the supported values, see the wp_color_representation_surface_v1::alpha_mode enum.

Argument
Type
Description
coefficientsuint<wp_color_representation_surface_v1.coefficients>
supported matrix coefficients
rangeuint<wp_color_representation_surface_v1.range>
full range flag
supported matrix coefficients and ranges

When this object is created, it shall immediately send this event once for each matrix coefficient and color range combination the compositor supports.

For the definition of the supported values, see the wp_color_representation_surface_v1::coefficients and wp_color_representation_surface_v1::range enums.

done()
all features have been sent

This event is sent when all supported features have been sent.

error { surface_exists } 
Argument
Value
Description
surface_exists1
color representation surface exists already
protocol errors

color representation extension to a surface

A wp_color_representation_surface_v1 allows the client to set the color representation metadata of a surface.

By default, a surface does not have any color representation metadata set. The reconstruction of R, G, B signals on such surfaces is compositor implementation defined. The alpha mode is assumed to be premultiplied_electrical when the alpha mode is unset.

If the wl_surface associated with the wp_color_representation_surface_v1 is destroyed, the wp_color_representation_surface_v1 object becomes inert.

destroy()
destroy the color representation

Destroy the wp_color_representation_surface_v1 object.

Destroying this object unsets all the color representation metadata from the surface. See the wp_color_representation_surface_v1 interface description for how a compositor handles a surface without color representation metadata. Unsetting is double-buffered state, see wl_surface.commit.

Argument
Type
Description
alpha_modeuint<wp_color_representation_surface_v1.alpha_mode>
alpha mode
set the surface alpha mode

If this protocol object is inert, the protocol error inert is raised.

Assuming an alpha channel exists, it is always linear. The alpha mode determines whether and how the color channels include pre-multiplied alpha. Using straight alpha might have performance benefits.

Only alpha modes advertised by the compositor are allowed to be used as argument for this request. The "alpha_mode" protocol error is raised otherwise.

Alpha mode is double buffered, see wl_surface.commit.

set the matrix coefficients and range

If this protocol object is inert, the protocol error inert is raised.

Set the matrix coefficients and video range which defines the formula and the related constants used to derive red, green and blue signals. Usually coefficients correspond to MatrixCoefficients code points in H.273.

Only combinations advertised by the compositor are allowed to be used as argument for this request. The "coefficients" protocol error is raised otherwise.

A call to wl_surface.commit verifies that the pixel format and the coefficients-range combination in the committed surface contents are compatible, if contents exist. The "pixel_format" protocol error is raised otherwise.

A pixel format is compatible with the coefficients-range combination if the related equations and conventions as defined in H.273 can produce the color channels (RGB or YCbCr) of the pixel format.

For the definition of the supported combination, see the wp_color_representation_surface_v1::coefficients and wp_color_representation_surface_v1::range enums.

The coefficients-range combination is double-buffered, see wl_surface.commit.

Argument
Type
Description
chroma_locationuint<wp_color_representation_surface_v1.chroma_location>
chroma sample location
set the chroma location

If this protocol object is inert, the protocol error inert is raised.

Set the chroma location type which defines the position of downsampled chroma samples, corresponding to Chroma420SampleLocType code points in H.273.

A call to wl_surface.commit verifies that the pixel format and chroma location type in the committed surface contents are compatible, if contents exist. The "pixel_format" protocol error is raised otherwise.

For the definition of the supported chroma location types, see the wp_color_representation_surface_v1::chroma_location enum.

The chroma location type is double-buffered, see wl_surface.commit.

Argument
Value
Description
alpha_mode1
unsupported alpha mode
coefficients2
unsupported coefficients
pixel_format3
the pixel format and a set value are incompatible
inert4
forbidden request on inert object
protocol errors
Argument
Value
Description
premultiplied_electrical0
premultiplied alpha in electrical values

Electrical color channel values (after transfer function encoding) are already multiplied with the alpha channel value.

premultiplied_optical1
premultiplied alpha in optical values

Optical color channel values (before transfer function encoding) are already multiplied with the alpha channel value.

straight2
straight alpha

Alpha channel has not been pre-multiplied into color channels.

alpha mode

Specifies how the alpha channel affects the color channels.

Argument
Value
Description
identity1
The identity matrix

Coefficients as defined by

  • IEC 61966-2-1 sRGB
  • SMPTE ST 428-1 (2019)

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 0. Compatible with pixel formats of the RGB family.

bt7092
BT.709 matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • Rec. ITU-R BT.709-6
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1361-0 conventional colour gamut system (historical)
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1361-0 conventional colour gamut system and extended colour gamut system (historical)
  • IEC 61966-2-4 xvYCC709
  • SMPTE RP 177 (1993) Annex B

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 1. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

fcc3
FCC matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • United States Federal Communications Commission (2003) Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations 73.682 (a) (20)

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 4. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

bt6014
BT.601-7 matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • Rec. ITU-R BT.470-6 System B, G (historical)
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.601-7 625
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.601-7 525
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1358-0 625 (historical)
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1358-1 525 or 625 (historical)
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1700-0 625 PAL and 625 SECAM
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.1700-0 NTSC
  • IEC 61966-2-1 sYCC
  • IEC 61966-2-4 xvYCC601
  • SMPTE ST 170 (2004)

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 5, 6. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

smpte2405
SMPTE ST 240 matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • SMPTE ST 240 (1999)

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 7. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

bt20206
BT.2020 and BT.2100 YCbCr matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • Rec. ITU-R BT.2020-2 (non-constant luminance)
  • Rec. ITU-R BT.2100-2 Y′CbCr

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 9. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

bt2020_cl7
BT.2020 matrix coefficients for constant luminance

Coefficients as defined by

  • Rec. ITU-R BT.2020-2 (constant luminance)

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 10. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

ictcp8
BT.2100 ICtCp matrix coefficients

Coefficients as defined by

  • Rec. ITU-R BT.2100-2 ICTCP

Equivalent to H.273 MatrixCoefficients code point 14. Compatible with pixel formats of the YCbCr family.

named coefficients

Named matrix coefficients used to encode well-known sets of coefficients. H.273 is the authority, when it comes to the exact values of coefficients and authoritative specifications, where an equivalent code point exists.

A value of 0 is invalid and will never be present in the list of enums.

Descriptions do list the specifications for convenience.

range { full, limited } 
Argument
Value
Description
full1
Full color range
limited2
Limited color range
Color range values

Possible color range values.

A value of 0 is invalid and will never be present in the list of enums.

chroma_location { type_0, type_1, type_2, type_3, type_4, type_5 } 
Argument
Value
Description
type_01
Horizontal offset of 0, vertical offset of 0.5

Corresponding to VkChromaLocations:

  • xChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_COSITED_EVEN
  • yChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_MIDPOINT

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 0.

type_12
Horizontal offset of 0.5, vertical offset of 0.5

Corresponding to VkChromaLocations:

  • xChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_MIDPOINT
  • yChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_MIDPOINT

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 1.

type_23
Horizontal offset of 0, vertical offset of 0

Corresponding to VkChromaLocations:

  • xChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_COSITED_EVEN
  • yChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_COSITED_EVEN

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 2.

type_34
Horizontal offset of 0.5, vertical offset of 0

Corresponding to VkChromaLocations:

  • xChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_MIDPOINT
  • yChromaOffset: VK_CHROMA_LOCATION_COSITED_EVEN

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 3.

type_45
Horizontal offset of 0, vertical offset of 1

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 4.

type_56
Horizontal offset of 0.5, vertical offset of 1

Equivalent to H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType 5.

Chroma sample location for 4:2:0 YCbCr

Chroma sample location as defined by H.273 Chroma420SampleLocType.

A value of 0 is invalid and will never be present in the list of enums.

The descriptions list the matching Vulkan VkChromaLocation combinations for convenience.


Compositor Support

No compositor support found

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