What Is Gamma Correction?
The human eye sees light intensities in a nonlinear fashion. Gamma correction, a nonlinear operation, takes linear light information (video or still imagery) and changes it into a display more harmonious with the way the eye actually processes information.
Other People Are Reading
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SRGB Monitors
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Adjust gamma on your sRGB monitor with a half-moon image. A simple test to see if your sRGB monitor (the standard type of computer monitor) is displaying luminance correctly is to create a half-moon; the left side is light gray and the right sight is dark gray on a black background. Adjust the contrast and brightness on the monitor until the left side of the image is clearly visible and the right side is almost black.
Photography
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Gamma correction is also used in photography to help with the reproduction of film onto paper. The term 'gamma' is also to be found in photography, where it has a similar meaning. When photographic film, which is better at recording shade than paper, is reproduced onto photographic paper, there is need to use gamma correction to help with this reproductive process.
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Purpose
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If you are creating an image that isn't meant to appear photo-realistic -- where the image is coloured but meant to resemble colour flatly, like a cartoon -- then gamma correction is not needed. Gamma is meant to create realistic shading, intensity, luminance and brightness.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit an eye has through glass of glasses image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com half moon image by hugy from Fotolia.com series object on white - photographic film - negative image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
