ABSTRACT

The human visual system (HVS ) is a complex system that is capable, through several mechanisms, to transform the light striking the human eyes into meaningful information. Thanks to these mechanisms, we are able to adapt our visual system to different lighting conditions from moonlight to sunlight and can perceive a complex information such as colors. The main problem that we usually face, is the incapability to precisely reproduce this data in different media that may have different characteristics such as dynamic range, color spaces, color reproduction, etc. In this introductory chapter, the basic concepts of how the HVS works will be introduced; followed by an overview of color and the extended luminance dynamic range. These concepts are essential for understanding much of this book.