Overview
IEC TR 62977-2-3:2017 is a Technical Report from the IEC that reviews how multi-colour test patterns and image loading (average picture level, APL) affect measured photometric and colorimetric performance of electronic displays. Rather than prescribing normative procedures, the report presents experimental data from several display technologies (e.g., RGB, WRGB, OLED) and recommends using a broader range of colours and realistic image-loading levels when evaluating modern, colour‑managed displays.
Key topics
- Scope and intent: Reviews the impact of test pattern colour content and image loading on measured display performance; provides evidence and guidance rather than mandatory requirements.
- Colour‑managed displays: Describes differences between legacy additive displays and modern systems that use look‑up tables (LUTs), multi‑primary pixels and dynamic image processing.
- Average Picture Level (APL): Defines pre‑gamma APL (average input level relative to full white) and explains why measurements should consider APL representative of intended content.
- Multi‑colour test patterns: Demonstrates why single‑colour boxes are insufficient for many modern displays and why test patterns should uniformly sample the colour gamut (examples include checkerboards and multi‑colour fields).
- Non‑additive behaviour: Explains that multi‑primary or LUT‑driven systems can deviate from classic RGB additive mixing, so simple per‑channel tests may not fully characterize gamut or luminance response.
- Experimental results: Presents measured differences between RGB and WRGB/OLED devices and shows how image loading and test pattern colour content influence luminance and chromaticity readings.
Applications and users
- Display manufacturers: To design and validate colour management, LUT calibration and real‑world performance.
- Test laboratories and QA teams: For selecting test patterns and APL levels that better reflect intended usage (broadcast, mobile, cinema).
- Standards bodies & spec writers: To inform updates to measurement practices and harmonize test methodology across technologies.
- System integrators and content creators: To understand how content composition affects perceived colour and luminance on modern displays.
Related standards
- IEC 62977 series (Electronic display devices) - broader family context
- IEC 61966‑2‑1 (sRGB colour space) - referenced as an encoding/intent example
- CIE publications (e.g., CIE 15) - relevant for colourimetry and chromaticity interpretation
Keywords: IEC TR 62977-2-3:2017, multi-colour test patterns, display measurements, photometric, colorimetric, APL, LUT, colour-managed displays, OLED, WRGB, sRGB.