Back inAndroid 14, Googleimplemented the ability to snap photos inthe Color P3 format at a native OS level. Many third-party phone makers have incorporated the feature into their own handsets, and Apple, too, has offered P3 capture since the days of theiPhone 7. For Pixel users, Color P3 was only added into the mix starting with the Pixel 8 series, alongside version 9.1 of the Pixel Camera application.
Within the Pixel Camera’s settings page, the Color P3 (also known as DCI-P3) image capture toggle is referred to as Rich color in photos. Under the toggle is a quick blurb explaining the feature: “Use Display P3 color format instead of SRGB for richer and more vibrant colors. Display P3 may not be visible before the photo is taken or supported on all platforms or apps.”
Generally speaking, I’d recommend toggling on the Display P3 photography feature – unlike withApple iPhones, Google has opted to keep it disabled by default on itsmodern Pixel devices. Here’s how to switch the setting on, as well as additional details on what makes P3 a worthwhile addition to the Pixel’s arsenal of camera tricks.
Pixel Camera
Pixel Camera is the official first-party Android photo and video capture application from Google, which is exclusively available for Pixel devices.
What is the Display P3 color space?
P3 is a cinema-quality color space that offers rich and punchy visuals
As a color space, DCI-P3 was developed in collaboration between theDigital Cinema Initiatives(DCI) consortium and theSociety of Motion Picture and Television Engineers(SMPTE). Unlike the older (and more common) sRGB color space, P3 offers a wider range of possible colors to work with. The technical underpinnings of Display P3 are rather complex, but it’s possible to break the color space standard down into three essential components. These include the DCI-P3 color gamut itself, the D65 white point, and the sRGB gamma curve.
P3 works in tandem with the D65 white point specification, which aims to provide a color temperature that mimics natural daylight. It also utilizes the sRGB gamma curve in order to process the correct lumination of photos. Forhigh dynamic range(HDR) multimedia, which improves brightness, contrast, and color range on corresponding visual content, DCI-P3 is commonly incorporated to achieve the desired results. The P3 color space has many applicable uses within the realms of cinema, photography, and adjacent creative enterprises, and it’s also slowly but surely becoming a consumer tech mainstay.
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How do I enable P3 photography on my Google Pixel?
The setting is toggleable from within the Pixel Camera app
To turn on the Display P3 color gamut during photo capture on your compatible Google Pixel phone, follow these steps:
To start taking advantage of P3 photography, you’ll need a Google Pixel phone that supports the feature. This includes all newer Pixels starting with the Pixel 8 series, running on Android 14 or newer. If you don’t see the option, ensure you’re running an up-to-date version of the Pixel Camera application (version 9.1 or newer).
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Which devices support Display P3?
Increasingly, the P3 color space is being supported across platforms and devices
Across the board, all major software platforms and operating systems support the DCI-P3 color space at a native level. This includes iOS, iPadOS, macOS,Windows, and Android.Linux, too, supports the necessary under-the-hood technologies to display P3 content on screen. Of course, you’ll need to have a panel that is capable of displaying the P3 color space. This varies by phone, tablet, laptop, and TV make and model, but generally speaking, many mid-range and most high-end offerings come with a P3-ready screen.
Over time, I expect the DCI-P3 color space to grow even more ubiquitous, eventually supplanting sRGB across all consumer tech markets, product categories, and price tiers. This will take time, of course, but by enablingP3 photography on your Google Pixelphone today, you’re ensuring that your memories are future-proofed for tomorrow’s world of rich-color displays.
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