Red, Green, Blue
Despite the implications of the connector colors, component video does not use red,
green, and blue video signals to send a picture. It uses a brightness channel
(called luminance) denoted as 'Y', and two color channels (called chrominance)
denoted as 'Cb' and 'Cr' (for the blue and red connectors, respectively).
High Definition Analog Video?
Computer monitors using the VGA interface have long been carrying signals at
resolutions higher than 1080p, the highest HDTV resolution. Component video is
the first mainstream HD implementation, and still uses luminance
and chrominance to send data. However, on HD component (also called progressive scan),
the picture information is sent as pixel data for higher resolution and accuracy.
Y/Cb/Cr and Y/Pb/Pr - Component vs. Progressive
How do you know whether your DVD player or cable box is outputting SD component
or HD component? And which one is your monitor showing? Mismatched signals can
result in downgraded image quality, discolorization, or no signal at all. Fortunately,
most manufacturers have taken considerations to help you match your hardware.
If your equipment supports both SD and HD component but has only one set of component plugs, as do many DVD players and cable boxes, then the component out must be set by the device's software. The SD output is normally referred to as component, YUV, or CSV; the HD output is called progressive scan or component HD.
If your equipment has multiple sets of component plugs, as do many HD televisions, there are most likely separate inputs for SD and HD component. If this is the case, the SD jacks should be labeled 'Y/Cb/Cr' (for component) and the HD jacks should be labeled 'Y/Pb/Pr' (for progressive).
