What is the primary purpose of Chroma Subsampling?

Chroma subsampling is a technique primarily used to reduce file size without significantly impacting the perceived quality of video. In this process, the color information (chroma) is sampled at a lower resolution than the brightness information (luma). Human vision is more sensitive to brightness details than color details, which allows for this reduction in color data while maintaining an acceptable visual quality.

By reducing the amount of color information that needs to be stored or transmitted, chroma subsampling allows for more efficient use of bandwidth and storage, making it easier to handle high-definition video data. This is particularly important in applications such as video streaming, where bandwidth is limited, and file size can affect loading times and overall performance.

In contrast, increasing contrast, enhancing color depth, or improving brightness are not the primary functions of chroma subsampling. These aspects pertain to other processes in video production and display technology. Hence, the primary goal of chroma subsampling focuses on reducing file size while still retaining a level of quality that is visually acceptable.