Charles Poynton -
Ramblings

My job is to integrate video technology - particularly high definition television, digital compression and accurate color reproduction - into computer workstations. I initiated Sun Microsystems' HDTV workstation project, and introduced color management technology to Sun.

I am a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. I participate in several SMPTE standards committees. In 1994, I was awarded the Society's David Sarnoff Gold Medal for my work to integrate video and computing technology. More biographical information is available.


My book A Technical Introduction to Digital Video, published by John Wiley & Sons, is available at bookstores. Two chapters are available online, in typographic quality. Occasionally I teach courses based on the book.


The book project rekindled my enthusiasm for typography, and I have done quite a lot of work recently concerning the combination of color images, typography, and electronic distribution of documents. The best examples so far are my my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gamma and Color. The documents are available in several formats: Acrobat PDF, PostScript and in some cases, ASCII text. The PDF and PostScript versions have illustrations, graphs, formulae and other graphic elements. You can read the production notes to learn how I made the documents.

Read how I think we can work toward Making web pages usable; read how This site is best experienced.

To learn how to adjust those mysterious controls on the front of your computer monitor, or your television set, consult "Brightness" and "Contrast". You might also be interested in the related document Reducing Eyestrain from Video and Computer Monitors .

I have made a few notes about places in Toronto.

A consortium formerly called Versit is promoting a concept called a vCard; the technology (if you can call it that) is being promoted by imc. A vCard comprises a file that contains contact information - it's a digital version of a business card. I don't know why it hasn't become popular. You can access my vCard.

If you have a file for me, e-mail it to me as a MIME attachment. If you're shipping me tangible goods of U.S. origin, then please accompany the shipment with a NAFTA Certificate of Origin, filled out so I don't have to pay Customs duty.

Yes, of course my links are on the net, though I don't have much time to devote to keeping them current! You may also be amused by some rants.