A Technical Introduction to Digital Video

Digital Video

by Charles Poynton, published by John Wiley & Sons, 1996 (ISBN 0-471-12253-X, hardcover, USD 49.99).

(Out of print. See Digital Video and HDTV Algorithms and Interfaces.)


Computers and communication systems have now reached the stage where is it possible to have photographic-quality color pictures. But smooth motion and accurate color, though easy to achieve in video equipment, remain beyond the reach of general purpose computers. This book will help computer system designers, engineers, programmers and technicians to learn the techniques of digital video, to bring smooth motion and accurate color to computing. If you are a television professional, this book will help you to understand the technology at the core of digital video.

The book was published in 1996, and reached fifth printing. The superseding edition, Digital Video and HDTV Algorithms and Interfaces was published in January, 2003, by Morgan Kaufmann. Because the superseding edition is on the streets, A Technical Introduction to Digital Video will soon be of print.

If you search on "Poynton," you'll encounter Henry James' book The Spoils of Poynton - that is what a former boss of mine, Hugh Lawford, used to call my computer programs!

Send e-mail if you have any corrections or suggestions!

Table of Contents

The Table of Contents is available online.

Sample chapters

Two chapters are available online, in typographic-quality Acrobat PDF format:

Errata

Known errors are listed in the Errata. If you discover an error that is not listed, please report it to me by e-mail.

2003-09-25a
Charles Poynton