RGBX significantly darker than RRGGBBX - why?

In my tests, RGBX is much darker than RRGGBBX.

By my calculations, it’s roughly the same number of active subpixels, so there must be something else going on. Any ideas?

RxxRxxxGxxGxxxBxxBxxx

~29% active

vs

RxxxGxxxBxxx

25% active

It’s only a ~4% difference between the two.

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You can also compare RGB to RRGGBB the same way. Imo the perceptive feel of RRGGBB is a bit “brighter”.

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Yeah, definitely! It’s weird. There must be something else going on besides just the number of active subpixels.

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Probably because you use more pixels in the second scenario (RRGGBB) to create a “RGB”/“white” pixel. Light is white (and the sun is white too lol). Your white light is created by 3 pixels in the 1st case while it uses 6 in the 2nd.

You also switch off a full pixel, that’s 1/3 of the area needed to create a full white while in the 2nd case it’s 1/6. It’s pretty clear. You switch off a full 2 pixels in the same area the other scenario will approximately switch off 1.

Expand your 1st scenario to the same area the 2nd works and it will explain itself.

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It’s not a significant difference between active subpixels over the same area, so I think you’re right that it must be down to the number of subpixels per RGB triad. Interesting!

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