composite color

The structure of a video signal wherein the luminance and two bandlimited color-difference signals are simultaneously present in the channel. Note: The format may be achieved by frequency-division multiplexing, quadrature modulation, etc. It is common to strive for integrity by suitable separation of the frequencies, or since scanned video signals are highly periodic, by choosing frequencies such that the chrominance information is interleaved within spectral regions of the luminance signal wherein a minimum of luminance information resides. [After SMPTE]