Converting RGB Images to YUV Files with MATLAB Implementation

This text describes a MATLAB-based program I developed for converting RGB images to YUV files. The implementation supports multiple chroma subsampling formats including 444, 422, and 420. In RGB images, each pixel consists of red, green, and blue components, while YUV format separates luminance (Y) from chrominance (UV) components. The conversion process involves color space transformation using the BT.601 or BT.709 standard matrix multiplication, followed by chroma subsampling algorithms for different formats. Key functions include rgb2yuv conversion matrix application, channel separation, and subsampling techniques using MATLAB's image processing toolbox. This program not only helps understand fundamental image processing principles but also provides practical utility for subsequent video compression and computer vision applications. The code handles format-specific downsampling through bilinear interpolation for 422/420 formats and maintains full resolution for 444 format.