---
title: "The Bayer Filter Mosaic"
canonical: https://stackingstarlight.com/advanced/bayer-mask
description: "The Bayer filter mosaic: an RGGB grid puts one color filter over each pixel; software (debayering) reconstructs full color."
---

# The Bayer Filter Mosaic

> The Bayer filter mosaic: an RGGB grid puts one color filter over each pixel; software (debayering) reconstructs full color.

A one-shot-color sensor has a **Bayer mosaic** — a repeating 2×2 pattern of red, green, green, blue filters over the pixels (RGGB; green is doubled because the eye is most sensitive to it). Each pixel therefore records only one color. **Debayering** (demosaicing) interpolates the two missing colors at every pixel from its neighbors to build a full-color image. The trade-off: simplicity (color in one shot) at the cost of resolution and efficiency versus a mono sensor with filters.

---

Source: [https://stackingstarlight.com/advanced/bayer-mask](https://stackingstarlight.com/advanced/bayer-mask) · Part of [Stacking Starlight](https://stackingstarlight.com) by Michael Kalika.

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