In embodiments of power saving field sequential color (FSC), an illumination source illuminates pixels of a displayable image by sequentially generating RGB (red, green, blue) components of a pixel in a timed sequence of field sequential color. The pixels of a displayable image may also include a white component derived from the RGB components. An illumination reduction algorithm is implemented to determine the highest RGB (or RGBW) components from any of the pixels of the displayable image. The highest RGB (or RGBW) components can be determined from any combination of the same or different pixels of the displayable image. The illumination reduction algorithm then divides each of the highest RGB (or RGBW) components by a maximum brightness value to generate respective RGB (or RGBW) component factors. A display controller then processes each pixel of the displayable image for display according to the RGB (or RGBW) component factors.
