Hi Everybody,
I have a new crusade.
"Color depth" is a poor choice of words for 8 bits/channel vs. 16 bits/channel.There is no "depth". What's "deeper" about bits/channel.The range of colors is identical in any color space for either choice.
The difference is the total number of gradations of color -- 16 million vs trillions.
I don't have a good name for it. Perhaps "color resolution" ? ?
Phil
Phil1923 said:"Color depth" is a poor choice of words for 8 bits/channel vs. 16 bits/channel.
Phil1923 said:I just don't see why a progression from black to red can be considered to be "depth".
In a virtual sense, a single pixel can't really exist unless it has a color model (not to be confused with a color space).
I start with thinking of one pixel. Perhaps 1 pixel per inch. It would literally print 1 square inch on piece of a paper.
Since every pixel has to have a color model, what is it? Let's say RGB. That means 3 channels with various values that define the color of our pixel.
If the RGB values are 0,0,0, that would be black. Black can be defined in monochrome like a light switch per pixel. Greyscale black uses the darkest value of one 8-bit channel (0 out of 255). CMYK black is usually 0,0,0,100 (Rich Blacks are different in CMYK, and use other values in addition to the regular black channel).
So depth to me means how many choices of numbers are available downwards for our single pixel, and how many color channels apply to that pixel.
Phil1923 said:However, the "depth" of an 8 bit RGB color space is usually taken as 16.77-- million variations in color.
First, you mean color model, not color space.
8-bit color: there are 3 bits (8 possible levels) for each of the R and G components, and the two remaining bits in the byte pixel to the B component (four levels), enabling 256 (8 × 8 × 4) different colors.
Phil1923 said:The "depth" of a 16 bit color space is usually taken as trillions of trillions.
I still fix my own car, I prefer to be self-reliant in all kinds of ways. :-)
Hi Jeff,
I'm not certain that I understand your post.
1. The only places that I have seen a distinction between color model and color space is in your post and Dr. Petrov's tutorial
2. 8 bits is common-place language for 8 bits per channel. ditto 16 bit.
Here are some quotes from "Blend Modes" by S. Valentine (2013). I used the same language.Phil
Phil1923 said:Now explain that to Jeff rather than to me.
Phil, Since Ariel and I agree already, there's nothing to explain. Cheers everyone![:)]