Color depth

Color depth is the number of bits used to represent a pixel’s color or intensity. It determines how many distinct values or colors the pixel can encode.

Bit: A bit is a binary digit that can have one of two values, 0 or 1. Color depth counts the bits assigned to each pixel.
Digital image: A digital image is a two-dimensional array of samples representing visual information. Pixel color depth is one property of a digital image’s representation.
Color gamut: A color gamut is the set of colors a device or color space can represent. Gamut concerns which colors are possible; depth concerns how many encoded steps are available.
Color banding: Color banding is the appearance of abrupt bands where a smooth color or brightness gradient should appear. Too few encoded levels can make gradients break into visible steps.
Color model: A color model defines numerical coordinates used to represent colors. The model determines what color components a pixel’s bits encode.
Grayscale: Grayscale represents images using shades of gray rather than chromatic colors. A grayscale pixel uses its bit depth to encode intensity levels.
Chroma subsampling: Chroma subsampling reduces the spatial resolution of color-difference information relative to brightness information. It reduces color detail across neighboring pixels, not bits assigned to each pixel.
Posterization: Posterization is the reduction of an image’s tonal or color gradations into a small number of distinct regions. Reducing available pixel values can produce posterized images.
RGB color model: The RGB color model represents colors through combinations of red, green, and blue components. RGB depth is commonly divided among three color components.
High dynamic range: High dynamic range imaging represents a wider span of luminance than conventional imaging. HDR formats often use greater precision per color component.

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