30bit

30-bit color is a term used to describe color depth in digital images and displays. It usually means 30 bits per pixel, implemented as 10 bits per color channel in an RGB model. With 10 bits per channel, each channel has 1,024 levels, producing about 1,073,741,824 possible colors.

This higher bit depth helps reduce color banding and allows smoother gradients, which is beneficial in photography, video editing, and HDR workflows. However, the practical benefit depends on the entire chain: content mastered at 10-bit, the graphics pipeline, and a display capable of showing 10-bit color. Many consumer displays are still 8-bit with dithering, which can limit the observable gains.

Support exists in modern GPUs and display interfaces (such as HDMI 2.0a/b and DisplayPort) and in HDR standards like HDR10. Some professional file formats (for example DPX and TIFF) and video codecs (such as ProRes and HEVC) can carry 10-bit color. Software and operating systems must be configured to use 10-bit color, and not all applications do so by default. In practice, output may still be limited to 8-bit in some workflows, negating the perceived benefits unless all components in the pipeline support 10-bit color.

Historically, 10-bit per channel has been used in professional imaging and cinema, contributing to more accurate color grading and post-production workflows. The term 30-bit is sometimes marketed by hardware vendors to imply enhanced color depth, but the exact meaning can vary. Consumers evaluating displays or software should verify the actual bit depth supported and configured in their specific setup.