bitisyvyksiä

Bitisyvyksiä, often translated as "bit depth" or "color depth," refers to the number of bits used to represent the color of a single pixel in a digital image or video. A higher bit depth allows for a wider range of colors and finer gradations between them, resulting in more realistic and nuanced visuals.

In a basic 1-bit image, each pixel can only be one of two colors, typically black or white. This is a binary representation. As the bit depth increases, so does the number of possible colors. For example, an 8-bit image can represent 2 to the power of 8, which is 256 distinct colors. This is commonly used for grayscale images.

A standard for many digital displays and image formats is 24-bit color, also known as true color. This is achieved by assigning 8 bits each to the red, green, and blue (RGB) color channels, totaling 24 bits per pixel. This allows for approximately 16.7 million colors, which is generally sufficient for most visual applications.

Higher bit depths, such as 30-bit or 36-bit color, are often found in professional photography and video editing. These "high dynamic range" (HDR) formats capture more subtle color variations and a wider range of light and shadow detail, which can be crucial for post-production work and for displaying on HDR-capable screens. The increased number of bits per channel allows for smoother gradients and prevents banding artifacts, where distinct steps in color are visible.