fargedybden

Fargedybden, also written färgdybden in Swedish, is a measure of how much color information per pixel is stored in a digital image, display, or video. It is typically expressed as bits per pixel (bpp) or, for multi‑channel representations, as bits per channel multiplied by the number of channels. In standard RGB imagery, 8 bits per channel (24‑bit color) is the common baseline, yielding approximately 16.7 million colors.

Higher color depths per channel—such as 16 bits per channel, corresponding to 48‑bit color, or 10–12 bits per channel in HDR workflows—enable more precise color representation and smoother gradients, reducing banding in transitions and providing more latitude in post‑processing. However, higher depth increases file sizes and processing requirements and may require compatible displays and workflows.

In practice, color depth varies by format and application. JPEG typically stores 8‑bit per channel data; PNG can store 8‑ or 16‑bit per channel; RAW formats may carry 12–16 bits per channel or higher. Video and professional pipelines often employ 10–12 bits per channel. The choice of fargedybden interacts with color space (such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, Rec. 709/Rec. 2020) and gamma correction, influencing how colors are represented and displayed.

The impact of fargedybden is a trade‑off between color fidelity and data requirements. For everyday web images, 8‑bit per channel suffices; for professional photography or HDR rendering, higher depths offer greater fidelity when used with capable displays and workflows. See also color depth, color space, gamma correction, and HDR imaging.