Batch Action Changes 8 bit Images to 16 bit

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 17, 2022
4 replies
5273 views

I created an action to prepare an image for printing. It includes a step to flatten the image. My Photoshop file starts as an 8 bit image. If I manually run the action the result is also 8 bit.

However, if I batch run the action in Photoshop (File >Automate) all the images end up as 16 bit!!

What's happening?? And how do I get Photoshop to stop converting 8 bit to 16 bit? I've also noticed that when I open an 8 bit file, Photoshop converts it to 16 bit.

One more question: is changing the bit depth lossless? I know the color differences between 8 bit and 16 bit images. But if Photoshop is going from the original 8 bit to 16 bit, and then I convert it back to 8 bit, will the image quality degrade from the original 8 bit image?

Thanks.

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Correct answer Bojan Živković11378569

Ah, yes, @Outtacontext your username is relevant to the thread: Do you see the camera Raw dialog when you reopen the tiff?

At the bottom, click the hyperlink to change to 8bits.

Here is visual what should be done because this step can not be skipped when opening .raw files.

O

OuttacontextAuthor

Inspiring

Okay, this problem has been solved. Apparently, opening my 8 bit tiff files automatically into Camera Raw when I open them in Photoshop was converting them to 16 bit. I had a great Adobe rep who showed me how to turn off the preference that makes a tiff open in Camera Raw. And it's all working fine now.

D Fosse

Community Expert

I had a great Adobe rep who showed me how to turn off the preference that makes a tiff open in Camera Raw.

By @Outtacontext

You didn't need an Adobe rep for that, I showed you how in a screenshot above.

O

OuttacontextAuthor

Inspiring

Yes, thanks. At the time, I was under a big deadline and I didn't understand the image you provided. So, I need help right away. As it turns out, the images were 8 bit. Only when I opened them to check did they become 16 bit.

Anyway, I do appreciate all the help all of you provided.

O

OuttacontextAuthor

Inspiring

Even if I don't use an action and do the file manually, flattening the 8 bit PSD, enlarging the canvas to give it a white border and then saving it as a TIFF, after I do that, and without closing the file, it shows it's an 8 bit TIFF. But when I close and reopen it, it's suddenly a 16 bit TIFF! As I said, this has been happening for the last couple weeks. I changed my MacOS from Big Sur to Monterey, but that's the only change I've made. I noticed it with Photoshop 2022 and Photoshop 2023.

I think it's saving it as an 8 bit, but when I open the TIFF it's opening in Camera Raw and that is converting it to 16 bit.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO OPEN A TIFF DIRECTLY WITHOUT OPENING IT THROUGH CAMERA RAW?