Photoshop displays 16 bit for JPG files

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
January 20, 2024
2 replies
788 views

When customer exports a 16-bit file from Photoshop as a JPG, it is automatically converted to 8-bit since JPG does not support 16-bit. However, for many settings, Photoshop displays the last setting used by the customer when they performed a function. This can result in incorrect information being displayed. For example, in step 1 customer exports from a 16 bit raw file as a JPG which creates an 8-bit JPG file, File A. In step #2, the customer selects to export a 16-bit raw file as a 16-bit Tif, File B. In step 3, after a little time, the customer opens the 8 bit JPG file, File A, and selects Image/Mode and this displays the file as 16 bit/channel. This is incorrect and causes confusion, especially for intermediate or beginner users of Photoshop. The result is a lot of frustration, and they never end up using Photoshop as much as they otherwise would.

EDIT: Moved from Lightroom by Moderator Geoff Walker

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

D Fosse

Community Expert

The file format, such as jpeg, is a storage container. It does not apply when the file is open in Photoshop - an open file does not have a fie format at all. Everything is unpacked and decompressed and all you have is an image sitting in memory.

What can be confusing is that the image window's title bar reports where the image comes from. So it can say .jpeg even if the open file has been converted to 16 bit.

If you then save the file, all the file format packaging and compression starts again, according to the file format specification. This is where a 16 bit file is not allowed if the target format is jpeg. Then you need to either save an 8 bit copy, or convert to 8 bit prior to the save (which will then go through).

KostFan2Author

Known Participant

Fosse: Thak you for your reply. You wrote: “Then you need to either save an 8 bit copy”. However, there is no bit depth setting on either the screen that appears when you select “Save as” or “Export as”. This creates confusion for many intermediate or beginner users of Photoshop that are unaware that the file is automatically converted from 16 bit to 8 bit because JPG is a 8 bit format.

Sean McCormack

Community Expert

Was this correctly posted to the Lightroom Classic forum, or should it move to the Photoshop forum?

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.

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