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aiur4
Known Participant
June 22, 2019
Question

8 bit or 16 bit?

  • June 22, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 1187 views

Would it be better to work with 16 bit PSB file instead of 8 bit for future proofing?

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 23, 2019

Right. 0 - 32768 adds up to 32769 levels

    Silkrooster
    Silkrooster
    Legend
    June 22, 2019

    Just remember that most filters are 8 bit only. This also applies to file formats. But I do agree with the others. As soon as you switch to 8 bit, you have thrown away color information. So its best to stay in 16 bit for as long as possible. Perhaps work on a copy when you need to switch.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 23, 2019
    Perhaps work on a copy when you need to switch.

    In some cases it might also work out to use a 16bit Smart Object inside an 8bit image.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 22, 2019

    Unconditionally yes.

    An 8 bit file has 256 discrete levels per channel. A 16 bit file has 32768 discrete levels per channel. You can imagine what that means for keeping data integrity through repeated adjustments.

    Double file size is a very small price to pay.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 23, 2019

    A 16 bit file has 32768 discrete levels per channel.

    If I remember correctly it is 32769 because Photoshop’s 16bit uses 15bit + 1.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 23, 2019

    It is the odd number and I remember Chris Cox explaining the advantage of having an odd number of integers, in some of the internal calculations, given by having an exact middle value.

    Dave

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 22, 2019

    It depends what you are doing and what you are starting out with.

    For photographic images - yes go from raw straight to 16 bit and stay there. Only export an 8 bit copy when needed.

    If you are creating images from scratch but using gradients and manipulations such as curves - again use 16 bit. There is less chance of banding.

    If you just create solid logos etc for web use then 8 bit will do - but really for that use case Illustrator is the better tool.

    Dave

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