Question

What is the number of bits available for representing the color of a single pixel in a raster or bitmapped image?

1) 8
2) 16
3) 32
4) 64

Answer 1

The number of bits needed to represent the color of a single pixel varies, with common options being 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits. The most common standard in computing today is 32 bits, which allows for over 16 million colors plus an alpha channel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of bits available for representing the color of a single pixel in a raster or bitmap image can vary, but the options given in the question are 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits. For most common use cases in digital imaging and displays:

• 8 bits per channel can represent 256 shades, which is common in grayscale images or with a color palette.
• 16 bits per channel are often used in high color images, also known as thousands of colors.
• 32 bits per channel typically include 24 bits for RGB color information and an additional 8 bits for alpha channel (transparency).
• 64 bits per channel (HDR) image formats are less common and used for specialized imaging that requires high dynamic range.

In modern computers and monitors, 32-bit color depth is most common, providing over 16 million colors with an additional 8-bit alpha channel for transparency, totaling 32 bits for each pixel.