8 bit / 16 bit

Simply converting 8bit to 16bit on its own won't do anything for the image unless you do some further editing that will use the extra bandwidth. If you've still got the 16bit version before it was converted and saved to 8bit then it's likely it will contain extra information.
 
jerry12953 said:
Perhaps i should have converted a *copy* of the 16 bit image to 8 bit for conversion, then, if its not possible to go back to 16 bit?:thinking:

What's the difference between 8bit and 16bit anyway?
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8bit has 256 shades per channel 0,1,2....,253,254,255

16bit has 32768 shades per channel 0,1,2...32765, 32766, 32767

so you can smooth gradients as the changes from one shade to the next are much more subtle. The downsides are larger file sizes and limited support for printing, most labs can't handle 16bit and of those that do most will convert to 8bit for printing anyway. The RAW file from the camera is only 14bit (at best) to start with and the noise will usually mask any really smooth gradients 16bit could provide so although on paper it sounds great the advantages of 16bit are somewhat limited without moving to 16bit medium format digital backs.
 
pxl8 said:
8bit has 256 shades per channel 0,1,2....,253,254,255

16bit has 32768 shades per channel 0,1,2...32765, 32766, 32767

so you can smooth gradients as the changes from one shade to the next are much more subtle. The downsides are larger file sizes and limited support for printing, most labs can't handle 16bit and of those that do most will convert to 8bit for printing anyway. The RAW file from the camera is only 14bit (at best) to start with and the noise will usually mask any really smooth gradients 16bit could provide so although on paper it sounds great the advantages of 16bit are somewhat limited without moving to 16bit medium format digital backs.
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So I don't need to worry about whether my files are 8 or 16 bit really, then?
 
In reality no. You could get uber geeky about the whole thing but the only person who's going to tell the difference is another uber geeky person. Let's face it most people who look at a print don't even know what white balance is let alone being able to spot the difference between the tonality from a 8bit or 16bit print.
 
pxl8 said:
In reality no. You could get uber geeky about the whole thing but the only person who's going to tell the difference is another uber geeky person. Let's face it most people who look at a print don't even know what white balance is let alone being able to spot the difference between the tonality from a 8bit or 16bit print.
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Good.

Makes you wonder why they bother in that case!

Thanks for your help.
 
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