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8 bit or 16 bit

Paul DeMers
Using CO7.2.2 on Win 7 platform. What is or will be the difference between an 8 bit and a 16 bit image? Will my pro lab be able to process 16 bit files? They do a wonderful job with my 8 bit images. I will have to try a few samples. I know that the files will grow in size. The color are great at 8 bit. Can they actually be better at 16?
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Emmanuel Mellet
    I suppose that you send your pictures in jpeg format with sRVB icc profile. If it is the case you have no choice: 8 bits it is.

    The internal color space of C1 is 16 bits. So when you work on your pictures you actually benefit from a 16 bits coding.

    Emmanuel
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  • Paul DeMers
    Actually, no. I process my RAW files as both JPEG and TIFF files, using Adobe RGB '98 ICC. I give my clients both JPEGs and TIFFs, all processed at 300dpi, 8 bit. They use the JPEGs online and the TIFFs are ONLY used for prints and edits. I have not tried the 16 bit format TIFFs at my pro lab, AV Partners, in Santa Ana, CA. The 8 bit TIFF prints look so damn good, I was just wondering if it could be possible to improve on great? I do Fuji, Crystal Archive, Luster photo prints only. I never do inkjet or pigment prints. My black & white prints, sepia-toned prints and full color prints are just spectacular. I have tuned my Eizo monitors to give me exactly what I receive from the lab. If I see it on the Eizo, it will be in the prints. I guess I will need to do a back-to-back sample and report on the results. However, this will be like polishing the diamond.
    Paul
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  • Emmanuel Mellet
    8 bits is sufficient to code the colors included in Adobe 98 RGB ICC (16 bits is required for wide gamut profiles such as Prophoto).
    In any case I do not think that you will see any difference between 8 and 16 bits on printings, even with the most glossy papers.

    Emmanuel
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  • Paul Steunebrink
    The 16-bit option allows for more latitude in post-processing. It is also preferred option for very critical work, like jewelry.

    Regarding your JPEGs for web, I strongly suggest to put them in the sRGB color space, which is common for web. An image in AdobeRGB viewed through a (Windows) browser may look flat, dull and washed out as the larger color space is not taken into account. Use sRGB only!
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