color depth

(redirected from 6-bit color)

color depth

The number of bits used to hold a screen pixel. Also called "pixel depth" and "bit depth," the color depth is the maximum number of colors that can be displayed. True Color (24-bit color) is required for photorealistic images and video, and modern graphics cards support this bit depth.

Per Pixel or Per Subpixel
The color depth of a screen can be referenced by the number of bits in each subpixel or by the total bits per pixel. For example, 8-bit color and 24-bit color often mean the same thing (see table below). The 8-bits refers to each red, green and blue subpixel, while 24-bit means all three. Likewise, 10-bit color subpixels and 30-bit color pixels are the same. See indexed color and bit depth.
Bitsper   BitsSub   per   Total   Common Pxl.  Pxl.  Colors  Designation

        1       2    (monochrome)
        2       4
        3       8
        4      16    (VGA)
        8     256    (Super VGA)
 5-6** 16     65K    (High Color)
   8   24     16.7M  (True Color)
   8   32     16.7M  (True Color + alpha)
  10   30      1.1G  (Deep Color)
  12   36     64G    (Deep Color)
  16   48    256T    (Deep Color)

 ** Red/Blue 5 bits; Green 6 bits

References in periodicals archive ?
The 480 x 272 pixel displays exhibit a horizontal viewing angle of 160[degrees], a vertical viewing angle of 140[degrees], response time of 29-ms, and 262,144 6-bit colors. The devices have an LED backlight, an anti-glare polarizing filter, a pixel pitch of 0.198-m[m.sup.2], an active area of 95.040-mm x 53.856-mm, a normally white display mode, transmissive panel mode, an operating temperature range from -10[degrees]C to 70[degrees]C, and a storage temperature range from -30[degrees]C to 85[degrees]C.