8-bit vs. 16-bit

Interested in integrating your 3D work with the real world? This might help

# 1 09-02-2008 , 12:47 PM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

Hey guys,

I'm about to start texturing the pirate ship and I was messing around with PS's settings. Does anyone know what the difference is between 8-bit and 16-bit images (besides the size difference)? What are the pros and cons of each?

-Jr.Who
user added image

Quote

# 2 09-02-2008 , 01:03 PM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

16 bit images can hold more colours per channel than 8 bit (think its 256 levels compared to 64K levels on 16 bit), that gives them better quality when displaying lots of subtle colours in the range, but they take up more space on the HDD.

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

# 3 09-02-2008 , 02:10 PM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

So, which would you prefer?

Quote

# 4 09-02-2008 , 02:12 PM

Subscriber
Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Plattsburgh New York

Posts: 1,222

I personally always choose 16 bit.

- Mike

https://rhetoriccamel.blogspot.com

Quote

# 5 09-02-2008 , 05:12 PM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

16 bit, but if your struggling for RAM at render time and can get away with it use 8.

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

# 6 09-02-2008 , 05:29 PM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2003

Location: London

Posts: 1,001

if you cant sacrifice 16 bit / 2d bit e.g. displacements etc then you can convert your massive textures to block ordered textures. Google it user added image

Quote

# 7 10-02-2008 , 10:38 AM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

OK, I'll be going with 16-bit. Only problem is that it takes forever to save the file. I'll be doing some comparison pics later, if I remember. user added image

Quote

# 8 10-02-2008 , 11:32 AM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

How big you making the maps for it to take ages?

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

# 9 10-02-2008 , 11:37 AM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

Originally posted by gster123
How big you making the maps for it to take ages?

Originally Posted by

I figured I'd try 4096 x 4096 to see the difference on the dimensions too.

Quote

# 10 10-02-2008 , 11:46 AM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

You just can add more detial to it.

I pretty much dont go over 2k for a map (although I would use multiple maps head, body etc)

If your going so high with the maps you might run into memory probs at render time (or just waiting ages!)

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

# 11 10-02-2008 , 01:15 PM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

OK, switching back to 8-bits! Got sick of waiting over 30 seconds to save.

Quote

# 12 10-02-2008 , 02:21 PM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

To save the image! Wow, think it takes about 5 seconds to save on mine, you not trying to save on some funkey settings, whats the file size?

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

# 13 10-02-2008 , 02:28 PM

Jr.Who

Guest

Posts: n/a

Originally posted by gster123
To save the image! Wow, think it takes about 5 seconds to save on mine, you not trying to save on some funkey settings, whats the file size?

Originally Posted by

The PSD was around 130 MB. Remember that my computer's old. user added image

Quote

# 14 10-02-2008 , 02:43 PM

Moderator
Join Date: May 2005

Location: Manchester Uk

Posts: 6,300

hehe! No probs.

Tbh I would suggest that you try to get as much out of what youve got before going onto other stuff.

Just more of a pain for data handeling and manipulation, start off small and work up, theres no advantage jumping the gun, basics are the way forward!

"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle

Quote

Reply to this thread