A while ago, we introduced you to chroma subsampling. Perhaps you noticed that when parameters related to chroma subsampling appear, they are often accompanied by terms like "8bit" and "10bit." What do these numbers represent?

Firstly, the terms "8bit" and "10bit" are actually referred to as "color depth," indicating the number of colors a device can display. We all know that display devices represent colors through variations in the red, green, and blue (RGB) channels and their overlays.

8bit refers to 8-bit color, meaning each of the RGB channels has 28 (256) colors, totaling 16,777,216 colors (256x256x256) when combined. Similarly, 10bit represents a staggering 1.07 billion colors per channel, calculated as 210.

Isn't it straightforward? The higher the bit count, the more colors can be represented, resulting in smoother transitions between colors. Despite only differing by two numbers, the color difference between 10bit and 8bit is exponential.

While this is true, most videos, movies, and even Hollywood blockbusters you see are rendered in 8bit, as 16 million colors are sufficient for human eyes. However, there are exceptions. When depicting sunsets or large areas with black-to-gray transitions, 10bit can indeed produce better results than 8bit.

In fact, 10bit has been around for a long time in the professional broadcasting industry, used in image capture and post-processing. However, in recent years, with the introduction of new electronic devices, the term "color depth" has gradually gained more attention.

Take the familiar "HDR" in mobile phone cameras, for example. In HDR standards, 10bit is the minimum "standard configuration." Some cinemas or displays featuring "Dolby Vision" can even reach 12bit color depth, offering incredibly smooth color transitions.

Nevertheless, the application of 10bit in daily life is still far less prevalent than 8bit. In reality, there are many parameters affecting video quality, and numerous ways to enhance the viewing experience. Whether it's 10bit or 8bit, finding the most suitable solution depends on your specific needs.