Color Depth

Alternatively referred to as pixel depth, color depth refers to the number of bits per pixel on a computer monitor to represent a specific color. The more bits per pixel, the higher color variety and quality of the monitor. The first graphics cards and monitors supported 1-bit color, which was monochrome (most commonly black and white), for early computers like the Apple Macintosh and Atari ST.

Today, most computers support at least 32-bit color, which allows for up to 16.7 million colors. Windows 7 introduced support for 48-bit color, assuming the computer's video card supports this color depth.

Evolution of color depth

As technology and available system resources have increased, so has the color depth. Below is a listing of all the different color depths over the history of computers.

1-bit (21 or 2 colors) - Monochrome displays.

2-bit (22 or 4 colors) - CGA displays.

4-bit (24 or 16 colors) - EGA displays.

8-bit (28 or 256 colors) - VGA displays.

16-bit (216 or 65,536 colors) - XGA displays.

24-bit (224 or 16,777,216 colors) - SVGA displays.

32-bit (16,777,216 colors + Alpha channel (232 or 4,294,967,296 color combinations))

48-bit (248 or 281,474,976,710,656 colors)

What is an Operating System? » Computer Shortcut Keys and their Functions » Keyboard Function Keys » Computer Basics - Hardware - Software - Parts

Short Stories for Kids - Moral Stories – English Short Stories for Children - Moral Stories for Kids - Stories for Kids - Funny Story for Kids - Scary Stories for Kids - Really Funny

Short Stories - Bedtime Stories
Proverb Stories
Powerful Motivational Quotes for Students » Success Quotes » English Short Stories for Kids

Cabin Crew Jobs & Career Advice » Secretary Job Description » Receptionist Job Description » Top 100 Interview Questions and Answers » How to Prepare for an Interview » How to Write a CV » How to Choose a Career » Computer Shortcut Keys and their Functions

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Computer Basics FAQ.

Army Jobs - Navy Jobs - Military Jobs

Scholarship 2024/25

Current Scholarships 2024/2025 - Fully Funded

Full Undergraduate Scholarships 2024/2025

Fully Funded Masters Scholarships 2024/25

PhD Scholarships for International Students - Fully Funded!

Funding Opportunities for Journalists 2024/2025

Funding for NGOs 2024/2025

Funding for Artists 2024/2025

Funding for Entrepreneurs 2024/2025

✅Over 4500 Current Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students

✅ Undergraduate Scholarships 2024

✅ Masters Scholarships 2024

✅ PhD Scholarships 2024 Click Here!

Free Scholarship Newsletter --- E-mail Address

First Name

Then Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you Advance Africa Newsletter.