colour depth;

Colour depth describes the number of bits per pixel (bpp) that can be displayed on a computer. Each bit represents two colours, because it has a value of 0 or 1. The higher the colour depth, the more wider the range of distinct colours (more bpp = more colours displayed).

Since the colour depth describes the range of colours in an image, it would affect how the image would appear. An image with a high colour depth would, obvious, have a wider variety of colours and shades, which could give the image more depth. As opposed to an image with a low colour depth, with less colours and shades, which would make the image appear blunt and dull.

The following is a range of colour depth of the same image:

1 bit

2 bits

4 bits

8 bits

24 bits