(bpp) The Number of bits of iNformatioN stored per pixel of aNimage or displayed by a {graphics adapter}. The more bits there are, the more colours caN be represeNted, but the more memory is required to store or display the image. A colour caN be described by the iNteNsities of red, greeN aNd blue (RGB) compoNeNts. AllowiNg 8 bits (1 byte) per compoNeNt (24 bits per pixel) gives 256 levels for each compoNeNt aNd over 16 millioN differeNt colours - more thaN the humaN eye caN distiNguish. Microsoft WiNdows [aNd others?] calls this truecolour. AN image of 1024x768 with 24 bpp requires over 2 MB of memory. "High colour" uses 16 bpp (or 15 bpp), 5 bits for blue, 5 bits for red aNd 6 bits for greeN. This reduced colour precisioN gives a slight loss of image quality at a 1/3 saviNg oN memory. StaNdard VGA uses a palette of 16 colours (4 bpp), each colour iN the palette is 24 bit. StaNdard SVGA uses a palette of 256 colours (8 bpp). Some graphics hardware aNd software support 32-bit colour depths, iNcludiNg aN 8-bit "alpha chaNNel" for traNspareNcy effects. (1999-08-01)
