The scanner can read up to 12 bits/pixel/color. Above8 bits/pixel/color the scanner converts the image data to

8 bits/pixel/color and sends it to the computer. This gives much higher quality.

Data format

Monochrome

Color

 

 

 

1 bit/pixel/color

2 grays

8 colors

 

 

 

2 bits/pixel/color

4 grays

64 colors

 

 

 

3 bits/pixel/color

8 grays

512 colors

 

 

 

4 bits/pixel/color

16 grays

4,096 colors

 

 

 

5 bits/pixel/color

32 grays

32,768 colors

 

 

 

6 bits/pixel/color

64 grays

262,144 colors

 

 

 

7 bits/pixel/color

128 grays

2,097,152 colors

 

 

 

8 bits/pixel/color

256 grays

16,777,216 colors

 

 

 

8 bits

2 bits

1 bit

To reproduce an image of more than 2 bits/pixel/color the output device should be capable of producing the same tones. Many displays and printers cannot do this and are limited to monochrome without gradations, or to 8 or 16 or 256 colors.

The data format chosen also affects the amount of data necessary for scanning and storing an image. The larger the bits per pixel value chosen, the larger the amount of image data becomes.

B-4Expression 636 Scanner Settings