Question: “What is the difference between a 32 bit TGA and a 32 bit EXR ?”
Answer:
This is not a easy answer if your don’t understand the question.
Knowing the difference will help you talk the lingo and make better choices when producing content.
The following information will allow you to understand, communicate and deliver what is actually being asked for.
What is a “Bit”
The bit is a basic unit of information in information theory, computing, and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit. It is either OFF or ON
What is a “Byte”
The bit is a basic unit of information in information theory, computing, and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit. It is either OFF or ON
What is a “Bit Depth”
The byte is a unit of digital information that most commonly consists of 8,16 or 32 bits, representing a binary number. Historically, the byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the smallest addressable unit of memory in many computer architectures.
What is a “Channel”
In order to create color we need three primary colors RGB. Each of these need a channels to store information. Basic RGB images have 3 channels, some times they have a alpha which increases the channel count to 4.
Gray – 8 Bits
256 Colors
Red – 8 Bits
Green – 8 Bits
Blue – 8 Bits
Red – 8 Bits
Green – 8 Bits
Blue – 8 Bits
Alpha – 8 Bits
Gradient Examples
One of the best way to visual describe bit depths is with gradients.
While the difference between 1 and 8 bits is very apparent you visually don’t see much between 8 and 16 bits. Although when dealing with gradient, for example in a sky, 8 bit is not your best choice.
Talking about color
“The traditional 0-256 is gone, images today are rarely confined to 8 bit”
Because bit depths can change when talking about colors we must use universal scale.
Here is a better way:
- 0-1 for 3D, Composite, and log work
- “Can you add 0.25 of red”
- 0%-100% Photo work
- “Can you add 25% more red”
The Question:
Question: What is the difference between a 32 bit TGA and a 32 bit EXR ?
Answer: A 32 bit TGA
- TGA is an 8 bit / 32 Bit Depth file
- Each channel ( R, G, B and Alpha) contains a 8 bit or 256 shades of color.
- Channel bit depth adds up to 32 bit (24 if there is not a alpha).
- A total possible colors is 16.78 Million.
Answer: A 32 bit EXR
- EXR is an 32 bit / 128 Bit Depth file
- Each channel ( R, G, B and Alpha) contains a 32 bit or 4,294,967,296 shades of color.
- Channel bit depth adds up to 128 bit.
- A total possible colors is 80 Octillion.