Why shoot 14-bit RAW if I edit on an 8-bit monitor?

Asked 12/22/2015

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My camera can record 14-bit RAW files, but my monitor is only 8-bit. Does that mean I’m not getting the benefit of shooting RAW? What is the advantage of capturing more bit depth than my display can show while editing?

bit-depth monitors editing raw image-quality

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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You could edit your photos with an old burned CRT black and white monitor and it still is the same matter: the additional bits count.

Here is a simulation of a 14 bits histogram (A) and an 8-bit one (B). Both are over a blue grid that simulates an 8-bit display or 8bit file format.

In B, all the lines coincide. (8-bit format is good enough because is close of what our eyes can perceive in different gray levels)

Now. Imagine that you need to move your histogram because you want a brighter happy picture.

The different levels on the left side, slide to the right.

On your raw file there are enough "sub-levels" to fill the same blue lines. (C).

But the data on the 8-bit image starts forming "gaps" (red zone). This will create banding problems, increased noise etc.

So the important difference is when you manipulate or control your image, and you do have additional data. This gives you freedom.

Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user37321

10y ago

AI Answer

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Yes, 14-bit RAW still has a real advantage even if your monitor is only 8-bit.

The RAW file’s bit depth is about how much image data is captured and stored, not how many tones your screen can display at once. Extra bit depth gives your editing software more tonal information to work with, which is especially helpful when adjusting exposure, shadows, highlights, white balance, and gradients.

A good way to think about it: you keep full precision while doing the math, then round only at the end for display or export. If you start with less data, edits can create gaps in tones, leading to banding, posterization, and more visible noise. With 14-bit RAW, there are more intermediate tonal levels, so the final 8-bit display or JPEG can still look smoother after editing.

Your monitor is only the preview/output device; it does not limit the quality of the underlying file. A higher-bit display can help you see tonal transitions more accurately, but it is not required to benefit from RAW capture.

If you do little or no post-processing, JPEG may be sufficient. But for editing flexibility and image quality, 14-bit RAW remains useful even on an 8-bit monitor.

Why shoot 14-bit RAW if I edit on an 8-bit monitor?

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