What is the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit/channel mode, and when would you choose 16-bit?

• A. 8-bit/channel supports 256 tonal levels
• B. 16-bit/channel supports 65,536 levels
• C. 8-bit/channel supports 65,536 levels
• D. 16-bit is used for minor edits

Answer: (A)

Bit depth per channel determines how many tonal steps you can represent for each color channel. In 8-bit per channel there are 2^8 = 256 possible values per channel, which means 256 tonal levels. That’s why the statement about 8-bit/channel having 256 levels is the key point: it captures the basic limit you’re working with when editing or saving with lower bit depth.

If you were to work in 16-bit per channel, you’d have 2^16 = 65,536 levels per channel, giving far finer gradations and less risk of visible banding after multiple adjustments. In practice, you’d choose 16-bit when you expect to do substantial editing, gradient work, or color corrections where preserving subtle tonal differences matters.

The other options touch on the broader truth that 16-bit supports many more levels and that 16-bit isn’t typically used only for minor edits, but the main takeaway the question emphasizes is the 256-level limit of 8-bit per channel.