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I have a .png image which I need to save in 24 and 16bit using gimp. I went to Image -> Mode -> Indexed, but maximum value is 256 colors. I tried to paste in 16777216 colors for 24bit, but it did revert back to 256. I also tried 16bit 65536 colors, but it also reverted back. I'm using OSX gimp version, don't know if it changes anything. I need this for school. In photoshop it's a lot easier, but unfortunately I can't use photoshop.

Image:

enter image description here

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  • I don't know Gimp at all, so can't give you the actual answer - but why are you trying to convert it to indexed colour which is maximum 8-bit? – Tetsujin Oct 19 '15 at 11:10
  • I have never used GIMP so I don't know any other way to convert it. :/ – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 11:12
  • but you don't want indexed colour - read the link – Tetsujin Oct 19 '15 at 11:12
  • I had a bad idea that I should not, but that was the only place I could find in GIMP that actually changes something. – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 11:13
  • For those of you landing on this question from google wondering what bpp formats are supported by .png, Wikipedia has a nice table here, note that the smallest bit per channel value for a color image is 8, there is no such thing as 4 bits per channel color. Note that .BMP does seem to support "4 bits per color component", though. – jrh Dec 13 '16 at 14:03
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For 16 bit you need to change the image mode to grayscale, with only two channels - grayscale and alpha - and save that as PNG. Then you have a 16 bit image.

  • Open a color JPEG
  • Change the mode to grayscale - it should have one layer now
  • Add an alpha layer
  • Save the image to PNG via the export menu

You need to test which options you need to check in the export menu. I've checked them all, and that creates a 16 bit grayscale image with an alpha layer.

Lolcat 16 bit

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  • I found this image too, but I don't have such option :( – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 12:04
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    Please note that this is the precision per RGBA component - if you choose 16 bit integer there, you will get an image with up to 64 bit (16 bit per R, G, B and A component). See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics#Pixel_format – Michael Schumacher Oct 19 '15 at 12:07
  • Thanks for that insight. For this question you would need to save the image without transparency, and I have no idea how to that. In Photoshop there is a checkbox if I remember correctly. Here I don't see one. – SPRBRN Oct 19 '15 at 12:11
  • Gimp is very confusing to use. – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 12:21
  • (1) Why can't you use Photoshop - because you don't have it, of because you're force to use Gimp? If this is about learning Gimp, then tell us so we know this has to be a Gimp solution. If not, there are several alternatives to get around this. (2) Why do you need a 16 bit PNG? Is that school assignment? Does that even exist? Maybe this is just to challenge you and see what you come up with. The answer could be: it doesn't exist. – SPRBRN Oct 19 '15 at 12:31
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I have found that only Gimp 2.9 (the development branch) can save 16bit PNG. In Gimp 2.9 there is a "precision" menu option which lets you pick the precision. It is also capable of saving 16bit PNG, which Gimp 2.8 appears incapable of (even if you load a 16bit PNG, it will export it as 8bit).

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Don't use Indexed, use RGB. However, I think that GIMP lacks of the 16 bit option, only 24 or 32 bits.

Indexed images contains 256 colors or less. This always result in fading shades or patches in areas with color changes.

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  • Thanks! :) But how do I save it in 24bit ? Gimp seems complex. – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 11:20
  • I did google and to get 24bit I just have to export as png and it will be 24bit. Now how do I get 16bit ? – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 11:30
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    16 bits .png files are not supported on GIMP. – jcbermu Oct 19 '15 at 11:41
  • Just in case it isn't obvious: 32 bit* PNG files have an alpha channel (8 bit per R, G, B and A = 32 bit), 24 bit PNG file don't (8 bit per R, G and B = 24 bit). [* still ambiguous if we take 16-bit-per-component Gray+Alpha PNG files into account]. – Michael Schumacher Oct 19 '15 at 12:10
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    Grayscale and alpha mode gives me 32bit image. Grayscale gives me 8bit – mypoint Oct 19 '15 at 14:12

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