10-bit color
Also known as: 10-bit, 10-bit video, HDR 10-bit, deep color
10-bit color records 1,024 levels per color channel instead of the 256 that 8-bit provides, giving over a billion possible colors. The extra levels produce smoother gradients with less banding, which is why HDR video uses 10-bit — at the cost of larger files.
- 1,024 levels per channel vs 256 for 8-bit
- Smoother gradients and far less banding
- Standard for HDR video; larger files than 8-bit
Why 10-bit looks smoother
With 8-bit, each channel has 256 steps, and large smooth areas like skies or sunsets can show visible bands where one step jumps to the next. 10-bit has 1,024 steps per channel, so those transitions blend smoothly and banding is far less likely.
This headroom also helps editing: when you push exposure, contrast, or color, 10-bit footage holds together where 8-bit would tear into bands. It is the practical reason HDR capture is paired with 10-bit.
The storage cost
More tonal data per pixel means more data overall, so 10-bit clips are larger than 8-bit at the same resolution and length. How much larger depends on the codec — efficient formats like HEVC keep the increase modest, while less-compressed formats like ProRes are much heavier.
For everyday clips, 8-bit is usually plenty and saves space; reserve 10-bit for HDR and footage you intend to grade.