48 bit color depth for high end applications

Rencay scanning process with 48-bit workflow

Both the hardware and the software are designed for a consistent 48-bit workflow. Each pixel is available in memory for further processing with a color depth of 48 bits. Only at the very end does the user decide which format to use for saving the scan. Here, depending on the application, he can decide whether the color information is reduced to 24 bits.

What are 48Bit needed for?

Wherever an image has to be post-processed for further use, it is advisable to save the image with 48-bit color depth. In particular, if the exposure has to be corrected or the gradation has to be changed, a sufficient number of color tones are available with 48 bits, without later vislible steps.
A typical application is the conversion of a negative into a positive. It is often necessary to adjust the exposure and the gradation there.
Other applications are the scanning of color charts to calculate color profiles or applications with very high contrast, e.g. when photographing objects.

In the case of monochrome objects, the color information can be discarded and an 8 or 16 bit grayscale data format can be selected. In the archive area, however, the originals are rarely completely monochrome (e.g. due to changes over time).