2000.10.03 20:44 "Varying BitsPerSample", by Rick LaMont

2000.10.03 20:44 "Varying BitsPerSample", by Rick LaMont

There was a discussion on a newsgroup recently about having TIFF files with different data formats per channel. For example, 8-bit RGB with a 32-bit Z channel. Some thought that the TIFF format does not allow this but then Derek Kusiak wrote:

> Unless I'm misunderstanding what the TIFF 6.0 spec says, that's not
> true:
>
> "Note that this field [BitsPerSample] allows a different number of bits
> per component for each component corresponding to a pixel. For example,
> RGB color data could use a different number of bits per component for
> each of the three color planes." (p.29)

Is there a limitation in libtiff that prevents exploitation of this section of the spec?

I'm interested in interpretations of the spec, pros/cons of this feature, limitations and workarounds.

Thanks,

Rick LaMont
Dot C Software, Inc.