What’s the Difference Between an 8-Bit + FRC and a 10-Bit Monitor?

BenQ

Stellar colour performance can take your monitor viewing experience from mundane to magical. Today’s pro-grade desktop monitors boast specs that can blow your mind, and also leave your head spinning. One spec that causes a lot of confusion is colour bit depth, which determines the total number of colors your monitor can display. We’ll discuss the different ways monitors add color to your work and your world.

two monitors show the difference of 10-bit and 8-bit panel color depth

10-bit colour depth

1.07 billion hues. That is what you get from 10-bit colour. This can be achieved in two ways. The right way for you depends on how you use your display. True 10-bit displays have 10 bits per pixel, for 1024 shades of RGB colour (Red, Green, Blue). Cube that and you get to those 1.07 billion shades. Expect smooth gradations and improved realism in photography and video content. Amazing. Beautiful. Also expensive and sometimes more than you need. When you move down to 8-bit, you still access an impressive 16.77 million colours from 256 RGB tones produced from this tech. Will you notice a difference if you compare 8-bit to 10-bit? Yes. You will. Colours can still appear vivid and brilliant, but shading will be less fluid and gradations can appear less subtle. In an ideal world, you’d be able to access 10-bit colour at an 8-bit cost. That’s where Frame Rate Control comes in.

When you move down to 8-bit, you still access an impressive 16.77 million colours from 256 RGB tones produced from this tech. Will you notice a difference if you compare 8-bit to 10-bit? Yes. You will. Colors can still appear vivid and brilliant, but shading will be less fluid and gradations can appear less subtle. In an ideal world, you’d be able to access 10-bit colour at an 8-bit cost. That’s where Frame Rate Control comes in.

8-bit + Frame Rate Control (FRC)

There is a way to experience all the colours of 10-bit with an 8-bit monitor. Frame Rate Control manipulates pixels so they flash two alternating colours so quickly that you perceive any of the shades in a billion colour experience. Does the monitor display those billion+ colours? No. Will you be able to tell? Likely, not. Also likely, if you work in the creative space, you have been or already are working on an 8-bit or 8-bit + FRC monitor, as this is the most common setup today.

Also likely, if you work in the creative space, you have been or already are working on an 8-bit or 8-bit + FRC monitor, as this is the most common setup today.

The Exception to the Rule

While 8-bit + FRC is a stellar solution for most, there are situations that call for true 10-bit. If you're working in a high-end Hollywood retouching studio or in retouching where individual pixels are zoomed to more than 500%, you'll probably require 10-bit. But for most of the rest of us the 8-bit + FRC monitor is adequate, accessible, and affordable. As for quality of display, 8-bit + FRC monitors have won the prestigious TIPA Award for Best Professional Photo Monitor for the past two years. This global award from the Technical Image Press Association recognizes the world's best in photo/video innovation. Each of those winning displays was manufactured by BenQ. Only you can decide the best monitor for your needs. Hopefully, this article leaves you better informed and empowered to make that call.

While 8-bit + FRC is a stellar solution for most, there are situations that call for true 10-bit.

If you're working in a high-end Hollywood retouching studio or in retouching where individual pixels are zoomed to more than 500%, you'll probably require 10-bit. But for most of the rest of us the 8-bit + FRC monitor is adequate, accessible, and affordable.

As for quality of display, 8-bit + FRC monitors have won the prestigious TIPA Award for Best Professional Photo Monitor for the past two years. This global award from the Technical Image Press Association recognizes the world's best in photo/video innovation. Each of those winning displays was manufactured by BenQ.

Only you can decide the best monitor for your needs. Hopefully, this article leaves you better informed and empowered to make that call.

Recommended Articles

Color 101: Color Accuracy is a Monitor's Main Job

There are standards in the industry that set the bar for performance. There are a lot of manufacturers out there with their own unique buzz words to describe what’s unique about their products. BenQ is on the leading edge of emerging imaging technology.

BenQ Pantone validated

Pantone Validated Now in DesignVue and PhotoVue Monitors

BenQ DesignVue and PhotoVue monitors offer integrated color correction and BenQ-exclusive AQCOLOR technology to guarantee superior fidelity in color accuracy, including tested quality in achieving Pantone Matching System colors.

What is Pantone Validated Certification?

The Pantone products designers are familiar with are mostly paper, plastic or textile based. The Pantone Color System, Pantone Color Library, Color Book or Color Guide are primarily printed on paper or dyed on textile substrates. Pantone Validated Certification plays an important role to bridge the physical color swatches and the digital data together.

BenQ Australia Pantone Connect Subscription - 1 Year Free

Accuracy Guaranteed

Pantone Connect Premium

Go digital with BenQ, the first brand to work with Pantone on a mobile app. As an existing owner or a new purchaser of BenQ professional monitors, you can redeem ONE YEAR FREE Pantone Connect Premium for digital colour consistency and accuracy on mobile.

Learn More About This Partnership and How You Can Redeem >>

Was this article helpful?

Yes No