A question about the color capabilities of video cards...

[Random Variable]

I don't know if my question is technical enough to be posted in the Highly Technical Forum, so I'll post it here.

Is my understanding correct?

32-bit RGBA = 24-bit color (8-bits per pixel) + 8-bit alpha = 2^24 colors
40-bit RGBA = 30-bit color (10-bits per pixel) + 10-bit alpha = 2^30 colors
48-bit RGBA = 36-bit color (12-bits per pixel) + 12-bit alpha = 2^36 colors

and 64-bit RGBA (which I have heard being bantered around recently) = 48-bit color (16-bits per pixel) + 16-bit alpha = 2^48 colors?

Oh, and what exactly is "alpha"? Does that have something to do with transparency?

 

[Random Variable]

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[element]

<< I don't know if my question is technical enough to be posted in the Highly Technical Forum, so I'll post it here.

Is my understanding correct?

32-bit RGBA = 24-bit color (8-bits per pixel) + 8-bit alpha = 2^24 colors
40-bit RGBA = 30-bit color (10-bits per pixel) + 10-bit alpha = 2^30 colors
48-bit RGBA = 36-bit color (12-bits per pixel) + 12-bit alpha = 2^36 colors

and 64-bit RGBA (which I have heard being bantered around recently) = 48-bit color (16-bits per pixel) + 16-bit alpha = 2^48 colors?

Oh, and what exactly is "alpha"? Does that have something to do with transparency? >>



Here's my understanding of it:

32 bit RGBA is 24 bpp (8 bits per color) + 8 bit alpha channel
40 bit RGBA is 30 bpp (or 10 bits per color) +10 bit alpha channel
48 bit RGBA is 36 bpp (12 bits per color) + 12 bit alpha channel

yes alpha is for transparency. It is essentially another "image" if you will, which determines which areas of the image will be transparent and which will be opaque.

btw 1 pixel has an RGB component unless it is a monochrome monitor! this is where you were lost methinks.