Color Gamut vs. Bit Depth

[Jephph]

I know Bit Depth tells how many colors a monitor can display. But gamut is always referred to in the context of % of the Adobe RGB spectrum or whatever. Wouldn't more colors cover more of the spectrum? I've read the descriptions in "The LCD Thread," but I'm still not sure I understand the difference. Thanks.

 

[panfist]

I believe the color gamut has to do with how much of the spectrum is output by the backlight. All other things being equal, the higher the gamut the better, but if for some reason you have a high color gamut and only 6-bits per channel...then you are being limited by the bit depth. The bit depth limits how many colors the filter in front of the backlight will let through.

The path the light takes is out the backlight, through the filters, and into your eyeballs. If the bit depth is 6 bits the filters are not "fine" enough and it is unable to sort out all the different colors of light coming from the backlight.

 

[Jephph]

Ok, so if you have an 8 bit display, then your color gamut won't be limited by the bit depth? Is there a direct correlation or anything? Also, what would be the purpose of like a 10 bit or 12 bit display? Like, for what kind of uses would you need that? One other thing, what's the point in have like 120% of the Adobe RGB spectrum? Isn't 100% the max anyway...?