KS4 – Data representations Solutions

Lesson 10 – Representing bitmap images

Colour depth – Solutions

Task 1 2-bit colour depth
boat.jpg

Image source:
https://pixabay.com/photos/
boat-lake-nature-water-
mountain-4899802/

Steps Instructions

1. In GIMP, open the ● Load GIMP.

boat.jpg file. ● Go to File > Open.
● Navigate to the file and select Open.

2. Convert the bit depth of ● Go to Image > Mode > Indexed.

the image. ● Select Generate optimum palette.
● Change the number of colours to 4 (this is the
maximum number of colours used in an image
with a 2-bit colour depth).
● Select Convert.

3. Export the file. ● Go to File > Export As.

● Save the file as boat2bits.jpg.

4. Insert the image below. If you are completing this activity sheet
electronically, insert the image below.

Page 1 Last updated: 01-10-21

KS4 – Data representations Solutions
Lesson 10 – Representing bitmap images

Task 2 4-bit colour depth

regensburg.jpg

Image source:
https://pixabay.com/photo
s/panorama-regensburg-
historic-center-2646143/

How many colours does an image with a 4-bit colour depth have?

Answer: 16 colours

Use the steps from Task 1 to convert the regensburg.jpg image into an image with
a 4-bit colour depth. Insert your image below:

Explorer task Experiment

Experiment with different colour depths. Try to find the lowest number of colours that
you can use without losing the quality of the image. Write the number of colours below
and calculate the bit depth required for that image.

Number of colours: Bit depth:

Resources are updated regularly — the latest version is available at: ncce.io/tcc.

This resource is licensed under the Open Government Licence, version 3. For more information on this
licence, see ncce.io/ogl.

Page 2 Last updated: 01-10-21