On a computer monitor, a color display in which each pixel (or smallest point of color) is described by 32 bits of information, or 8 bits are used to describe each of the red, green, and blue values, while another 8 bits is used to describe any mask layers or other uses. The color of a pixel on a computer display is commonly expressed as some amount of red, green, and blue. Greater numbers of combinations of these amounts require more processing power on the part of the computer. This color depth is greater than the standard and/or required setting for many CD-ROMs and multimedia programs (which usually have difficulty handling greater than 8-Bit color), and is even greater than the minimum that is sufficient for high-quality graphic arts reproduction. See also 8-Bit Color, 16-Bit Color, and 24-Bit Color. Computer monitors can also display 1-Bit color (black and white, or any two colors) and 4-Bit color (16 colors).
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