Hello to all,

Welcome to the new edition of the SOLIDWORKS® Support Monthly News! This monthly news blog is co-authored by members of the SOLIDWORKS® Technical Support teams worldwide. Here is the list of topics covered in this month’s Blog:

1. Understanding Color Bit Depth in TIFF, Photoshop (PSD), and JPEG Export Options

1. Understanding Color Bit Depth in TIFF, Photoshop (PSD), and JPEG Export Options

–  Nikhil BHIRUD 

When you export images from SOLIDWORKS — whether for technical documentation, presentations, or marketing renders — the Image Type you select directly determines the color bit depth of the exported file.
This bit depth controls how much color information each pixel carries, affecting both image quality and file size.

Most users notice only the file format (TIFF, PSD, JPEG), but what truly defines the image’s visual fidelity is the combination of Image Type and Background / Transparency options under the Save As Options dialog.

What Is Bit Depth?

In digital imaging, bit depth represents how many bits of data are used to store color information for each pixel.

• A higher bit depth allows more shades and smoother gradients.
• A lower bit depth limits the number of tones or colors, but creates smaller files.

Each image type in SOLIDWORKS corresponds to a specific bit-depth configuration behind the scenes.

How SOLIDWORKS Determines Bit Depth

When you use File → Save As → TIFF / JPEG / Photoshop (PSD) and click Options, the Image Type setting defines the color mode and bit depth of the exported image.

You can see the resulting bit depth on the same page under Export Image Information.

The relationship between these export settings is summarized below:

Export Settings in SOLIDWORKS

Each Image Type in SOLIDWORKS defines how colors and transparency are handled during export. Let’s look into each type to understand how bit depth affects image quality and file output.

1. Full-Color (True Color) Images — Minimum 24-Bit Requirement

When saving color images from SOLIDWORKS, the software automatically uses 24 bits per pixel (True Color). Each pixel contains 8 bits for red, green, and blue  combining to produce over 16.7 million colors.

✅ Recommended for:

• Shaded model views and renders
• Presentation graphics and marketing visuals
• Exports for Photoshop or print layouts

Significance: 24-bit images preserve accurate gradients, reflections, and textures while preventing color banding

 24-bit RGB full-color export maintains smooth gradients and realistic shading

2. Black-and-White and Grayscale Images — The Efficient 8-Bit Option

For technical documentation, manuals, or simple line-based exports, SOLIDWORKS supports 8-bit grayscale and 1-bit black-and-white image types.

• 8-bit grayscale stores 256 tones of brightness, giving you soft gradients and smooth shading without color.
• 1-bit uses only black and white pixels — ideal for simple line drawings, where sharp contrast and minimal file size are key.

Recommended for:

• Engineering drawings or hidden-line views
• Print-ready manuals and catalogs

Significance:
Grayscale (8-bit) offers smooth tonal transitions while keeping file size small.
Black-and-white (1-bit) is ideal for crisp, high-contrast line drawings on white backgrounds.

Bilevel and  Grayscale Export Examples

3. Removing Backgrounds — Adding a Transparency Channel

When you check Remove background in the export options, SOLIDWORKS adds an 8-bit alpha channel to your 24-bit color image, creating a 32-bit file.
This enables true transparency, ideal for overlaying models on other graphics or presentation slides.

Recommended for:

• Presentations and web graphics
• Photoshop compositing and marketing material

Significance:
32-bit images maintain full color depth and allow transparent regions — no more white boxes around parts when used in other layouts.
Transparency is supported in TIFF and Photoshop (PSD) formats, but not in JPEG.

“Remove background” adds an 8-bit transparency channel for clean overlays

Conclusion

In SOLIDWORKS, every image export carries a bit-depth choice behind the scenes.
Selecting the appropriate option—8-bit for grayscale, 24-bit for color, or 32-bit for transparency—helps you balance visual quality, performance, and downstream compatibility.

By understanding how SOLIDWORKS handles color bit depth, you can ensure that your exported visuals remain accurate, professional, and ready for any medium from internal reports to high-resolution marketing renders.

References: SOLIDWORKS Help – Save as TIFF, JPEG, and Photoshop Options