> By that definition 24-bit image is "lossy" to 32-bit images, and 32-bit images lossy to 64-bit images Only assuming your base images have that many bits of i

> By that definition 24-bit image is "lossy" to 32-bit images, and 32-bit images lossy to 64-bit images Only assuming your base images have that many bits of information. Most cameras max out at 16 bits per channel when shooting RAW, and even those rarely have mostly noise in the lower bits. I'm sure you can find an example of some supercooled telescope sensor that actually does capture 16 bits per channel, maybe even more. In the real world your image source is usually either JPG (24 bits per pixel, already debayered and already lossy) or RAW (16 bits per pixel max, bayered).