bit plane


bit plane

(graphics)(Or "bitplane") The memory in a graphic displaydevice which holds a complete one-bit-per-pixel image.Several bit planes may be used in conjunction to give morebits per pixel or to overlay several images or mask one withanother.

"Bit plane" may be used as a synonym for "bitmap", thoughthe latter suggests the data itself rather than the memory andalso suggests a graphics file format.

bit plane

(1) The sequence of bits for each pixel in a bitmap. The number of bits in the bit plane determines the number of colors that are displayed in the image. See bitmap and color depth.

(2) A segment of memory used to control an object, such as a color, cursor or sprite. Bit planes may be reserved parts of a common memory or independent memory banks each designed for one purpose.