A bit depth of 9 is capable of displaying how many shades of gray?

The concept of bit depth in digital imaging refers to the number of bits used to represent the color of a single pixel. Each bit doubles the number of shades that can be displayed. Therefore, the total number of shades of gray that can be produced is calculated as 2 raised to the power of the bit depth.

In this case, a bit depth of 9 means we calculate (2^9).

When you perform this calculation, (2^9 = 512). Thus, a bit depth of 9 allows for 512 different shades of gray. This means that each pixel in an image can represent one of 512 gradations in brightness, contributing to the overall quality and detail of the image produced.

Understanding this fundamental aspect of digital imaging is crucial for radiologic technologists, as it not only affects image quality but also influences diagnostic capabilities in radiology.