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When I convert a grayscale image to RGB then I get more available colours for working with this file. Is it useful to convert an 8-bit RGB image into 16 or 24-bit to increase its colour range when working on it? – Or do I work with an RGB image always in max. colours, and limit them only on Save or Export?

FYI, this question has to do with AP: Looking at a recent image, I noticed some faint banding that was visible when I applied a color gradient (maybe it was there in the B&W version, but I couldn't see it). See the darker of these two images: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/20687-photos-from-a-mountaintop/(FWIW, I see the banding on my non-retina, late 2013 iMac; I haven't checked on other machines). Searching the forums I came across a comment about the "Dither Gradients" preference and the different effects if you are working in 8-bit or 16-bit (see MEB's comments in this thread: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/13742-unwanted-noise-in-gradients). So, my question: If I'm working in 16-bit, is it better to leave "Dither Gradients" preference checked? Or unchecked? Thanks, Darin