Image modes for Canvas paint objects
In Canvas, image modes define the color model and the number of
colors that can be used in images. When you create a new paint
object in Canvas, you select an image mode: Black & White, Gray-
scale, RGB Color, CMYK Color, or LAB Color. When you select a
paint object, Canvas displays the image mode in the information area
at the right end of the Status bar.
How image modes affect image filters
Filters produce different results depending on the image mode. When
you paint, the opacity setting of a brush acts differently on images in
different modes. For the most predictable results with filters and
paint tools, use RGB Color mode.
How Canvas assigns image modes
When you import an image from another source either by opening,
placing or pasting an image file, Canvas assigns an image mode
based on the number of colors and the color model used in the image.
The following table shows the image modes that Canvas assigns
when you import images in some common image formats.
Imported format
Assigned image mode
TIFF
RGB Color, CMYK Color, or Grayscale
BMP
256-color image: Indexed
24-bit image: RGB Color
MacPaint
Black & White
Photoshop
Same as original image mode
Posterizing a LAB image
introduces color to light areas.
RGB image
posterized 4 levels
Original
LAB image
posterized 4 levels