If the total number of colours in an image depends on the bits per pixel, what effect does increasing the bits have?

Increasing the bits per pixel in an image directly enhances the maximum number of colors that can be represented. This is because each additional bit doubles the number of possible color combinations.

For example, if an image uses one bit per pixel, it can represent only 2 colors (black and white). With two bits per pixel, it can represent four colors, and with eight bits, it can represent 256 different colors. Therefore, by increasing the bits per pixel, you enable a broader range of colors to be represented in the image, allowing for smoother gradients and more detailed representations of images.

The focus on maximum colors emphasizes how the bit depth directly correlates with color representation capacity, making option B the correct answer.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the relationship between bits per pixel and color representation. For instance, decreasing color depth refers to a reduction in the number of colors possible, which contradicts the increase in bits. Saying there is no effect on total colors overlooks the direct relationship between bit depth and color variety. Finally, increasing image resolution addresses the clarity and detail of an image in terms of pixel count rather than the variety of colors, thus not relevant in the context of bits per pixel.