> RAW files are 12-bits per color, but there's only one color per pixel > so there are only 12 bits per pixel.
Indeed. Except with Foveon sensors in the Sigma SD cameras, CCD sensors can only record ONE color, R, G *or* B, at every pixel. RAW files store just that. > TIFF files are either 8-bits per color or 16 bits per color but with > three colors per pixel, so you get either 24 bits per pixel or 48 bits > per pixel. All non-raw files (usual TIFF, JPEG) need to store 3 components R, G, *and* B, for each pixel. Therefore, schematically, for every pixel, 1 component (R, G or B) is actually measured, the 2 others are interpolated. Thus the bigger size for no real benefit.
