16 color (4 bit) bitmaps

[jonbalza]

At work, I am creating an image to go on a check out register. However, the register will only take 16 color bitmaps. This is only an actual .bmp, not just indexed color images such as .gifs, otherwise this would be easy. (Actually, maybe it still is, and I am missing something.)

Anyway, to get this 16 color image, I converted it to a .gif through save for web, getting a decent 16 color image. Then I saved it as a .bmp. When the dialog box comes up though, saving it as a .bmp doesn't allow the 4 bit option. It is greyed out. Any thoughts on how to do this?

[BabbleGrabble]

I think I would start from the initial RGB mode, change it to Indexed Color mode and select a Local or Master palette (Perceptual, Selective or Adaptive, depending on what looks best) and enter 15 for Colors. From there you should be able to save it as a 4-bit BMP.

[jonbalza]

Thanks, BG. I was making it harder than it should have been. The converting to .gif was the part that I shouldn't have been doing, that seems to grey out the option for 4-bit. Keeping it as a .jpg and then just switching the mode does.