Native bit depth by asset

PlanetScope (PSScene)

SkySat (SkySatScene / SkySatCollect)

Rule of thumb: analytic products are 16-bit; visual and UDM2 masks are 8-bit.

Bit-depth conversion by API

Data API — not supported

The Data API searches the catalog and activates/downloads assets in their native format. It does not convert pixel bit depth or data type. Use the Orders or Process API to change bit depth.

Orders API — supported (Band Math tool)

Set the output pixel type with the Band Math tool's pixel_type parameter. Valid values: Auto (default, same as input), 8U, 16U, 16S, 32R.

{
  "name": "psscene-to-8bit",
  "products": [
    { "item_ids": ["20260630_100542_51_2570"],
      "item_type": "PSScene",
      "product_bundle": "analytic_udm2" }
  ],
  "tools": [
    { "bandmath": { "b1": "b1", "b2": "b2", "b3": "b3", "b4": "b4", "pixel_type": "8U" } }
  ]
}

Note: the File Format tool changes container only (COG or NITF), not bit depth; the TOAR tool always outputs scaled 16-bit reflectance.

Process API — supported (evalscript output sampleType)

Set the output data type in the evalscript's setup() output. Options: UINT8, UINT16, FLOAT32.

//VERSION=3
function setup() {
  return {
    input: ["B04","B03","B02"],
    output: { bands: 3, sampleType: "UINT8" }
  };
}
function evaluatePixel(s) {
  return [s.B04 * 255, s.B03 * 255, s.B02 * 255];
}

Quick reference