How do you determine the number of values in a raster?

The correct way to determine the number of values in a raster is indeed by considering the number of bits used in the raster. This is because the number of bits per pixel directly affects the number of possible values that each pixel can represent. For example, if a raster uses 8 bits per pixel, it can represent 2^8 (or 256) different values. This is crucial for understanding the data range of the raster, as it determines the granularity and detail with which information about the area is captured. This concept is foundational in raster data analysis and helps in interpreting the datasets effectively.

The resolution of the raster cells pertains to the spatial detail of the raster and does not give direct information about the number of unique values that can be represented.

File size can indicate some aspects of the raster, such as dimensions and overall data volume, but it does not provide a straightforward method for determining the specific number of values represented in the raster.

Converting to vector format is unrelated to determining the number of values in the original raster data and would typically involve data transformation rather than analysis of the existing raster values.