A method adapts image data using more than eight bits per pixel to be compatible with devices using only 8-bit per pixel data. The method separates the higher bit depth data into an 8-bit image data stream, the balance of the bits are carried in a separate tag data stream. The 8-bit image data stream can be used in legacy devices that can handle only 8-bit data, and the tag data stream can be used in legacy devices that incorporate a tag data stream for their internal image processing.