diff --git a/docs/api-colour.md b/docs/api-colour.md
index bf9237eb..8dca338c 100644
--- a/docs/api-colour.md
+++ b/docs/api-colour.md
@@ -48,6 +48,14 @@ By default output image will be web-friendly sRGB, with additional channels inte
 
 -   `colourspace` **[string][1]?** output colourspace e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...][6]
 
+### Examples
+
+```javascript
+// Output 16 bits per pixel RGB
+await sharp(input)
+ .toColourspace('rgb16')
+ .toFile('16-bpp.png')
+```
 
 -   Throws **[Error][4]** Invalid parameters
 
diff --git a/lib/colour.js b/lib/colour.js
index d2151613..c4516c5a 100644
--- a/lib/colour.js
+++ b/lib/colour.js
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ function grayscale (grayscale) {
 /**
  * Set the output colourspace.
  * By default output image will be web-friendly sRGB, with additional channels interpreted as alpha channels.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * // Output 16 bits per pixel RGB
+ * await sharp(input)
+ *  .toColourspace('rgb16')
+ *  .toFile('16-bpp.png')
+ *
  * @param {string} [colourspace] - output colourspace e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...](https://github.com/libvips/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L568)
  * @returns {Sharp}
  * @throws {Error} Invalid parameters