diff --git a/geest/core/convert_to_8bit.py b/geest/core/convert_to_8bit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b786bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/geest/core/convert_to_8bit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import os
+import processing
+from qgis.core import QgsMessageLog, Qgis, QgsRasterLayer, QgsProject
+
+
+class RasterConverter:
+    """
+    A class to handle the conversion of rasters to 8-bit TIFFs.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, feedback=None):
+        """
+        Initialize the RasterConverter with optional feedback for progress reporting.
+        :param feedback: Optional QgsFeedback object for reporting progress.
+        """
+        self.feedback = feedback
+
+    def convert_to_8bit(self, input_raster: str, output_raster: str) -> bool:
+        """
+        Convert the input raster to an 8-bit TIFF using gdal:translate.
+        :param input_raster: Path to the input raster file.
+        :param output_raster: Path to the output 8-bit TIFF file.
+        :return: True if conversion is successful, False otherwise.
+        """
+        QgsMessageLog.logMessage(
+            f"Converting {input_raster} to 8-bit TIFF at {output_raster}.",
+            tag="RasterConverter",
+            level=Qgis.Info,
+        )
+
+        params = {
+            "INPUT": input_raster,
+            "TARGET_CRS": None,  # Use input CRS
+            "NODATA": -9999,
+            "COPY_SUBDATASETS": False,
+            "OPTIONS": "",
+            "EXTRA": "",
+            "DATA_TYPE": 1,  # 1 = Byte (8-bit unsigned)
+            "OUTPUT": output_raster,
+        }
+
+        try:
+            # Run the gdal:translate processing algorithm
+            processing.run("gdal:translate", params, feedback=self.feedback)
+            QgsMessageLog.logMessage(
+                f"Successfully converted {input_raster} to 8-bit TIFF.",
+                tag="RasterConverter",
+                level=Qgis.Info,
+            )
+            return True
+        except Exception as e:
+            QgsMessageLog.logMessage(
+                f"Failed to convert {input_raster} to 8-bit: {str(e)}",
+                tag="RasterConverter",
+                level=Qgis.Critical,
+            )
+            return False
diff --git a/test/test_convert_to_8bit.py b/test/test_convert_to_8bit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac2dac7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_convert_to_8bit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import os
+import unittest
+from qgis.core import QgsApplication, QgsRasterLayer, Qgis
+from geest.core.convert_to_8bit import RasterConverter
+
+
+class TestRasterConverter(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(self):
+
+        # Define paths to input and output files
+        self.input_raster = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(__file__), "test_data/rasters/raster.tif"
+        )
+        self.output_raster = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(__file__), "output/output_raster_8bit.tif"
+        )
+
+    def test_convert_to_8bit(self):
+        """
+        Test the convert_to_8bit method of the RasterConverter class.
+        """
+        # Create an instance of RasterConverter
+        converter = RasterConverter()
+
+        # Ensure input file exists before running the test
+        self.assertTrue(
+            os.path.exists(self.input_raster), "Input raster file does not exist"
+        )
+
+        # Run the conversion
+        success = converter.convert_to_8bit(self.input_raster, self.output_raster)
+
+        # Check if the conversion was successful
+        self.assertTrue(success, "Raster conversion failed")
+
+        # Check if the output image is 8-bit using QGIS API
+        raster_layer = QgsRasterLayer(self.output_raster, "Test Raster")
+        self.assertTrue(raster_layer.isValid(), "Raster layer is not valid")
+
+        # Get the raster band data type
+        provider = raster_layer.dataProvider()
+        band_data_type = provider.dataType(
+            1
+        )  # Assuming we're working with the first band (1-indexed)
+
+        # Assert if the raster data type is 8-bit
+        self.assertEqual(band_data_type, Qgis.Byte, "Output raster is not 8-bit")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/test_data/rasters/raster.tif b/test/test_data/rasters/raster.tif
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ee74bd
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/test_data/rasters/raster.tif differ