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DPI Formula:
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DPI (Dots Per Inch) is a measurement of resolution that indicates how many individual dots can fit into a 1-inch line. It's commonly used to describe the resolution of printers, scanners, and digital displays.
The calculator uses the DPI formula:
Where:
Explanation: This simple division calculates how many pixels are packed into each inch of physical space, giving you the density measurement.
Details: DPI is crucial for understanding image quality, print resolution, and display clarity. Higher DPI values generally indicate sharper images and text, which is important for graphic design, photography, and selecting appropriate display devices.
Tips: Enter the number of pixels in one dimension (width or height) and the corresponding physical measurement in inches. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What's the difference between DPI and PPI?
A: DPI (Dots Per Inch) refers to printer resolution, while PPI (Pixels Per Inch) refers to screen resolution. However, the terms are often used interchangeably in digital contexts.
Q2: What is a good DPI for printing?
A: For high-quality printing, 300 DPI is generally recommended. For large format prints viewed from a distance, 150 DPI may be sufficient.
Q3: How does DPI affect image quality?
A: Higher DPI means more detail and sharper images. However, beyond a certain point (depending on viewing distance), the human eye cannot perceive the difference.
Q4: Should I use the same DPI for width and height?
A: For most standard displays and prints, DPI is consistent in both dimensions, but some specialized devices may have different horizontal and vertical resolutions.
Q5: How does DPI relate to Retina displays?
A: Retina displays have significantly higher DPI (often 220+ PPI) than standard displays, making individual pixels indistinguishable to the human eye at normal viewing distances.