Dots per inch (DPI) - How To Discuss

Dots per inch (DPI),

Definition of Dots per inch (DPI):

1. Measurement used in describing the quality (resolution) of computer printers and scanners, it denotes the number of tiny dots printed or scanned by the device per linear-inch of the printed area. Higher the number of dpi, the smaller their size, more detailed and smooth the image, and more realistic the color. The output of laser and ink jet printers commonly ranges from 300 dpi (90,000 dots per square inch) to 1200 dpi (1,440,000 dots per square inch) whereas image-setters (used in printing industry) can produce 2400 dpi (5,760,000 dots per square inch) or higher. In contrast to pixels (which are square shaped), dots are circular.

Dots-per-inch(dpi)

DPI is a measurement related to image quality. Specifically, the number of dots that make up an image that consists of one square inch. In general, the higher the DPI, the higher the image quality.

While DPI and PPI (PixelsPerInch) are often used interchangeably, technically DPI refers to the physical output of a print and PPI refers to the number of square pixels that appear on one inch of a digital screen.