Digital Images and Resolution

 

Photoshop uses image files that have been bitmapped.

 

bitmapped = the conversion of a continuous tone image into  a series of tiny squares called pixels.

 

    The smaller the squares = higher resolution = larger file size

                                                                       

ppi Ð the number of pixels per a unit of length (i.e.Éinch, centimeter), in an image

 

dpi Ð the number of pixels per an inch of screen on a monitor

 

lpi Ð is the screen frequency of a printers Half Tone Screen in terms of Lines Per Inch

 

Note: When you are printing on a commercial printer (i.e.ÉImagesetter or Laser

Printers) Scan or Photograph your images at 1.5 to 2 times the Screen Frequency (lpi) used by the printer.

EX. If the printer you wish to use has a screen frequency of 133 lpi you want your image to be set at 266 ppi  (133 x 2) at the final print size. (i.e.É8.5Óx11Ó)

 

The dots that Inkjet printers print on a page to create an image become ÔinvisibleÕ to the human eye at 300ppi. 220ppi looks great to most people.

 

 

Pixel Dimensions    Resolution Relative To                               Best printable

                                                                                    image size

320X240                    Television                                                     1 x 1.5 Ò

640x480                    small website                                              2 x 3 Ò

720x534                    NTSC DV/DVD                                             3 x 4.5 Ò

800x600                    average website / old displays                 3.5 x 5 Ò

1024x768                  large website / 15Ó display                                    4 x 6 Ò

1152x864                                                                                          5 x 7 Ò

1280x720                  HDTV 720p                                                   5 x 8.2 Ò

1600x1200                17Ó display/ 2.1 mega-pixel                                   8 x 12 Ò

1712x1368                                                                                        11 x 14 Ò

1920x1080                HDTV 1080i                                                  6.4 x 15 Ò

2048x1800                                                                                        16 x 20 Ò

2048x1536                19Ó display/ 3.2 mega-pixel                                   20 x 30 Ò