dots per inch

Print quality metric

Dots per inch (often abbreviated DPI) measures resolution—how many individual dots fit in a linear inch.

Higher DPI means finer detail and sharper images.

The term applies to printers, scanners, and displays: This printer outputs at 1200 DPI.

In digital images, DPI affects print quality but not screen appearance.

Often confused with pixels per inch, which measures screen resolution.

Related

resolution · bitmap · dithering · resampling · scanner · pixel density · ink · jaggies · grain · dots · interpolation · raster · clarity · quality · pixels · high definition · enlargement · toner

Opposites
resolution quality

dots per inchlow resolution

Coarse image quality

pixelated · blurry · coarse · grainy · blocky

measurement unit type

dots per inchmegapixels

Units of image resolution

screen resolution · vector graphics

Family

inch, inching, dotting

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G