DPIs

DPI stands for dots per inch and is a measure used to describe the resolution of printed output. It indicates the density of ink or toner dots that a printer can place within one inch of a printed page. Higher DPI generally enables finer detail and smoother gradations, but perceived quality also depends on printer technology, color management, and paper characteristics. DPI is a characteristic of the output device and its operation, not of a digital image itself.

The term DPI is often discussed alongside PPI, or pixels per inch. PPI describes the sampling resolution of a digital image or display. While DPI is about printing, PPI concerns screens and image files. In practice, the two concepts are related because an image intended for print must have enough pixels to produce the desired DPI at the target print size. Conversely, printing a low-PPI image at a high DPI can reveal image re-sampling and may not improve quality.

Typical ranges vary by device. Desktop inkjet printers commonly offer 300 to 600 DPI for general use, with photographic printers reaching 1200–2400 DPI or higher. Scanners are rated in DPI for their sampling resolution, often 300–2400 DPI, with higher values enabling finer digital detail at the cost of larger file sizes. Monitors and displays are specified by pixels per inch (PPI) rather than DPI, with common screens ranging from about 100 to 600+ PPI depending on size and technology.

Other uses of DPI include input devices such as computer mice, where DPI (or CPI, counts per inch) describes sensitivity—the distance the pointer moves on screen per inch of physical movement. DPI values are user-adjustable on many gaming mice and vary widely.

In summary, DPI is a contextual measure of resolution tied to output devices, most commonly printers, and should be interpreted with awareness of related terms like PPI and device-specific factors.