Terapixel

A terapixel is a unit of digital image resolution, representing one trillion pixels. A pixel is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, and a collection of pixels forms a digital image. Therefore, a terapixel image contains a trillion individual points of color or light.

To put this into perspective, a standard high-definition television displays an image with a resolution of approximately 2 megapixels (million pixels). A 4K ultra-high-definition display has around 8 megapixels. Even a very high-resolution digital camera typically captures images in the tens or low hundreds of megapixels. A terapixel image is therefore vastly larger in terms of data and detail than what is commonly encountered in everyday photography or display technology.

Creating and processing terapixel images requires specialized hardware and software. These images are often generated by stitching together thousands or even millions of smaller photographs, a process known as image stitching or mosaicking. Alternatively, they can be captured using specialized large-format cameras with extremely high sensor resolution. The resulting files are enormous, often measured in terabytes, and require significant computing power to view, manipulate, and store.

Terapixel imaging finds applications in fields where capturing extremely fine detail over a large area is crucial. This includes scientific research, such as astronomical imaging where vast celestial objects are observed, or microscopy for detailed cellular analysis. It is also used in the creation of immersive virtual tours of large museums or historical sites, and in specialized industrial inspection tasks.