midresolution

Midresolution is an informal term used in various fields to denote an intermediate level of detail or fidelity in a digital representation, lying between low resolution and high resolution. The term has no single standard definition, and its exact meaning depends on context, device, and application.

In imaging and video, midresolution describes formats or outputs that offer more detail than low-resolution previews but less than full-resolution files, commonly used for thumbnails, previews, or bandwidth-constrained streaming (such as 480p–720p video). In remote sensing and GIS, midresolution refers to imagery or grids with moderate spatial resolution—typical pixel sizes in the range of roughly 10–30 meters for satellite imagery or 250–1000 meters for regional elevation or land-cover data—suitable for regional analyses rather than fine-scale feature extraction.

In data processing, midresolution can describe data that has been downsampled or aggregated from a high-resolution source to reduce computational load while preserving essential patterns. In multi-resolution analysis, midresolution layers can serve as intermediate steps in image pyramids or scale-space representations.

Advantages include lower storage and faster processing and transmission, while limitations include loss of fine detail and potential aliasing if not handled properly. Selection of midresolution is driven by target tasks, available bandwidth, and hardware constraints.

See also: resolution, pixel density, downsampling, upsampling, multi-resolution analysis, image pyramid.