Computer monitor
Resolution deals with the clarity and focus on a digital image. Usually it refers to digital images, but resolution also can apply to computer monitors and the capabilities of their screens. Both monitors and digital images develop increasingly higher resolutions as technology progresses.
Pixels
A pixel is an important building block of any type of resolution, and refers to a single point on the image. Pixels are small units that are used to show specific colors and shades--when taken together in the thousands or millions, they form a complete image. There are different types of pixels based on different types of technology, and some are better at forming sharp or bright images than others, but all function the same way to build the image. More pixels closer together typically means a higher resolution.
Printing
When resolution is applied to printing images, terms change and the printer quality becomes important. A printer's capability to produce images with high dpi, or dots per inch, is the most important consideration when judging resolution. Printers set to print images with low dpi (such as 150) will produce images of low quality. The more dots per inch, the higher the resolution. Photo printers specialize in high dpi, but also use special inks and papers that allow the ink to bond more clearly. Scanning also is judged by dpi.
High Resolution
Since technology is constantly changing, there is no single rule for how many pixels define a high resolution image or video. The more pixels, the better the image tends to be, although there is some give and take. In many computers, 800x600 resolution (the number of pixels, horizontal and vertical) is considered average or fairly high. Computers with color systems that use 16 to 24 bits per pixel also produce very high quality images.
Low Resolution
Low resolution also differs considering technology. Common VGA systems display 640 by 480 pixel resolution, which was once considered average but is rapidly fading to low resolution as new and better systems are being developed.
Image Resolution
When it comes to images, there is a give and take for progressing to higher resolution. The image itself typically has a set resolution, based on a certain number of pixels that it can portray based on how it was captured and rendered. Increasing the resolution shrinks the image. Decreasing the resolution tends to make the image larger, but it becomes blurry.
Tags: higher resolution, considered average, different types, digital images, dots inch, give take