Pixel density, or as it is often called, pixels per inch (PPI) is a measurement of the resolution of the display of a monitor. It refers to the number of pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions of the display. It is sometimes called dots per inch, but that terminology is more accurate when referring to the resolution of a computer printer.
The terms resolution and display resolution can often be a bit ambiguous in televisions since there is such a large difference in the factors involved in older CRT displays, and the new flat panel and projection displays that utilize pixel arrays. The resolution is calculated in Plasma, LCD, and DLP technologies by multiplying the number of rows of pixels by the number of columns.
Pixel density is determined by dividing the width (or height) of the display area in pixels by the width (or height) of the display area in inches. Resolution and pixel density have applications that are important in the function of the technology. For example, in HDTV, the incoming video signal must be matching to the display monitors resolution, or converted to it. Pixel density or PPI is important in computer monitor applications when printing graphic images on a computer printer. The importance of these figures to the consumer is a little less important beyond their use in comparison shopping. Most models will include spec sheets giving pixel density and resolution figures, but ultimately the quality of the picture will be best determined by viewing with the human eye.
November 11th, 2006 by Plasma Man
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