Image Resolution
The number of pixels in an image, typically expressed as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080) or total megapixels. Higher resolution means more detail and a larger file size.
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Image resolution describes the number of pixels an image contains. Resolution is expressed in two ways:
- Pixel dimensions — width × height (e.g., 3840×2160, 1920×1080)
- Megapixels — total pixels in millions (3840×2160 = 8.29 MP ≈ 8K)
Common Resolutions
| Resolution | Name | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1280×720 | HD (720p) | Online video, older displays |
| 1920×1080 | Full HD (1080p) | Most monitors, streaming |
| 2560×1440 | QHD (1440p) | Gaming monitors |
| 3840×2160 | 4K UHD | Modern TVs, professional |
| 7680×4320 | 8K UHD | High-end production |
Screen Resolution vs Print Resolution
- Screen: Measured in pixels (1920×1080 means 1920 pixels wide)
- Print: Measured in DPI (dots per inch) — a 300 DPI image at 6"×4" = 1800×1200 pixels
An image at 72 DPI on screen looks sharp, but the same image at 72 DPI in print would be blurry. For print, 300 DPI minimum is required.
Megapixels vs Megabytes
Resolution determines potential detail, not file size directly. A 12 MP RAW file from a camera is ~24 MB uncompressed. The same 12 MP image as JPEG at high quality might be 6–8 MB.
Upscaling vs Downscaling
- Downscaling (making an image smaller): Pixels are discarded, but quality can be maintained if done correctly
- Upscaling (making an image larger): Software adds estimated new pixels; results depend on the algorithm (bicubic, Lanczos, AI upscaling)