The Importance of Resolution and Pixel Density in Digital Images
Resolution is often the only specification quoted when referring to the fineness of a digital image, but there's actually much more to it than that. A 5-inch, 1280x720 image may look sharp and crisp on your phone, but if you project a 720p image in a movie theater, it would look horrible. This is where pixel density comes in as a measure of the resolution that also accounts for the size of the screen.
Pixel Density: A Measure of Resolution
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Pixel density is often denoted by PPI (pixels per inch), although pixels per centimeter (PPC) can also be used to calculate it. To calculate PPI, you simply need to measure 1 inch diagonally on the screen and draw a line diagonally through them. Then, find out how many pixels it intersects with. This measurement gives you an idea of how sharp and detailed an image will look.
Higher Pixel Density: More Than Just Numbers
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While higher pixel density may seem like a good thing, it's not always the case. Higher pixel density requires advanced display technology and more processing power, which can be costly and complex to manufacture. In fact, there was tons of room for improvement in older devices, with diagonal lines looking like this and circles even having an ugly staircase effect. However, over the years, improvements have been made, and we've started seeing displays where the eye cannot even pick out individual pixels on the screen.
The "Good Enough" Density Concept: Retina
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Apple's branding for good enough density is called "Retina." To determine if a display is Retina, you need to consider one last thing: how far away will you be from the display? According to a handy little tool on rea.com, a 55-inch 1080p TV will have the same perceived pixel density from 7 feet away as this 4.7-inch 1080P phone does from 7 inches away. However, there's more to a great display than just how many pixels it has.
Contrast and Color Accuracy: A Critical Factor
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Contrast, color accuracy, and pixel response times impact the viewing experience tremendously. Different display types can even affect other things like battery life, improving power efficiency. For example, while both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC1 have 1080p displays, the S4 uses a pentile matrix Amo LED display that has fewer dots on it overall, whereas the HTC1 uses a more standard LCD display with RGB sub-pixels.
Panel Technologies: A Key Factor
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Panel technologies play a large role in determining the viewing experience. The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC1 both have 1080p displays, but they use different types of panels to achieve this. The S4 uses a pentile matrix Amo LED display with fewer dots on it overall, while the HTC1 uses a more standard LCD display with RGB sub-pixels.
Sponsor Spotlight: Audible.com
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Speaking of links in the video description, our sponsor for this episode is audible.com. Head over to audible.com tequ to sign up and get a free audiobook. They offer tons of selection, including fun and light reads like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or more serious books. Don't forget to subscribe to Tech quickie for more fastest possibles like this video, and leave a comment if you have any feedback!
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enresolution is often the only spec quoted when referring to the finess of a digital image but there's actually much more to it than that a 5in 1280x 720 image will look sharp and crisp on your phone but if you projected a 720p image in a movie theater it would look horrible so that my friends is where pixel density comes in a measure of the resolution that also accounts for the size of the screen PPI has become the most common way to denote pixel density although pixels per centimeter or PPC can also be used to calculate PPI simply measure 1 inch diagonally on the screen then draw a line diagonally through them and find out how many pixels it intersects with so I heard higher pixel density is always better is that right well sort of the geek andme wants to say yes bring it on more but in reality it requires Advanced display technology and more processing power so it's not always practical from a cost and Manufacturing perspective to keep driving up pixel density with older devices there was tons of room for improvement diagonal lines looked like this and circles even had an ugly staircase effect but this is improved in recent years and we've even begun to see displays where the eye cannot even pick out the individual pixels on the display once that point is reached there's not much benefit to continuing to add cost and complexity to manufacturing because most people won't notice anyway Apple's branding for this good enough density concept is Retina but to determine if a display is Retina there's one last thing to consider how far away are you going to be from the display is this rea.com has a handy little tool for this and according to their calculator a 55 in 1080 PTV will have the same perceived pixel density from 7 ft away as this 4.7 in 1080P phone does from 7 in away but there's more to a great display than how many pixels it has of course contrast color accuracy and pixel response times impact the viewing experience tremendously and different display types can even affect other things like the battery life of your device improving power efficiency panel Technologies also play a large role for example while both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC1 have 1080p displays the S4 uses a pentile matrix Amo LED display that has fewer dots on it overall while the one uses a more standard LCD display with RGB sub pixels click the link in the video description to learn more about this speaking of links in the video description our sponsor for this episode is audible.com head over to audible.com tequ to sign up and get a free Audi book now I read the first one a few years ago but I was browsing customer favorites today and saw that there's a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Steve Hawkin Smith you might wonder how a book released in 2010 could have been co-authored by Jane Austin to which I would reply the zombies anyway guys audible.com tewi for your free audiobook today there's tons of selection if you want something fun and light to listen to like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or for something more serious as well don't forget to subscribe to Tech quickie for more fastest possibles like this like this video and leave a comment for us if you have any feedbackresolution is often the only spec quoted when referring to the finess of a digital image but there's actually much more to it than that a 5in 1280x 720 image will look sharp and crisp on your phone but if you projected a 720p image in a movie theater it would look horrible so that my friends is where pixel density comes in a measure of the resolution that also accounts for the size of the screen PPI has become the most common way to denote pixel density although pixels per centimeter or PPC can also be used to calculate PPI simply measure 1 inch diagonally on the screen then draw a line diagonally through them and find out how many pixels it intersects with so I heard higher pixel density is always better is that right well sort of the geek andme wants to say yes bring it on more but in reality it requires Advanced display technology and more processing power so it's not always practical from a cost and Manufacturing perspective to keep driving up pixel density with older devices there was tons of room for improvement diagonal lines looked like this and circles even had an ugly staircase effect but this is improved in recent years and we've even begun to see displays where the eye cannot even pick out the individual pixels on the display once that point is reached there's not much benefit to continuing to add cost and complexity to manufacturing because most people won't notice anyway Apple's branding for this good enough density concept is Retina but to determine if a display is Retina there's one last thing to consider how far away are you going to be from the display is this rea.com has a handy little tool for this and according to their calculator a 55 in 1080 PTV will have the same perceived pixel density from 7 ft away as this 4.7 in 1080P phone does from 7 in away but there's more to a great display than how many pixels it has of course contrast color accuracy and pixel response times impact the viewing experience tremendously and different display types can even affect other things like the battery life of your device improving power efficiency panel Technologies also play a large role for example while both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC1 have 1080p displays the S4 uses a pentile matrix Amo LED display that has fewer dots on it overall while the one uses a more standard LCD display with RGB sub pixels click the link in the video description to learn more about this speaking of links in the video description our sponsor for this episode is audible.com head over to audible.com tequ to sign up and get a free Audi book now I read the first one a few years ago but I was browsing customer favorites today and saw that there's a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Steve Hawkin Smith you might wonder how a book released in 2010 could have been co-authored by Jane Austin to which I would reply the zombies anyway guys audible.com tewi for your free audiobook today there's tons of selection if you want something fun and light to listen to like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or for something more serious as well don't forget to subscribe to Tech quickie for more fastest possibles like this like this video and leave a comment for us if you have any feedback\n"
