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DPI stands for dots per inch, which is a measurement of definition in a printed image. DPI is not to be confused with image resolution, although both can be related.
Definition
Computer printers represent every "blip" in an image with a dot. By preference, some people would prefer not to have the image so detailed as its original resolution would specify, so printers could be set to a lower printing resolution.
Function
Scanners use DPI as a reference of how detailed a scanned image should be in order to yield a final product at a user-specified definition. In other words, the more DPI your scanner will scan at, the higher the resolution of your image will be.
Significance
When buying a scanner, you should consider how much detail you want. The more detailed your image can be, the bigger you can reprint a copy of it without compromising quality.
Difference Between DPI and Resolution
Resolution is the amount of pixels that the image takes up. DPI is the amount of dots used to print an image within a square inch of space, or the amount of detail a scanner will scan with.
Expert Insight
When you buy a scanner that has two DPI numbers, the smaller number is the amount of detail it will scan with horizontally, and the larger number is the amount of detail it will scan at vertically.
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