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Dot pitch (sometimes called line pitch, phosphor pitch or pixel pitch) is a specification for a computer display
Computer display

A visual display unit, often called simply a monitor or display, is a piece of electrical equipment which displays images generated from the video output of devices such as computers, without producing a permanent record....
, computer printer
Computer printer

File:Lexmark X5100 Series.jpgIn computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a hard copy of documents stored in computer file form, usually on physical print media such as paper or Transparency ....
, image scanner
Image scanner

In computing, a scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in offices are variations of the desktop scanner where the document is placed on a glass window for scanning....
 or other pixel
Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....
-based device that describes the distance, for example, between dots (sub-pixels
Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....
) of the same color on the inside of a display screen. In the case of a color display dot pitch is a measure of the size of a triad
Triad (computers)

In cathode ray tube or computer terminology, a triad is a group of three phosphor dots coloured red, green, and blue on the inside of the cathode ray tube display of a computer computer display or television set....
 plus the distance between the triads.

Dot pitch may be measured in linear units, usually millimeters, with a smaller number meaning closer spacing, or in dots per linear unit, for example dots per inch
Dots per inch

Dots per inch is a measure of spatial printing or video dot density, in particular the number of individual dots that can be placed within the span of one linear inch The DPI value tends to correlate with , but is related only indirectly....
, with a larger number meaning closer spacing.






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Dot pitch (sometimes called line pitch, phosphor pitch or pixel pitch) is a specification for a computer display
Computer display

A visual display unit, often called simply a monitor or display, is a piece of electrical equipment which displays images generated from the video output of devices such as computers, without producing a permanent record....
, computer printer
Computer printer

File:Lexmark X5100 Series.jpgIn computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a hard copy of documents stored in computer file form, usually on physical print media such as paper or Transparency ....
, image scanner
Image scanner

In computing, a scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in offices are variations of the desktop scanner where the document is placed on a glass window for scanning....
 or other pixel
Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....
-based device that describes the distance, for example, between dots (sub-pixels
Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....
) of the same color on the inside of a display screen. In the case of a color display dot pitch is a measure of the size of a triad
Triad (computers)

In cathode ray tube or computer terminology, a triad is a group of three phosphor dots coloured red, green, and blue on the inside of the cathode ray tube display of a computer computer display or television set....
 plus the distance between the triads.

Dot pitch may be measured in linear units, usually millimeters, with a smaller number meaning closer spacing, or in dots per linear unit, for example dots per inch
Dots per inch

Dots per inch is a measure of spatial printing or video dot density, in particular the number of individual dots that can be placed within the span of one linear inch The DPI value tends to correlate with , but is related only indirectly....
, with a larger number meaning closer spacing. Closer spacing generally produces a sharper image (as there are more pixels in a given area). However, other factors may affect image quality, including:

  • measurement method not documented, complicated by general ignorance of the existence of multiple methods
  • pixel spacing varying across screen area (e.g., increasing in corners compared to center)
  • differing pixel geometries
    Pixel geometry

    The components of the pixels in an sensor or display device can be ordered in different patterns, called pixel geometry.The geometric arrangement of the primary colors within a pixel varies depending on usage ....
  • differing screen resolutions when attempting to judge picture quality
  • tightness of electron beam focus and aim (in CRT
    Cathode ray tube

    The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen, with internal or external means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam, used to create images in the form of light emitted from the fluorescent screen....
    s)
  • differing aspect ratios


Traditionally, dot pitch in displays has been measured on the diagonal, as this gives the most accurate representation of image quality. Starting about the mid-1990s, however, some companies introduced a horizontal dot pitch as a marketing ploy . By measuring only the horizontal component of the dot pitch and ignoring the vertical component, even a cheap, low-quality monitor could be awarded a small-seeming dot pitch.

The exact difference between horizontal and diagonal dot pitch varies with the design of the monitor (see pixel geometry
Pixel geometry

The components of the pixels in an sensor or display device can be ordered in different patterns, called pixel geometry.The geometric arrangement of the primary colors within a pixel varies depending on usage ....
 and widescreen
Widescreen

A widescreen image is a film, computer or television image with a wider and shorter aspect ratio than the standard Academy frame developed during the classical Hollywood cinema era....
), but a typical entry-level 0.28 mm (diagonal) monitor has a horizontal pitch of 0.24 or 0.25 mm, a good quality 0.26 mm (diagonal) unit has a horizontal pitch of 0.22 mm.

The above dot pitch measurement do not apply to aperture grille
Aperture grille

An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
 displays. Such monitors use continuous vertical phosphors band on the screen, so the vertical distance between scan lines is limited only by video input signal's vertical resolution and the thickness of electron beam, so there is no vertical 'dot pitch' on such devices. Aperture grille only has horizontal 'dot pitch', or otherwise known as 'stripe pitch'.

Common dot pitches in monitors

LCD
Liquid crystal display

A liquid crystal display is an Electro-optic modulator shaped into a thin, flat panel made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels filled with liquid crystals and arrayed in front of a Light#Light sources or reflector....
 screens
Display resolution
Display resolution

The display resolution of a digital television or computer display typically refers to the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed....
 		 Megapixel Aspect Ratio Screen size Pixel pitch Pixel
Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....
s per inch
Inch

An inch is the name of a Units of measurement of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units....
1024×768 (XGA
XGA

XGA, the Extended Graphics Array, is an International Business Machines display standard introduced in 1990. Today, it is the most common appellation of the 1024 ? 768 pixels display resolution, but the official definition is broader than that....
) 		0.78 4:3 15 in
Inch

An inch is the name of a Units of measurement of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units....
 		 0.297 mm 85.5
17 0.337 75.3
1280×768 (WXGA
Wide XGA

Wide XGA is a set of display standard resolutions derived from the XGA display standard by widening it to a wide screen aspect ratio. WXGA is commonly used by LCD TV sets and computer monitors for widescreen presentation....
) 		0.98 5:3 15.4 0.262 96.9
1280×800 (WXGA) 1.01 16:10 12.1 0.204 124.7
13.3 0.224 113.5
14.1 0.237 107.1
15.4 0.259 98.0
17 0.286 88.8
1280×1024 (SXGA
SXGA

SXGA is an acronym for Super eXtended Graphics Array referring to a standard Computer display resolution of 1280x1024 pixels. This display resolution is the "next step" above the XGA resolution that IBM developed in 1990....
) 		1.31 5:4 17 0.264 96.2
18.1 0.280 90.7
19 0.294 86.3
1440×900 (WXGA+
WSXGA Wide XGA+

WSXGA and WXGA+ are non-standard terms referring to computer display resolutions. Usually they refer to a resolution of 1440x900, but occasionally manufacturers use the terms to refer to other resolutions ....
) 		1.29 16:10 14.1 0.211 120.4
15.4 0.230 110.4
17 0.254 100.0
19 0.285 89.1
1400×1050 (SXGA+
SXGA+

SXGA+ stands for Super eXtended Graphics Array Plus and is a computer display standard. An SXGA+ display is commonly used on 14 inch or 15 inch laptop LCD screens with a Display resolution of 1400 ? 1050 pixels....
) 		1.51 4:3 15 0.214 118.6
20.1 0.292 87.0
1680×1050 (WSXGA+
WSXGA+

WSXGA+ stands for Widescreen Super eXtended Graphics Array and is a computer display standard. A WSXGA+ display is commonly used on Widescreen 20", 21", and popular 22" LCD monitors from numerous manufacturers, as well as widescreen 15.4" and 17" laptop LCD screens like Thinkpad T61....
) 		1.76 16:10 15.4 0.197 128.9
17 0.218 116.5
19 0.244 104.0
20.1 0.258 98.4
21 0.269 94.4
22 0.282 90.0
1600×1200 (UXGA
UXGA

UXGA is an abbreviation for Ultra eXtended Graphics Array referring to a standard Computer display Display resolution of 1600 × 1200 pixels, which is exactly quadruple the default of SVGA ....
) 		1.92 4:3 15 0.191 132.9
20.1 0.255 99.6
21.3 0.270 94.0
1920×1200 (WUXGA
WUXGA

WUXGA stands for Widescreen Ultra eXtended Graphics Array and is a display resolution of 1920?1200 pixels with a 16:10 screen aspect ratio ....
) 		2.30 16:10 15.4 0.173 146.8
17 0.191 132.9
23 0.258 98.4
24 0.270 94.0
25.5 0.287 88.5
27 0.303 83.8
2560×1600 (WQXGA
QXGA

The QXGA, or Quad eXtended Graphics Array, display standard is a resolution standard in display technology. Their high pixel counts and heavy display hardware requirements mean that there are currently few Cathode ray tube and Liquid_crystal_display monitors which have pixel counts at these levels....
) 		4.09 16:10 30 0.250 101.6
3840×2400 (WQUXGA
QXGA

The QXGA, or Quad eXtended Graphics Array, display standard is a resolution standard in display technology. Their high pixel counts and heavy display hardware requirements mean that there are currently few Cathode ray tube and Liquid_crystal_display monitors which have pixel counts at these levels....
) 		9.21 16:10 22.2 0.125 203.2
Bolded screen sizes indicate primarily laptop
Laptop

A laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile computing small enough to sit on one's lap. A laptop includes most of the Computer hardware of a typical desktop computer, including a Computer display, a computer keyboard, a pointing device as well as a battery, into a single small and light unit....
 use.

Less common dot pitches

The dot pitch of FLC displays
Ferro Liquid Display

Ferro Liquid Display or Ferro-electric Liquid Display orFerro Fluid Display is based on Ferro electric properties ofcertain liquids.Not all such fluids are crystals but they are generically...
 (Ferro Liquid Crystal) can be as low as 0.012 mm.

Common dot pitches in printers


Common dot pitches in scanners


Common dot pitches in GPS systems


See also

  • Pixel
    Pixel

    In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest item of information in an image. Pixels are normally arranged in a 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles....


External links

  • , also shows dot pitch