Screen Resolution

What is Resolution?

Refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image. The term is most often used to describe monitors, printers, and bit-mapped graphic images. In the case of dot-matrix and laser printers, the resolution indicates the number of dots per inch. For example, a 300-dpi (dots per inch) printer is one that is capable of printing 300 distinct dots in a line 1 inch long. This means it can print 90,000 dots per square inch.

For graphics monitors, the screen resolution signifies the number of dots (pixels) on the entire screen. For example, a 640-by-480 pixel screen is capable of displaying 640 distinct dots on each of 480 lines, or about 300,000 pixels. This translates into different dpi measurements depending on the size of the screen. For example, a 15-inch VGA monitor (640x480) displays about 50 dots per inch.

Printers, monitors, scanners, and other I/O devices are often classified as high resolution, medium resolution, or low resolution. The actual resolution ranges for each of these grades is constantly shifting as the technology improves.

Video RAM Required for Different Resolutions

I have yet to see a 15" monitor that looks crisp at 1024x768, or even a 19" one that does justice to 1280x960 or 1280x1024 resolution. Yet these monitors are often rated for these settings, and often even higher ones. What's going on here?

Quite simply, we're looking at the difference between how many dots per inch the computer is trying to display and how many dots per inch the monitor can show before they start running into each other.

A decent monitor today will have a horizontal dot pitch of about 0.22 mm (or a diagonal dot pitch of 0.28mm). That is about 115 dots per inch. Anything higher than that will be fuzzy, since the monitor will be trying to display more than one pixel per screen dot. (more on dot pitch.)

Obviously, there's more to crisp display than simple dot pitch and resolution would indicate. That doesn't mean that dot pitch isn't a good indicator of screen sharpness, only that it doesn't directly predict with the maximum sharp display setting.

In reality, you have to be at 1-1/3 to 1-1/2 dots per pixel before the screen looks pretty sharp. In the case of the Optiquest, that explains why 1280 dots horizontally doesn't quite cut it, but 1152 works very nicely.

A monitor with a dot pitch of 0.28d, can display a fuzzy 1024x768. But for a sharper display try setting it to 800x600. 

As a general rule of thumb, a good monitor will have a diagonal dot pitch of around 0.25-0.28. Don't be fooled ! Some manufacturers advertise horizontal dot pitch as opposed to the more common diagonal...read the fine print!. To learn more about diagonal vs. horizontal, see dot pitch.

(Keep in mind that this is viewable area, not the full size of the picture tube)

For a bettor overall experience on the Internet, set your resolution higher. Try it if you don't like it you can always change it back !

To change your resolution under Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP:

1. From the Start menu, select Settings, and then choose Control Panel. The Control Panel window will appear.
2. Open the Display icon. The Display Properties window will appear.
3. Select the Settings tab.
4. Ensure the Desktop Area is set to 800 by 600 pixels. Note: If it is available, press the Test button. If the screen appears blank, it will return to normal in 5 to 15 seconds. You will need to contact your computer vendor/manufacturer for assistance in changing the resolution setting.
5. Choose the OK button. Note: You may be prompted to re-boot your computer. Choose the OK button to restart your computer.

To change your resolution on a Mac:

1. From the Apple menu, select Control Panels. You will either have the option Monitors & Sound or Monitors.
2. If the option is Monitors & Sound:
   1. Open the Monitor icon.
   2. From the list of available resolutions, select the resolution you wish to use. Your screen resolution will change instantly.
   3. Close the Monitors and Sound window.
   
   
3. If the option is Monitors:
   1. Ensure that the Show pull-down menu option is set to Recommended.
   2. From the list of available resolutions, select the resolution you wish to use. Your screen resolution will change instantly.
   3. Close the Monitors window.