Scanner optical resolution

In the modern world, the main part of developments is occupied by computer technologies. They entered our lives and found application in almost all areas of human activity. All equipment is divided into devices for input and output of information, as well as a central processor.

When working interconnectedly, they are able to quickly perform various tasks. In order to navigate a wide variety of technology, you need to know the technical characteristics and operating features. This will help you compare different models to choose the best one.

One of the devices for entering information into a computer database is scanners. They provide downloading of data in graphic format from a printed media. Depending on the technical characteristics, materials used, and build quality, the resulting quality will differ for different versions of the equipment. This should be taken into account when choosing and purchasing a scanner.

What is optical resolution?

There are many parameters that play an important role in ensuring high-quality data transfer into electronic format. One of the most significant selection criteria is optical resolution. Before comparing models based on this indicator, you need to know its main purpose. The definition of the concept will help you understand this.

Optical resolution is one of the most indicative criteria used to evaluate the quality of a scanner. This parameter shows the number of recognized points of an entire image area. This indicator indicates the maximum allowable number of dots that a scanning device can recognize from the area of ​​a printed page.

All electronic files and printed documents consist of many small dots (pixels), their number determines the uniformity of color distribution over the surface of the screen or paper sheet, depending on the type of data presentation. Each pixel carries encoding with information about one color or its shade. Therefore, the greater the number of pixels used for encoding located on the sheet, the brighter and more saturated the display of the document or photograph will be.

Important! In addition to brightness and saturation, optical resolution affects display clarity.

A large number of dots smooth out the edges, creating a clear picture. If there are few dots, then the picture will consist of squares with uneven edges, which will significantly degrade the quality.

In what units is it measured?

To understand the basic principle of assessment, it is worth studying the units of measurement intended to determine its value. In the classical description, there are two types of measured quantity:

1. The most familiar units of measurement for users are dpi (dots per inch); it is this parameter that the developers indicate on the body of their equipment and in the instruction manual. It displays the number of dots placed on a one-inch strip.The indicator is similar to that of printers, only in this case it allows you to evaluate the reading ability of the scanner (shows how many pixels the device can convert into electronic format for entering into a computer database). Usually indicated in the format: 300×300, 600×600…
2. Another measurement option is spi (samples per inch) - this is the number of samples that a scanner can make when working with a printed page. In this case, information is provided about how many times the technician views the image located at one inch. For example, if there are 300 reading sensors located on one inch, the resolution will be 300 spi. This criterion is more informative.

Important! When choosing a scanner with a resolution designation in dpi format, you should pay attention to the first number, it is this that indicates the ability to scan data.

This concept is a general term for optical and interpolation resolution. Together, they show the maximum allowable number of points that the device can recognize and encode for transfer to the matrix. The higher these indicators, the better the final image will be formed.

Also, the ability to resize the resulting image on the monitor screen without changing the quality, while maintaining the clarity of the contour and boundaries, depends on this parameter.