Dot pitch

Some types of pixel layout showing how pixel pitch is measured.

Dot pitch (sometimes called line pitch, stripe pitch, or phosphor pitch) is a specification for a computer display, computer printer, image scanner, or other pixel-based device that describes the distance, for example, between dots (sub-pixels) on a display screen. In the case of an RGB color display, the derived unit of pixel pitch is a measure of the size of a triad plus the distance between triads.

Dot pitch may be measured in linear units (with smaller numbers meaning higher resolution), usually millimeters (mm), or as a rate, for example dots per inch (with a larger number meaning higher resolution). Closer spacing produces a sharper image (as there are more dots in a given area). However, other factors may affect image quality, including:

  • Undocumented or inadequately documented measurement method, complicated by ignorance of the existence of different methods
  • Confusion of pixels and subpixels
  • Element spacing varying across screen area (e.g. widening in corners compared to center)
  • Differing pixel geometries
  • Differing image and pixel aspect ratios
  • Miscellanea such as Kell factor or interlaced video

The exact difference between horizontal and diagonal dot pitch varies with the design of the monitor (see pixel geometry and widescreen), but a typical entry-level 0.28 mm (diagonal) monitor has a horizontal pitch of 0.24 or 0.25 mm, and a good quality 0.26 mm (diagonal) unit has a horizontal pitch of 0.22 mm.

The above dot pitch measurement does not apply to aperture grille displays. Such monitors use continuous vertical phosphor bands 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 pitch sizes

Laptop and desktop LCDs
Display definition Area (Mpx) Size (in) Pitch (µm) Resolution (ppi)
1024×768 (XGA) 0.78 15 297 085.5
1280×768 (WXGA) 0.98 15.4 262 096.9
1280×800 (WXGA) 1.01 15.4 259 098.0
17 286 088.8
1280×1024 (SXGA) 1.31 17 264 096.2
18.1 280 090.7
19 294 086.3
1440×900 (WXGA+) 1.29 15.4 230 110.4
17 254 100.0
19 285 089.1
1400×1050 (SXGA+) 1.51 15 214 118.6
20.1 292 087.0
1680×1050 (WSXGA+) 1.76 15.4 197 128.9
17 218 116.5
19 244 104.0
20.1 258 098.4
21 269 094.4
22 282 090.0
1600×1200 (UXGA) 1.92 15 191 132.9
20.1 255 099.6
21.3 270 094.0
1920×1200 (WUXGA) 2.30 15.4 173 146.8
17 191 132.9
23 258 098.4
24 270 094.0
25.5 287 088.5
27 303 083.8
2560×1440 (WQHD) 3.68 27 233 108.8
32 273 093.0
2560×1600 (WQXGA) 4.09 30 250 101.6
3840×2400 (WQUXGA) 9.21 22.2 125 203.2

References

External links

  • PPI calculator – Shows dot pitch
  • Megapixel Calculator – Identifies aspect ratio and displays photo and video storage requirements for different formats at a given megapixel number

This page was last updated at 2021-03-05 09:48 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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