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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / Digital Photo / August 2006

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Optimal Viewing Distance vs Dots Per Inch

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mexican_equivalent@yahoo.com - 30 Aug 2006 13:37 GMT
Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining the optimal
viewing distance for a particular dpi?
Martin Brown - 30 Aug 2006 14:49 GMT
> Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining the optimal
> viewing distance for a particular dpi?

A rough rule of thumb is that the dots should not be resolvable by the
human eye at the preferred viewing distance. This translates roughly to
something like:

Minimum viewing distance (in inches) = 2000 / dpi

For ideal identical dot sizes in continuous tone printing. Roughly
equivalent to an ideal eye resolution of cleanly separating two black
dots with one pixel inbetween when the angle subtended at the eye is 3'
arc (or 0.001 radian).

We can haggle about the constant in practice. In strong light I can
resolve the pattern in a halftone 600dpi laser print at about 10" so a
more conservative estimate might be

Min viewing distance (in inches) = 6000 / dpi

And not all dots are created equal - especially in CMYK halftone
rendition where unlucky clusters of dots with a range of sizes can be
visible at larger distances.

Regards,
Martin Brown
stauffer@usfamily.net - 30 Aug 2006 15:03 GMT
> Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining the optimal
> viewing distance for a particular dpi?

Do you mean printer dots or pixels per inch. There is not a clear
answer for the measure of printer dots, but for pixels, the pixels
should subtend significantly less than a minute of arc for the distance.
sac_cans1b06@yahoo.co.uk - 30 Aug 2006 15:45 GMT
i dont think so, wait and your answer will come

> Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining the optimal
> viewing distance for a particular dpi?
Robert Cooze - 30 Aug 2006 19:58 GMT
> Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining the optimal
> viewing distance for a particular dpi?

IMHO looks like a multiple exposure to me or a long exposure with
multiple flash strobes (redeye ?) or something deliberate.

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