Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels (smallest unit of a video image) that can be displayed on a screen at once. A pixel is not a fixed size. The more pixels there are, the higher the resolution, and the sharper the image.

A monitor can usually support a number of different fixed resolutions, such as 800x600 dpi (dots per inch), 1024x768 dpi, or 1280x1024 dpi, where the first number represents the number of pixels horizontally, and the second, the number of pixels vertically. To a certain degree, the size of your monitor determines which resolution you should use.

When shopping for a video card, make sure it can support the resolution you want to use at the appropriate color depth (we'll discuss color next). Here are some basic resolution guidelines.

• Professional 2D graphics users will probably want to use a resolution of 1600x1200 dpi or higher, which usually requires at least a 19" monitor.
• Professional 3D work requires a slightly lower resolution--1280x1024dpi is usually enough. You'll probably want at least a 17" monitor, but a 15" will support that resolution.
• 2D business graphic users with a 17" or 19" monitor and 32-bit (true) color should opt for 1024x768 dpi or 1280x1024 dpi resolution.