Machine and output

DPI

Also known as dots per inch

Dots per inch, a density measure used to describe raster scan spacing and the pixel grid at a physical output size.

By EngravePrep Editorial Team

In the workflow

Why DPI matters

In LightBurn's scan settings, DPI is related to line interval by DPI = 25.4 divided by interval in millimeters. Higher is not automatically better.

Practical check

How to evaluate it

Calculate DPI from the intended line interval, then confirm that the laser spot and material can resolve that spacing. More lines can create overlap and darker output instead of more detail.

Go deeper

Learn the DPI and line interval relationship, calculate output pixels, avoid overlapping scan lines, and preserve exact size in a photo workflow.

Read the complete guide

Prepare the pixels

Use the terminology in a real photo workflow.

Crop, tune, size, dither, and export a one-bit PNG on iPhone or iPad. Test the result on scrap with your machine and material guidance.

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