optical resolution

Definition: Measure of the ability of an optical system to distinguish detail: may be quoted as line pairs per millimetre, with reference to a standard target and the image examined under standard conditions or with the target photographed under standard conditions. * In non-photographic applications, may be quoted as angular resolution i.e. the angle subtended by two distant point sources which are just visible in the system. Tell me the optical The term 'optical resolution' be used to refer to the 'true', as opposed to the interpolated, resolution of a scanner or similar capture device. This is not quite accurate, but can be a helpful distinction between what the system can do in opto-mechanical terms and what can be done with the information once obtained e.g. to bump up the file size -- and apparent detail -- with interpolation.

Related Terms: device resolution, input resolution, output resolution

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