Convert Dots per centimetre to Dots per inch

Convert Dots per centimetre (dpcm) to Dots per inch (DPI) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

DPI = dpcm × 2.54

About Dots per centimetre

The dot per centimetre (dpcm) is the metric equivalent of DPI, defined as a CSS resolution unit in the W3C CSS Images Level 3 specification alongside dpi and dppx. A 96 DPI reference screen (CSS Media Queries Level 4 reference device) corresponds to 96/2.54 ≈ 37.795 dpcm. ITU-T T.4 (Group 3 facsimile, 1980) defines scan line density in metric units: standard resolution 3.85 lines/mm = 38.5 dpcm; fine resolution 7.7 lines/mm = 77 dpcm. ITU-T T.85 (JBIG compression) standardised these metric resolutions for cross-border interoperability. ISO 216 A4 scanned at 77 dpcm fine fax resolution yields 1617 pixels across page width. The CSS specification recommends dppx over dpcm for screen media queries, reserving dpcm for print stylesheets targeting metric-resolution printers. 1 dpcm = 2.54 DPI = 2.54 PPI exactly (since 1 in = 2.54 cm). 1 dpcm = 0.1 dot/mm.

About Dots per inch

The dot per inch (DPI) is the standard resolution metric for printed output, specifying how many individual ink or toner dots a printing device places per linear inch. Unlike a pixel, a printed dot is a physical deposit of ink variable in size and subject to dot gain (ink spread into substrate). Inkjet photo printers: Epson SureColor SC-P900 up to 5760 DPI; HP DesignJet Z9+Pro at 2400 DPI. Laser printers: HP LaserJet standard 600 DPI; enterprise class 1200 DPI. Offset CTP plate imaging: 2400-3600 DPI. Rule of thumb: required DPI ≥ 1.5 × LPI for acceptable halftone; ≥ 2 × LPI for high quality - a 175 lpi magazine job needs ≥ 350 DPI raster data. Thermal dye-sublimation printers achieve continuous-tone output at 300 DPI because dye diffuses to fill each cell. As a dimensional unit, 1 DPI = 1 PPI; DPI implies physical print output. 1 DPI = 2.54 dots/cm = 25.4 dots/mm.

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