Convert Pixels per inch to Lines per inch

Convert Pixels per inch (PPI) to Lines per inch (lpi) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

lpi = PPI × 1

About Pixels per inch

The pixel per inch (PPI) is the universal standard for digital image resolution, defining how many pixels occupy one linear inch in a digital image, sensor, or display. Formally referenced in ISO 12232 (digital still cameras) and EXIF/TIFF (tags 0x011A/0x011B), PPI is both a capture parameter (scanner/sensor density) and a display characteristic. Display milestones: Macintosh 128K (1984): 72 PPI; Apple iPhone 4 Retina (2010): 326 PPI - above the human perceptual threshold at 25 cm; iPhone 15 Pro (2023): 460 PPI. Print benchmarks: 150 PPI (large-format, 1 m viewing); 300 PPI (standard offset, ISO 12647-2); 400-600 PPI (fine-art Giclée). EXIF stores PPI as unsigned RATIONAL; the historical default is 72/1, a carry-over from the original Macintosh screen standard. 1 PPI = 1/0.0254 px/m ≈ 39.37 px/m = 2.54 px/cm.

About Lines per inch

The line per inch (lpi) is the standard unit of halftone screen frequency in offset, flexographic, gravure, and screen printing. Each halftone cell varies in dot size to simulate grey tones; a 150 lpi screen on a 1200 DPI printer allocates 1200/150 = 8 printer dots per cell row, giving an 8×8 = 64-level grey matrix. Industry benchmarks: newsprint 85-100 lpi; magazines 133-175 lpi; fine-art offset 175-200 lpi; screen printing (textiles) 35-65 lpi. Rule of thumb: required DPI ≥ 1.5 × lpi for acceptable AM halftone; ≥ 2 × lpi for high quality - so 150 lpi offset needs at least 300 DPI raster data. As a dimensional quantity, 1 lpi = 1 PPI = 1 DPI; lpi designates screen frequency in print. 1 lpi = 1 PPI = 2.54 lpcm.

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