Line Interval or DPI? Use One Conversion Card

Line interval and DPI describe the same spacing from opposite directions. Convert with DPI = 25.4 / interval_mm, keep more precision during calculation than the software field accepts, and record the value actually entered. The number is a starting description of line spacing, not proof that a material will reproduce that detail.

The conversion that prevents record errors

DPI counts lines per inch; interval records millimetres between adjacent scan lines. Because one inch is 25.4 mm, an interval of 0.10 mm equals 254 DPI: 25.4 / 0.10 = 254. Going the other way, interval_mm = 25.4 / DPI.

Rounding matters. For 300 DPI, the exact interval is 25.4 / 300 = 0.084666... mm. A field accepting three decimals may store 0.085 mm, whose equivalent is 25.4 / 0.085 = 298.82 DPI. Label that 0.085 mm / about 299 DPI, not an exact 300 DPI. At 508 DPI, the interval is exactly 0.050 mm. At 127 DPI, it is 0.200 mm.

Never convert a rounded display value repeatedly. Keep one master value, calculate once, and note the software version and displayed unit beside it.

Build a useful physical comparison

Create one small test containing a dark fill, a middle tone, fine text, and a sharp edge. Use the same verified material lot, focus method, artwork size, orientation, and inspection light. Make three labeled samples with only interval changed—for example 0.20, 0.10, and 0.085 mm. Do not assume the densest sample is best. Excessive overlap may add time or heat without revealing more useful detail.

Inspect from the intended viewing distance, then with magnification for banding and edge damage. Record whether each sample passes the actual job requirement. Preserve the failed samples; they show where extra density stopped helping.

For a 100 mm-tall filled area, a rough line count is height / interval. At 0.10 mm that is about 1,000 scan lines; at 0.05 mm it is about 2,000. This does not predict job time by itself because travel, acceleration, overscan, artwork, and controller behavior also matter, but it explains why halving interval is not a free quality change.

TYVOK X1S Pro boundary

The TYVOK X1S Pro product page is the place to confirm the currently sold configuration, compatible software, accessories, and regional availability. This conversion method does not establish a machine resolution, recommended setting, throughput, or safe material. Follow current operating, ventilation, fire-safety, and material guidance; supervise every test.

If density tests expose an intermittent stop rather than a visual-quality difference, use the position control-map method. When quoting custom work, keep the image-preparation hours in the design-time cost record.

Operator checklist

1. Record the source unit and unrounded value.
2. Apply DPI = 25.4 / interval_mm only once.
3. Note the rounded value the software actually stores.
4. Run labeled physical samples on verified material.
5. Select by the written acceptance rule, not the largest DPI number.

Buyer FAQ

Is 300 DPI exactly the same as a 0.085 mm interval?

No. Exact 300 DPI corresponds to 0.084666... mm. An entered 0.085 mm corresponds to about 298.82 DPI. That small rounding difference may be acceptable, but the job record should state it honestly.

Does higher DPI always make an engraving sharper?

No. Source detail, spot behavior, material response, focus, and overlap limit useful detail. Higher density can add heat or time without improving the inspected result, so compare physical samples.

Can I copy a DPI value from another machine or software profile?

Treat it only as a reference. Confirm units, rounding, material, final size, and current instructions, then qualify the setting with an attended sample on the actual workflow.