Web sites on high DPI monitors.

[streetw0lf]

I have a 24" monitor which runs at 1920x1200.  The default dpi in Windows is 96dpi.  96dpi might have been good enough when we all had 15" CRT monitors but just about everyone these days are using widescreen LCD monitors with higher resolutions.  In order to increase the readability of what's on your monitor you have to increase the dpi.  I use a dpi of 120.

 

Windows has dpi awareness so text and graphics are scaled properly.  Applications can even detect dpi and display graphics that match the dpi.  However, when it comes to browsers like IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc. web sites don't seem to be aware of the display's dpi.  Many graphic components on most web sites are at a low resolution, probably suitable for a 96 dpi display, but on a display with anything above this the graphics are blurry. 

 

Browsers usually default to a full page zoom level that matches your dpi.  This is great for rendering a page as far as proportions go.  Text and graphics are where they are supposed to be, except that the graphics are often blurry.  Personally, this drives me nuts.

 

Are web designers aware of these problems and if so are they taking action to fix it?  I suppose the solution is to have graphics of different resolutions to serve up depending on the dpi of the user's display. 

 

Times they are a changing as the song says.

 

 

[Jub]

Are web designers aware of these problems and if so are they taking action to fix it?  I suppose the solution is to have graphics of different resolutions to serve up depending on the dpi of the user's display. 

 

Yes we are, and this is exactly how we're doing it. (Along with SVG assets.)

[Ambroos]

The base DPI most browsers assume is 96DPI. Recent websites do use high-density graphics, but usually only for display densities over 1,5 times the normal density.

 

I doubt 120 DPI is enough to trigger it on most sites. But a DPI-aware browser should pass websites the right display density and you'll get high-res graphics if the website supplies them for your density.

 

You also shouldn't be using 120DPI. 24" at 1920x1200 is almost exactly 96DPI, and you're making everything too large by switching to 120DPI.

[streetw0lf]

The base DPI most browsers assume is 96DPI. Recent websites do use high-density graphics, but usually only for display densities over 1,5 times the normal density.

 

I doubt 120 DPI is enough to trigger it on most sites. But a DPI-aware browser should pass websites the right display density and you'll get high-res graphics if the website supplies them for your density.

 

You also shouldn't be using 120DPI. 24" at 1920x1200 is almost exactly 96DPI, and you're making everything too large by switching to 120DPI.

 

I tried 96 dpi and that's too small for me to work in Windows.  I have no choice but to increase the dpi in order to read things. 

[Jub]

I have no choice but to increase the dpi in order to read things. 

 

You do have a choice. Get a pair of glasses. It'll change your life.

[streetw0lf]

I wear progressive lens glasses.  It has three areas on the lens for far, medium, reading.  Unfortunately none of them is good enough to read from a screen.  Perhaps there are other lens for computer reading.  Reading glasses won't cut it, btw, I tried them.

[taim]

I wear progressive lens glasses.  It has three areas on the lens for far, medium, reading.  Unfortunately none of them is good enough to read from a screen.  Perhaps there are other lens for computer reading.  Reading glasses won't cut it, btw, I tried them.

You'd see better if you didn't have one eye covered.

[Jub]

I wear progressive lens glasses.  It has three areas on the lens for far, medium, reading.  Unfortunately none of them is good enough to read from a screen.  Perhaps there are other lens for computer reading.  Reading glasses won't cut it, btw, I tried them.

 

I suppose if you've got a more severe vision disability you might be right that increasing the DPI is your only option. To make things as comfortable for your eyes as possible I'd still consult an optician though! Tell them you can't read your computer screen and that you're happy to have a different pair of glasses for computer use.

[Kami-]

I tried 96 dpi and that's too small for me to work in Windows.  I have no choice but to increase the dpi in order to read things. 

Wait, what - that's a vision problem you should get rectified...

[streetw0lf]

So many d-bags on Neowin it's incredible.  To blame some sort of visual impairment on my problem is absurd.  I should have known better to ask for any advice on Neowin.

 

Moderator please lock this and throw away the key. 

[Lingwo]

Nowadays if possible i try to make sure assets can be exported to SVG's so i can use them as glyph icons or implemented straight into the page. Still quite new to this though.

Otherwise i won't bother much, it is still a small percentage. So if i can support it, i will.

[MikeChipshop Member]

We've been working towards this for years, using SVG, font icons etc etc. Things wont change that quickly, be patient.

 

So many d-bags on Neowin it's incredible.  To blame some sort of visual impairment on my problem is absurd.  I should have known better to ask for any advice on Neowin.

 

Moderator please lock this and throw away the key. 

 

I suggest you quell your attitude and hit 'CTRL & +' if you want a better view of a web site.

[Dot Matrix]

I run 125% @ 1680. I can't stand 96dpi. It's just too small, nothing looks good anymore. Windows 7 and Windows 8 really shine at 125.

[Jub]

So many d-bags on Neowin it's incredible. To blame some sort of visual impairment on my problem is absurd. I should have known better to ask for any advice on Neowin.

Assuming you're referring to me (or anybody else for that matter) I think perhaps you misread things in a way that pleases you. We're trying to be helpful. If you can't read the text at default settings you do have poor eyesight, that's a fact. I can barely see anything on my screen without glasses so I'm not joking about it.

I agree with Mike, chill with that attitude.