A gigapixel image is a digital image bitmap composed of one billion (10⁹) pixels (picture elements), 250 times the image captured by a mid-range (4 megapixel) digital camera. Current technology for creating such very high-resolution images involves making mosaics of a large number of high-resolution digital photographs, or using World War II spycam technology to create a film negative as large as 9"×12" (23 cm×30 cm), which is then scanned with a high-end film scanner. Recent developments have demonstrated the practicality of developing scanning cameras capable of creating a gigapixel image in a single sweep of a scene.

Gigapixel images are of particular interest to the following:

• Physicists viewing the results of supercomputer simulations
• Viewers of satellite composite images for various purposes, including agricultural planning, land use planning, and military intelligence
• Artists
• Health care providers, such as pathologists, for virtual microscopy utilizing whole slide images (digitally scanned glass microscope slides)

Gigapixel cameras:

• "Gigapxl Project"
• "R1 Gigapixel Camera"

See also

• Largest photographs in the world.
• Powerwall - Computer technology for interactive gigapixel displays