How to Make the Image on a Monitor Sharper

By Katie Strzeszewski

i Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images

You can make the image on a monitor sharper by adjusting your computer or laptop’s screen resolution. A lower screen resolution, such as 800x600, will produce larger images that appear grainy and blurry, while higher screen resolutions, such as 1680x1050, produce smaller images that are clearer and more defined (see Resources for examples). The steps vary slightly from Windows XP to Windows Vista to Windows 7, but the basic premise is the same.

Step 1

Click on the Start button, then click on Control Panel. Once you are in the Control Panel in Windows XP, click on Display. In the Control Panel in Windows Vista or Windows 7, click on Appearance and Personalization.

Step 2

-In Windows XP, in the Display Properties, select the Settings tab. -In Windows Vista, click on Personalization, then Display Settings. -In Windows 7, click Adjust Screen Resolution

Step 3

Move the slider in the Resolution box (Screen Resolution in Windows XP) to the appropriate resolution, then click Apply. A pop-up box will ask if you want to keep the settings; select yes to make the change permanent.

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