Resolution is a crucial specification when evaluating a digital camera. The number of pixels a camera can create greatly affects the quality of the printed output. The more pixels a camera provides, the larger the file that can be output with acceptable results. Most desktop models produce at least a 640x480 pixel image, up to about 1,280x1,024. The number of pixels you end up with is a most important factor in the purchase of a digital camera.
Some cameras use less than the full resolution of the CCD to create smaller files.
Digital camera manufacturer's information about resolution is increasingly difficult to decipher. Knowing the exact number of pixels the CCD provides along each axis allows you to determine what size print can be produced. Most CCD's are manufactured with extra pixels placed on the edge of the sensor for providing color balance, luminance, and image processing. The total area of the CCD sensors is called the chip resolution area. Even when given the total image resolution, you may not be getting the real facts.