Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

In digital imaging, what aspect determines the size of the image created by a sensor?

1. Sensor sensitivity

2. Pixel count

3. Bit depth

4. File format

The correct answer is: Pixel count

The aspect that determines the size of the image created by a sensor is pixel count. Pixel count refers to the total number of individual pixels that make up the sensor. Each pixel captures light and contributes to the overall image. A higher pixel count indicates that more pixels are available to record detail, which leads to a larger image size when the image is saved or displayed. This is directly related to the resolution of the image; for example, a sensor with a high pixel count (like 24 megapixels) can produce an image that is significantly larger and can maintain detail when printed or zoomed in on, compared to a sensor with a lower pixel count. The other aspects mentioned do influence image quality and characteristics but do not determine the image size. Sensor sensitivity relates to how well the sensor can capture light, while bit depth pertains to the color information per pixel (how many colors can be represented), and file format involves how the image is saved and compressed but does not affect the inherent size of the image created by the sensor.