In imaging, a low-resolution image (also called a low-resolution file or a viewfile)—scanned at the resolution of the monitor itself—used to evaluate the scanner setup, the quality of the original image, or other aspects of the image. Since even a high-resolution file will be displayed at the resolution of the monitor, evaluations can be accomplished much more quickly by scanning at the lowest viewable resolution. Since such a low-resolution file possesses less image data than a high-resolution file, it is inadequate for high-quality output.
A coarse data file or low-resolution file is also created along with a high-resolution file and used to view an image imported into a page layout program, as a means of allowing the program to run more efficiently than it would if the entire high-res file were displayed. Since high-resolution files occupy a large amount of disk space and also require a great deal of RAM and processing power to display—all the while looking no better than a low-resolution file on screen—low-resolution files are used as FPO images while working on a page.