A "twip" is a unit of measurement used in desktop publishing and computer graphics, especially in the context of Microsoft Windows. The term "twip" is an abbreviation for "twentieth of a point," and it is used to define very small distances and sizes.
In the twip system:
1 twip is equal to 1/20th of a point. 1 point (abbreviated as "pt") is equal to approximately 20 twips.
Because a point is roughly 1/72nd of an inch, 1 twip is approximately 1/1440th of an inch (or about 1/567 millimeters).
Twips are used in various applications, including word processing, graphics design, and layout software. They are particularly valuable for precise positioning and sizing of elements on a computer screen or when preparing documents for printing. The twip system is commonly used in Microsoft Windows-based applications and the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI).
For example, in Microsoft Word, you can set paragraph spacing or element positioning in twips to achieve fine control over the layout of your documents.
The term "micron" is a unit of measurement used to express lengths or distances, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and manufacturing. It is a unit of length in the metric system and is equal to one millionth of a meter, or 0.000001 meters. The symbol for the micron is "µm," where the Greek letter "mu" (µ) represents "micro," indicating that it is a very small unit of measurement.
Microns are commonly used to measure things at a microscopic level, such as the size of cells, particles, or features on a microchip. It's also used in various industries for precision measurements and quality control, particularly in fields like electronics, optics, and materials science. In some contexts, microns may also be referred to as micrometers.