Dpi Scanner type question please ........

alison74

I just bought a scanner after the advice on this forum - thanks

Can someone tell me what resolution I should scan at so that I can print out 6 x 4 photos the same quality ? And also for 7 x 5 ?

I have a choice from 50 dpi (even I know it wouldnt be that) up to 1200dpi The one I did at 1200 came out at 1700k or so, which is prob bigger than I need for a decent 7 x 5 print.

I hope I have made myself clear

Thanks in advance

alison74

Thanks for that, but I wont be printing any of them out on my computer at the mo.

I have the unenviable task of scanning ALL my old photos to put on cd (thousands !)

I just want to know so when if I need to print copies in the future, that I have scanned them at the right dpi as I am aware the more dpi, the longer the scan takes.

I would like someone to tell me what resolution I should use from their own experience for 6x4 and 7x5

And I have a choice of 24bit colour or 48 bit colour, which one should i be using ?

*!*HIBS*!*

IMO, I think ideally you should scan them at the highest options so that the pictures are more clear than say scanning them at the lowest options when you come to print them. This shouldn't really matter unless your a professional photographer.

However the downside to this is that (you have already stated one downside, about the time it takes to scan), it will also take up more memory (storage on your CDs/HDD)! :eek:

cargo

Everything I have ever scanned as been @ 300 dpi and all look fine.

lauraaurora

300dpi is more than adequate. It's what most publishers/ printers use for good quality printing. And as you're just storing them at the moment you do't want them to be too big. Equally you know that at 300dpi they'll be fine for printing at a later date. Not sure about the the colour option,I find the 24bit one to be just fine.

alison74

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I am scanning them at various levels, aiming for it to be around the 900k for photos I will want to print in future and lower for ones I am not so fussed about.

I am doing 'this is your life' books for my friends who all hit 30 this year, so need to print out a lot of pics for that and copies of grandparents etc so the whole family can have a copy.