Selecting a Suitable Resolution
Resolution refers to how many dots per inch (dpi) your image contains. The best resolution for a scanned image depends on the type of image you’re scanning and how you plan to use it.
For most images, use a scanning resolution that is approximately one third of your output resolution. For example, use a scanning resolution of 200 dpi if you want to print at 600 dpi. If you’re scanning an image to view
Follow the guidelines in this table for selecting a resolution:
Type of scan | Resolution |
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Photograph | 300 dpi |
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Text with images | 400 dpi |
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Film or slides | 300 to 2400 dpi |
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Line art | 300 to 2400 dpi |
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Image for web | 96 to 150 dpi |
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Text for OCR | 300 dpi |
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Newspaper | 150 to 300 dpi |
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Magazine | 150 to 300 dpi |
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Scaling (Resizing) Images
If you plan to enlarge your image, it’s better to enlarge it by scanning at a higher resolution. If you change the image resolution or size in an application, you lose image quality. Keep this in mind when scanning small photos that you plan to enlarge, or when scanning slides and negatives.
30 Getting the Most From Your Scanner