Scanner resolution and color
If you are printing a scanned image, and the quality is not what you expected, you might have selected a resolution or color setting in the scanner software that does not match your needs. Resolution and color affect the following features of scanned images:
●Image clarity
●Texture of gradations (smooth or rough)
●Scan time
●File size
Resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). Color, grayscale, and black and white define the number of colors possible. You can adjust the scanner hardware resolution to up to 600 dpi. The software can perform an enhanced resolution up to 9,600 dpi. You can set color and grayscale at 1 bit (black and white), or at 8 bit (256 levels of gray) to 24 bit (true color).
The resolution and color guidelines table lists simple tips that you can follow to meet your scanning needs.
Note | Setting the resolution and color to a high value can create large files that take up disk space |
| and slow the scanning process. Before setting the resolution and color, determine how you are |
| going to use the scanned image. |
Resolution and color guidelines
The following table describes the recommended resolution and color settings for different types of scan jobs.
Intended use | Recommended resolution | Recommended color settings | |
Fax | 150 dpi | ● | Black and White |
150 dpi | ● Black and White, if the | ||
|
|
| image does not require |
|
|
| smooth gradation |
|
| ● Grayscale, if the image | |
|
|
| requires smooth gradation |
|
| ● Color, if the image is in color | |
Edit text | 300 dpi | ● | Black and White |
Print (graphics or text) | 600 dpi for complex graphics, or | ● Black and White for text and | |
| if you want to significantly |
| line art |
| enlarge the document | ● Grayscale for shaded or | |
|
| ||
| 300 dpi for normal graphics and |
| colored graphics and |
| text |
| photos |
| 150 dpi for photos | ● Color, if the image is in color | |
Display on screen | 75 dpi | ● Black and White for text | |
66 Chapter 5 Scanning | ENWW |
