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Scanning Question


Guest PamOh

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Guest PamOh
Hi all!

I hope this isn't a dumb question. I'm sure it's already answered somewhere on the site. I just got a new scanner (Epson Perfection 4490 Photo). I thought it was really cool that it scans negatives. I'm going to give it a lot of work. :)

Anyway, I noticed that it has a Professional mode where I can change lots of settings including the dpi of what I want to scan. Now, I have to say... I have rarely used a scanner so I really don't know what I'm doing with it (I normally use my digital camera and load them straight in to the computer). But I want to get started right since I'm going to be scanning a LOT of pictures. I have some wedding photos that I never got the negatives for and they are all 4x4 (long story... and I'm still cranky about the subject after 16 years of marriage). Anyway, what dpi should I scan them in at? I know 300 dpi is great for printing but is there any way to scan them in so that I could actually make them bigger than 4x4 or is that just a pipe dream? LOL Please give me some scan tips. The file size is not an issue so if it's a big size its ok. I would really like something to put on my wall. I might just have to make a collage of 4x4s and if I do that's ok too. I just thought I would ask what dpi to scan at. If going over 300 is just overkill and wouldn't allow me to print the file at any bigger size, then just let me know. I have a feeling that is the case. lol

Thanks for the advice!
Pam
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Guest kitiekat4U
most scanners are already set for optimum scan. some scanners are more dpi than others. i recommend you try and print one photo using the scanners recommened scan. if it is to grainy then try the next step up until you see what you want.
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Pam, I do this a lot. Sometimes I want to scan something so it'll print at a larger size than the original. If I want it to be twice as big, what I do is double the scan resoluton to 600 DPI, scan the image, and then afterwards, change the Image Properties to 300 DPI but keep the pixel dimensions the same. That will increase the actual print size (inches or cms) but keep it at high resolution.

So, if you have a scanned image at 600 DPI, 2500x1700px, change the DPI to 300 put keep the pixel dimensions at 2500x1700. The actual print size (inches or cms) will be increased. (I don't recommend doing this for resolutions lower than 300 DPI.)

HTH!
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Guest PamOh
Ahhh... ok. I had actually thought about doubling the dpi when scanning earlier today but thought "no it couldn't be that easy" and stopped before I finished testing my theory. eh, we had someone come in the door about that time anyway.

Thanks for the tips both of you! I will do some testing tomorrow. I'll be scanning in pics left and right in no time I'm sure. :D

Pam
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Pam, you may also want to be sure that you clean off the scanning bed after so many scans, fingerprints, dust etc. are sometimes easily picked up and are visible on photo's as well, just wanted to add that in there somewhere just in case in the future during your scans you see some fingerprints, ;).
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Guest PamOh
[quote name='momentousangel' post='52610' date='Jul 19 2006, 01:07 AM']Pam, you may also want to be sure that you clean off the scanning bed after so many scans, fingerprints, dust etc. are sometimes easily picked up and are visible on photo's as well, just wanted to add that in there somewhere just in case in the future during your scans you see some fingerprints, ;).[/quote]

Hey, thanks for that tip too! Because I put in two pictures at a time and I know I can't help but swipe my finger on it when picking them up. As a matter of fact, when I scanned in a wedding photo yesterday I saw a big fingerprint on it and I thought to myself "well he wasn't a very observant photographer, was he..." then I realized it was MINE that was on the SCANNER! I laughed and laughed at myself. I just got out my camera lens cloth and I'm going to wipe it down after every few scans to make sure I don't get anymore fingerprints on my pictures. hehe

You all are so very nice to help me out. :D
Pam
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