scanning question

[Conk]

What is the best dpi to scan a photo at for reprinting to a 8x10?

[IndyJeff]

I would always scan at 300 resolution and prints usually came out pretty good.

[John_T]

I assume you mean scanning a photo print. The default setting for my Canoscan 9900F is 400dpi and is good for everyday stuff. For slides and negatives I go up to 3200dpi and 48bit color. It much depends on the quality of your scanner and it's driver. You will need to play with any settings you have to get the best result, not just dpi. If your original is 4x6 for example, don't expect the 8x10 to look better. The better the scan, the better you can play with it in PS.

[Conk]

John_T wrote:
I assume you mean scanning a photo print. The default setting for my Canoscan 9900F is 400dpi and is good for everyday stuff. For slides and negatives I go up to 3200dpi and 48bit color. It much depends on the quality of your scanner and it's driver. You will need to play with any settings you have to get the best result, not just dpi. If your original is 4x6 for example, don't expect the 8x10 to look better. The better the scan, the better you can play with it in PS.

The idea here is to scan the image, repair cracks and scratches in Photoshop and then reprint to an 8x10. The original being about 3x4.50. I know the reprint is pretty large but thats what my friend wants. I'll try and deal with the editing end as best as I can. I've always had a rule to scan at 300dpi but I was wondering if it was sufficient.

[Leighow]

CONK

300 will be sufficient. I usually do 240.

BUT

The challenge will be the original image if it is only 50 dpi now. (Not sure what the 50 is).


HOWIE

PS: I have just printed a set of 8.5 x 11 Heron shots for a client who heard about my images and wants Herons as seen at "my" Bruce Pit. I am printing on my Epson 880 (dye inks) so I am using heavyweight matte as it offers (5 year fade free life). Note that behind glass from 15 feet I cannot tell matte from Premium Glossy (2 year fade free). Close up ink absorption seems more obvious on the matte.

[John_T]

Here's a link for ya Conk:

http://www.scantips.com/

I have scanned a lot of old prints, up to 100 years old, with very good results. A big help was the dust & scratch removal and color cast correction features in the scanner driver.

Rule of thumb:

- Up to 300dpi when scanning color prints

- 400dpi or more when scanning B&W prints

[Conk]

Thanks Howie and John. I scanned at 300 and they were not large enough. I ended up scanning at 600. The photo is a B&W.
I haven't used a scanner too often. I had one and it wasn't working properly so I sold it. Anything that I have needed to scan I done with the camera. The only problem with that was light reflection on photos with cracks in them. Photos with no physical damage are never a problem.
Thanks for the link John :)