What resolution do you scan photos.

[aircooled]

I'll be scanning alot of old photos. I could crank it up and scan at max resolution (which takes forever) or turn it down for time saving...
whats the best compromise you have found???

 

[PCMarine]

I dunno, 125? 150?

 

[Ness]

Depends. What are you scanning them for?

Are you putting them on the web, or do you want digital backups?

If you plan on printing them out, make sure they are at least 300 dpi/ppi

 

[Anubis]

i scan negatives at 2700 DPI whch is the highest that most afordable negative scanners will do

i scan regular photos at about 1000

 

[rh71]

I just leave it at my scanner's default settings:

to be printed: 150 DPI
to be viewed on screen/web: 72 DPI

I often use in between around 100 also.

 

[aircooled]

Just to archive.

 

[myusername]

If you want to be able to reproduce the photos at their original size, scan at 300 dpi. If you might want to enlarge them later, scan at 600. If you have small wallet size prints you might want to enlarge, scan those at 900 to 1200.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: myusername
If you want to be able to reproduce the photos at their original size, scan at 300 dpi. If you might want to enlarge them later, scan at 600. If you have small wallet size prints you might want to enlarge, scan those at 900 to 1200.

if it takes longer to scan them, get a newer scanner, my 3 year old mustek (super cheap scanner) scans at 2400dpi at the same speed as 300dpi.

 

[DrPizza]

If you're scanning for archival purposes, I'd scan at the highest resolution possible. While it may take you more time now, it'll save you from doing it a second time, or from regretting that you traded quality for time in the event that you need the archives. Since it *IS* time consuming, why don't you make the process as easy as possible, and pay someone in the family to do it. i.e. find an 8 year old and pay him 2 cents per picture.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i scan negatives at 2700 DPI whch is the highest that most afordable negative scanners will do

i scan regular photos at about 1000

2700? Most scanners, and almost all consumer scanners just extrapolate the addition dots at that res.

 

[ClueLis]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n

Originally posted by: Anubis
i scan negatives at 2700 DPI whch is the highest that most afordable negative scanners will do

i scan regular photos at about 1000

2700? Most scanners, and almost all consumer scanners just extrapolate the addition dots at that res.

Scanners specially designed for negatives (and only negatives) will actually scan at that resolution.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

My dad scanned a sht load of photos and what he did was he did highest quality. He did 10 scans a day as a habit and eventually got them all done