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High Resolution Photo Scanning Techniques

Scanners offer photographers and photo enthusiasts the opportunity to take physical photographs, negatives and slides and transform them into digital files. Use one of these devices to scan photographs and documents at low-resolution and high-resolution settings. Typically, a higher-resolution scan allows the user to create larger print images. It also gives the user options for better image editing. Use the following scanning techniques to make the best-quality high-resolution scans.

Resolution
- Scan the photo at the highest resolution setting available. Typically a good scanner allows the user to set the resolution at or higher than 300 pixels per inch (ppi). Scanning at a higher resolution allows you to create larger prints from the scan. Setting the scanner to 600 ppi normally provides enough resolution for most projects.
Bit Depth
- Most scanners offer at least 36-bit analog-to-digital converter chips, but a greater number of bits can manage more of the image's dynamic range (the range of values from solid black to pure white). Adjust the bit depth to the highest level available on the scanner. A number of film scanners now offer 48-bit bit depth that allows them to capture more of an image's dynamic range than a lower-bit depth scanner.
Size
- Use a larger-size photo over a smaller one. Using a larger original image requires less image upsampling. Upsampling is a feature found in scanning software that creates pixels based on surrounding pixels in order to increase an image̵7;s size. The larger the original, the less upsampling is required.
Use Originals
- It̵7;s always best to stay as close to the original source as possible. Achieve the best resolution by scanning a negative or slide of an image previously developed into a print. A photograph loses detail when printed from a negative or slide, but the original film retains all of the detail captured when the subject was photographed. Scanning from a negative or slide allows the user to increase bit depth and resolution settings because the original film contains more details than a photograph. This results in creating a higher-resolution scan.
Reduce Moiré
- Moiré (mor-ray) describes a herringbone or similar pattern on scanned images. One sees moiré when scanning newsprint or magazine images, but many photographs, especially those made from school and portrait studios, exhibit moiré when scanned. Scanning at a higher ppi will increase the chance of seeing moiré if it exists in a photograph. Most scanning software comes with a descreening or moiré reduction option. To achieve a high-resolution scan, use this option with images that have an underlying textured pattern.

Photography