Getting a good scan

2 tips that will result in better scans: 1. Use a photographer's Gray Scale. 2. When using the TIFF format select the LZW compression option. It makes a tremendous difference in size and information is not thrown out maintaining quality.

The gray scale is placed next to the photo and scanned. Then in Photoshop under Levels point the light dropper to the white square and the dark to the black square. This will define true black and white. Then crop out the scale and save the image.

A general rule in digital printing is to keep your file resolution between 150-300dpi at your intended output size unless you are printing Lino. Anything more will unnecesarily tie the system up with huge CPU and RAM demands. Side by side comparisons show little gain when throwing enormous amounts of resolution at a digital printer.

Printer resolution and image resolution are two different things. If your printer prints 1200x2400dpi you need only send a file with the above mentioned resolution to get a high quality print.

This is especially true with dye sublimation printers. The serve-yourself Kodak keosk printers commonly found in grocery and drug stores and your local Kinko's will produce a remarkable print from a 72dpi file.