
You finally decided to scan in that box of pictures. The photos are probably in various sizes, from Polaroids, to wallets to 8×10’s to even some 16 x 20’s. Now you need to know at what resolution to scan each image. As a rule of thumb each of the smaller images should be scanned in at a resolution that would allow you to print an 8×10 photo. For the larger images I would use a minimum of 900 DPI.
With several smaller sizes to choose from, I provide the following process to define the resolution.
To ensure a high-quality 8×10 print from a 2×3 (Wallet) photo, follow these steps:
1. Determine Print Resolution
- High-quality prints require 300 DPI (dots per inch).
- An 8×10 print at 300 DPI would require:
- Width: 8×300=24008 \times 300 = 24008×300=2400 pixels
- Height: 10×300=300010 \times 300 = 300010×300=3000 pixels
2. Calculate Scale Factor
- Your original photo is 2×3 inches.
- To enlarge it to 8×10 inches, calculate the scale factors for both dimensions:
- Width scale factor: 8÷2=48 \div 2 = 48÷2=4
- Height scale factor: 10÷3≈3.3310 \div 3 \approx 3.3310÷3≈3.33
- Use the larger scale factor (444) to avoid pixelation and maintain clarity.
3. Determine Scan Resolution
- To ensure the enlarged print has 300 DPI, multiply the scale factor by 300: 4×300=1200 DPI (scan resolution).4 \times 300 = 1200 \text{ DPI (scan resolution)}.4×300=1200 DPI (scan resolution).
4. Recommended Scan Resolution
- Scan your 2×3 photo at 1200 DPI to produce a high-quality 8×10 print.
This resolution ensures the image will be sharp and detailed when enlarged.
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