Tips on Scanning Graphics
Scanning a photograph or drawing converts the image into digital information, which can be modified in a variety of ways. Images can be scanned as black and white or color, depending on what you need, and saved with compression so they can be stored, or
worked on later to improve their quality.
Try to scan with the intention of "touching up" later
- Always go from higher quality to lower quality
- Leave room around image - crop later
- Scan line art for on-screen viewing as grayscale (8 bit black and
white)
- use high resolution (100 dpi)
- Make sure your image is straight on the scanning bed
- Scan photographs as Grayscale (8 bit) or RGB (16 or 32 bit)
- scan at high resolution if editing - better for making qualitative changes
- scan at 72 dpi (screen resolution) if going straight to web use
GIF files must be 8 bit color
- Try not to make extreme quality changes before scanning
Suggestions for use of compression
- LZW compression - good for line art and grayscale
- JPEG compression - good for grayscale and RGB color
- use low amount of compression before editing
"Excellent" image quality
- use more compression for final, long term storage
"Excellent" to "Medium" image quality
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Last revision July 11, 1995