Selecting Resolution
Resolution refers to how many dots per inch (dpi) or dots per centimeter (dpcm) your
image contains. The best resolution for a scanned image depends on the type of image
you're scanning and your final output device.
As a rule of thumb for most images except line art, use a scanning resolution that is
approximately one third of your output resolution. For example, use a scanning
resolution up to 100 dpi with a 300 dpi laser printer, and up to 200 dpi with a
600 dpi laser printer. For 1440 dpi ink jet printers, such as the EPSON Stylus
or Photo series, use a scanning resolution of approximately 300 dpi. Try a scanning
resolution of 240 dpi for 720 dpi printing.
Keep the following in mind when you choose a resolution:
Higher resolution settings result in larger file sizes. For example, an 8.5 11-inch
original scanned at 300 dpi can produce a 26MB file. The same original scanned
at 72 dpi creates only a 1.4MB file. Large files take longer to process and print, so
consider the practical limitations of your computer system when selecting a
resolution. To keep your file size manageable, select the lowest possible resolution
that gives acceptable quality.
If you need to scan at a higher resolution, you can reduce the size of the image file
by scanning only part of the image. For information about selecting part of an
image, see "Previewing Images" in your electronic Reference Guide.
If you will be enlarging a file in your image editing software, scan at a higher
resolution to maintain the image quality.
If your final file is for on-screen viewing (for example, on a web page or in an
e-mail message), select 72 dpi for your resolution.
Scanning from Start to Finish
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Color
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