The basics

Scanning resolution > Adjusting the
resolution that you scan at will directly
affect the pixel dimensions of your fi nal
fi le. High scanning resolution will create
more pixels in the fi les which translates into
bigger prints.
ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Does this mean that we always scan at the highest
resolution possible? The intelligent answer is NO! The
best approach is to balance your scanning settings with
your printing needs. If you are working on a design for a
postage stamp you will need less pixels to play with than
if you want your masterpiece in poster format. For this
reason it is important to consciously set your scanning
resolution keeping in mind your required output size. See
section 2.01 for more details about resolution.
Some scanning software will give you an indication of
resolution, fi le size and print size as part of the dialog
panel but for those of you without this facility use the
table on page 42 as a rough guide.
2.13 Color depth
Suitable for Elements – 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0 | Diffi culty level – Basic | Related techniques – 2.02
As we have seen already color depth refers to the number of possible colors that make up the
digital fi le upon the completion of scanning. If you have the choice always select 16-bit scanning
mode (sometimes called 48bit
– 16 bits for red + 16 bits
for green + 16 bits for blue)
instead of 8-bit as this provides
you with the opportunity to
capture as much information
from your photographic
original as possible. Remember
this is true even if you intend
to convert these fi les to 8-bit
immediately upon opening.
The more accurately the image
is scanned in the fi rst place
the better quality the down
sampled fi le will be after the
conversion has been made.
Scan in 16-bit mode >> To capture
the best detail, colour and tone
always scan in 16-bit mode.
Book resources at: www.adv-elements.com
43
SCANNER AND
CAMERA TECHNIQUES