What dpi setting should I use when scanning 35mm pictures to computer?

Question

I have alot of 3"x5" and 4"x6" photos I want to scan to an external hard drive, but I'm not sure which dpi setting to use for best resolution. Also, would using different settings do to the saved image? Would a higher resolution allow for better enlargements? I'm mostly just interested in scanning and saving them at their original size. Any help would be appreciated ~ Thanks

Answer 1

Although 35mm negatives should be scanned at the highest resolution you have, prints made from those negatives rarely benefit from anything above 300 dpi. The exception is high quality black and white where you might want to go to 600 dpi.
The reason ... you can't manufacture detail where there is none and color print paper (as opposed to negative film) has a much coarser grain since it was never designed for enlargement.

Answer 2

If you want to place on the web 72-96 dpi works best and will still have lots of details without being to blotchy on your colors.
The higher the resolution the more it will allow you to enlarge. If you just want backups of what they are now 300-600 dpi will work just fine... if your planning on blowing them up to 5x7 and larger go 1200-2400 dpi... just remember the files will be getting alot bigger too... i can scan mine at 4800 dpi and those files hurt if the original is over 4x6

happy scanning

If you need further help... shoot me an email and I'll give you a site that will help you now and in the future if you want to get more professional with it

Answer 3

There are extremely some scanners, although to make the alternative, you should stability out such issues as overall performance means, fee, etc, as well as what percentage slides you're possibly to pick to examine and what type of prints you need to make. no matter if a dedicated scanner is typically ideal for high quality, in case you do not have too many slides, and are not searching for photographic competition high quality output, a respectable flatbed with transparency means is probable a extra perfect determination. My cutting-edge scanner is the Epson 4990 image, a flatbed with countless holders for movie and transparency, from 35mm to medium format rollfilm to 5x4 and better. dedicated movie scanners would outdo it for 35mm overall performance, although the wide-spread enormous difference isn't tremendous, and the fee enormous difference is. it would want to do 8 (fixed) slides at a time. i lately scanned about 1000 slides from my series, a job which took about 3 weeks, doing about 4 dozen slides an afternoon. The offered Epson software interior of reason sturdy, and could test in batches. For better high quality scans, i exploit Vuescan because the scanner motive force somewhat, which isn't so nifty in batching, yet very sturdy for test high quality. i exploit the Epson-scanned photos as my significant catalogue and for wide-spread-sized prints, and if a particular slide benefits a better print with extra perfect test high quality, I only re-test it with Vuescan. i exploit Picasa to catalogue the scans and create 'contact' sheets. The Epson 4990 is on the better end of the funds for flatbeds, at round £three hundred new, although that is extremely truly worth the money. The V series also get sturdy writeups.

Answer 4

For use on a web page, 100 dpi
For printing and framing 300 dpi