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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> I don't understand scanner resolution.
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05/05/2006 01:21:48 AM · #1
I'm going to buy a film scanner because I just finished my first photography class today. I just spent four solid days cutting full sheets of mat down to 11x14, window cutting, spot-toning, and printing. I have an abundance of 35mm B&W negatives that I didn't print, because they didn't fit any of the assignments.

Now I'm not going to have access to a darkroom for a long time, probably a year, and there aren't any public darkrooms available anymore. I also lack the funds to audit an extra class to use the facilities.

Now, I know that 300 ppi is the limit of sharpness that the human eye can see.

So this means that a dedicated 35mm scanner at 4000 dpi scanning full-frame could produce an 11 x 14in. print at acceptable sharpness? (4000/300=13.3~ This is also assuming the printer is of high quality.)

What about the flatbed scanners when they say they offer something like 3200 x 6400 dpi resolution? Just what the heck does that mean?

Is there a difference in resolution between the two? I'm trying to wrap my head around the numbers, but I can't seem to get it to collude.

I've read through all of //www.normankoren.com, and slogged through what I could pull up in the forum archives, but I'm still not exactly sure what I should be looking for. I'm not really looking for a recommendation for a specific scanner, I just want to understand how this works. Any help at all is appreciated.

Lord knows I won't miss split-filtering. Curves is a God-send.
05/05/2006 01:46:05 AM · #2
Originally posted by MyeReadBik:


So this means that a dedicated 35mm scanner at 4000 dpi scanning full-frame could produce an 11 x 14in. print at acceptable sharpness? (4000/300=13.3~ This is also assuming the printer is of high quality.)

What about the flatbed scanners when they say they offer something like 3200 x 6400 dpi resolution? Just what the heck does that mean?

Is there a difference in resolution between the two? I'm trying to wrap my head around the numbers, but I can't seem to get it to collude.


Correct about the (4000/300=13.3~

The question about the 3200x6400 thing I believe that the 6400 dpi is software interprolated (ie upsized via softwar).

I do know that you will see a LOT of difference in quality between dedicated film/slide scanners and flatbed scanners (which really don't cut the mustard).
05/05/2006 01:57:26 AM · #3
Really? I'm probably going to go dedicated film scanner then. I can get the equipment and chemicals to develop film myself, but printing them myself is out of the question.

I think I'm going to go with something 4k dpi or higher then.
05/05/2006 02:03:06 AM · #4
Originally posted by MyeReadBik:

Really? I'm probably going to go dedicated film scanner then. I can get the equipment and chemicals to develop film myself, but printing them myself is out of the question.

I think I'm going to go with something 4k dpi or higher then.


I totally understand. I ran a darkroom in college and I sure did hate to give it up. I loved spending hours in the dark. But, after then I never had the room to set up my own.

Digital did give me back the power to do my own processing though.

It'd be a wise choice to go with a film scanner, the output will be much better.
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