Tech-Ease: Images Questions and Answers

Quick answers to real classroom technology questions. An online service of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse.

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What resolution should I use when I scan my images?

The resolution you should use depends on how you plan to use the images you are scanning. If you plan to post your images on the web a resolution of 72 dpi should suffice because this is the common resolution for monitors. If you plan to use your image in a print document such as a newsletter, you should scan your image at 200-300 dpi or higher, but note that you will get a much larger file at these high resolutions.

A good practice is to scan your pictures at the highest resolution you can, then use an image editing application to save a copy at a lower resolution. That way you will have the flexibility of being able to use the scanned image in many different types of projects, from websites and Powerpoint presentations to newsletters, posters and other print media.

Another thing to consider when you scan your images is the color depth. Make sure you have this setting entered correctly in your scanning software. If you are scanning a black and white picture, for example, it makes no sense to scan it using the same settings as for a color photograph. You will end up with an unnecessarily big file if you do not properly set your color setting.

Additional Websites

Kodak.com: Taking Great Pictures

Webmonkey: Graphics

Sitepoint: GIF, JPG, and PNG - What's the Difference

Scantips.com

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Tech-Ease for Windows is your source for just-in-time answers for classroom technology questions. A companion Tech-Ease for Mac site is also available. This collection is a part of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse. Funding for Tech-Ease content development has been provided by the USF College of Education and various grants from the Florida Department of Education. Copyright 2009 by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.

			Quick answers to real classroom technology questions. An online service of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse.
ETC HOME	TECH-EASE HOME	IMAGES FAQ	SEARCH
What resolution should I use when I scan my images? The resolution you should use depends on how you plan to use the images you are scanning. If you plan to post your images on the web a resolution of 72 dpi should suffice because this is the common resolution for monitors. If you plan to use your image in a print document such as a newsletter, you should scan your image at 200-300 dpi or higher, but note that you will get a much larger file at these high resolutions. A good practice is to scan your pictures at the highest resolution you can, then use an image editing application to save a copy at a lower resolution. That way you will have the flexibility of being able to use the scanned image in many different types of projects, from websites and Powerpoint presentations to newsletters, posters and other print media. Another thing to consider when you scan your images is the color depth. Make sure you have this setting entered correctly in your scanning software. If you are scanning a black and white picture, for example, it makes no sense to scan it using the same settings as for a color photograph. You will end up with an unnecessarily big file if you do not properly set your color setting.			Additional Websites Kodak.com: Taking Great Pictures Webmonkey: Graphics Sitepoint: GIF, JPG, and PNG - What's the Difference Scantips.com
ETC HOME	TECH-EASE HOME	IMAGES FAQ	SEARCH
Site Map \| Submit a Question \| About Tech-Ease \| Privacy Policy \| ETC Home Tech-Ease for Windows is your source for just-in-time answers for classroom technology questions. A companion Tech-Ease for Mac site is also available. This collection is a part of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse. Funding for Tech-Ease content development has been provided by the USF College of Education and various grants from the Florida Department of Education. Copyright 2009 by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.