[VernsDaughter]

Which is better for scanning

by VernsDaughter on Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:38 pm

Hi Paul,
And anyone else who can help me . . . I am re-scanning my Dad's photos to share, and need to know whether it is better to save them as a Tiff image or as PNG? And being as I don't know what either one of them is I will take all of the enlightening that you can give. I recently down loaded "VueScan" and am trying to use it.

I know that to email they need to be jpeg, but for enlarging and getting sharper images one of the others is preferred. Any and all help will be gratefully accepted.

Jean

[donaldbyers]

Re: Which is better for scanning

by donaldbyers on Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:26 pm

Jean,

You should do them as JPG's. Tiff files are much to large and take a while to upload when used in a gallery or other methods. PNG files well there used in Wiki's and other uses. Jpeg's are all round files and don't have to be converted.

Don

[Paul Bellamy]

Re: Which is better for scanning

by Paul Bellamy on Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:49 pm

Hi Jean,

For the initial scan, especially on an image that may need the contrast adjusting, cleaning up etc. you'd be best getting it in the largest format possible.
I usually scan at 800-1600 dpi to a PNG or BMP file, depending on which computer I'm on. Both formats are large in file size as they don't compress the image data like a JPG does.

That file can then be copied and amended as required, so in the case of one of your Dad's photos you could play around with the large file resampled to say 1600 pixels wide, then when you're happy with it save a copy and resample (Not resize) it to a 800 pixels wide JPG which should give you the best image for web use.

Hope that helps,
Paul

[VernsDaughter]

Re: Which is better for scanning

by VernsDaughter on Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:43 pm

Thanks, Don and Paul! Your good advice has probably saved me having to re-do a lot of work. I have lots to learn.

Jean