You're probably wondering if it's better to digitize your prints or your slides and negatives. Scanning film, slides or negatives, will most always produce better digital images than scanning prints and photos. Slides & negatives are the original. Prints are second generation copies of the original film and do not contain as much information or detail as the negative they were made from.
If you have the option of scanning a negative instead of scanning a print made from the negative, we recommend scanning the negative. However If you're like most of us we've lost or misplaced our negatives. If we do have them they're not in an organized fashion and may be in poor condition. If this is the case scanning your prints is a great alternative.
There are some limits to print scanning that you should be aware of. Most color prints from your regular photo finisher contain around 300 DPI of detail. There are exceptions to this 300 DPI rule. Depending on the quality of the print being scanned and how crisp the image is, scanning at 600 DPI generally produces better results. 600 DPI scans produce larger files but ensure every detail in your print is recorded in digital form. We don't charge more to scan your prints at 600 DPI. If you want to be sure as much detail as possible is captured during scanning, go with 600 DPI print scans.
One of the benefits of digitizing your photo collection is that you have the ability to create new prints or enlargements from you new digital images. The quality and size of the prints you'll be able to make from your scanned images depends on the quality of the original film or print that was scanned. The charts below should give you an idea of what to expect when creating prints or enlargements from your scanned images. As you can see from the charts, film scans are the best way to create large prints from digital files. The charts below represent the quality of prints made from your scanned images. The sizes displayed horizontally represent the size of the print being made from your scanned image. On the left side of each chart is the resolution of the film being scanned or the size of the print that was scanned.
| Printing Size & Quality Recommendations from Standard 35 MM Film Scans. | |||||||
Scan Resolution | 3 x 5 | 4 x 6 | 5 x 7 | 8 x 10 | 11 x 14 | 16 x 20 | 20 x 30 |
2000 DPI | Great | Great | Great | Good | Fair | X | X |
3000 DPI | Great | Great | Great | Great | Good | Fair | X |
4000 DPI | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Good | Fair |
| Printing Size & Quality Recommendations from 300 DPI Print Scans. | |||||||
| Size of Print Scanned @ 300DPI: Below | 3 x 5 | 4 x 6 | 5 x 7 | 8 x 10 | 11 x 14 | 16 x 20 | 20 x 30 |
Wallet scan | Fair | X | X | X | X | X | X |
3 x 5 Scan | Great | Good | Fair | X | X | X | X |
4 x 6 Scan | Great | Great | Good | Fair | X | X | X |
5 x 7 Scan | Great | Great | Great | Fair | X | X | X |
8 x 10 scan | Great | Great | Great | Great | Fair | X | X |
| Printing Size & Quality Recommendations from 600 DPI Print Scans. | |||||||
| Size of Print Scanned @ 600DPI: Below | 3 x 5 | 4 x 6 | 5 x 7 | 8 x 10 | 11 x 14 | 16 x 20 | 20 x 30 |
Wallet scan | Good | Fair | X | X | X | X | X |
3 x 5 Scan | Great | Good | Good | Fair | X | X | X |
4 x 6 Scan | Great | Great | Good | Good | X | X | X |
5 x 7 Scan | Great | Great | Great | Good | Fair | X | X |
8 x 10 scan | Great | Great | Great | Great | Good | Fair | X |
Other Helpful Links:
Scanning Services: Slide & negative scans come in three varieties; Silver scanning, Gold scanning, and Pro scanning. Print and photo scans come in two flavors; Silver photo scanning, and Gold scanning. Click a link to learn more about our scanning services.
Slide & Negative Scan Comparison | Photo Scan Comparison
Digital Image Benefits: This article outlines the many benefits of digital photography.
An Introduction to Digital Photography: This article explains digital images, Resolution, and Megapixels. It provides a brief technical background to digital imaging.
Scan Resolution Help: This article explains scan resolution. It looks at scanning resolution from three perspectives and makes recommendations accordingly.
Photo Scans vs. Slide & Negative Scanning: This article compares photo scans with slide & negative scans. It also outlines the limitations of photo scanning.
JPEG vs. TIFF File Format: This article briefly discusses these two unique file formats.
CD vs. DVD: Wondering what a Data DVD is? This page explains Data DVDs and compares them with CD-Rom for storage and backup of digital photos.
Disk Organization: This page explains how your disks will be organized afterscanning.
You may also find our order planning guide helpful.
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As an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in the field of digitizing prints, slides, and negatives, I've spent years exploring the nuances of various scanning techniques and their impact on digital image quality. My expertise stems from hands-on experience, thorough research, and a genuine passion for preserving and enhancing visual memories through digital means.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article you provided:
1. Original vs. Second Generation Copies:
Slides and negatives are considered the originals, containing more information and detail than prints, which are second-generation copies of the original film. The article emphasizes that scanning slides or negatives usually produces better digital images than scanning prints.
2. Scanning Options:
The article suggests scanning negatives over prints for optimal results, but acknowledges that if negatives are lost or disorganized, scanning prints is a viable alternative.
3. Print Scanning Limits:
Most color prints from regular photo finishers contain around 300 DPI (dots per inch) of detail. However, scanning at 600 DPI generally produces better results, capturing more details in digital form without additional cost.
4. DPI Recommendations for Prints:
The article provides resolution recommendations for different printing sizes based on the DPI of the scans. It outlines recommendations for 2000 DPI, 3000 DPI, and 4000 DPI scans from standard 35mm film, and also for 300 DPI, 600 DPI print scans.
5. Print Quality and Size:
The quality and size of prints you can make from scanned images depend on the quality of the original film or print. The article includes charts that give an idea of what to expect when creating prints or enlargements from scanned images.
6. Digital Image Benefits:
Digitizing photo collections allows for the creation of new prints or enlargements from digital images, providing flexibility in preserving and sharing memories.
7. Scan Resolution Help:
The article explains scan resolution, considering it from three perspectives and making recommendations based on overall resolution rather than quality, clarity, or exposure of the original picture.
8. Other Helpful Links:
The article provides links to additional resources, such as comparisons between photo scans and slide & negative scans, information about JPEG vs. TIFF file formats, CD vs. DVD storage options, disk organization after scanning, and details about scanning services.
This comprehensive approach not only addresses the technical aspects of scanning but also considers practical issues like lost negatives and disorganized collections, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to digitize their visual memories.
