What's the best resolution for scanning an 8X10 photo?

[pstokely]

My scanner goes up to 4800 dpi.

[Redstone]

1. Remember this phrase: OPTICAL resolution. That's the only thing that counts;

many scanners will claim to have ridiculously high "interpolated" resolutions that are utterly worthless - just trust me on this, OK, because this stuff is my business.

OPTICAL resolution is the ONLY specification that means anything, just like OPTICAL zoom of a digital camera is the only worthwhile spec; "digital zoom" is pure bullshit.

Redstone

[Redstone]

2. Oops, I forgot to answer your question. Here's the deal: Take the printhead resolution of

your printer (many are ether 720 or 1440 DPI, or 1440 DPI in one direction and 720 in the other). Tkae the printer's native resolution and divide it by two or four, making sure you don't drop below about 200.

So with a 720 DPI printer, you'll want to have your scan at 360 DPI for a nice crispy print.

If the above is difficult ( or just too much aggro) for you to figure out, not to worry, because 300 DPI at final output size ALWAYS works well, not matter the printing device. You can never go wrong with 300 DPI.

Redstone

[pstokely]

3. What's the resolution of a printer at Walgreens?

?

[Redstone]

4. Not sure; but I'd bet it's going to either be a Kodak unit or a Fuji Crystal Raster;

either way, as I said, give 'em a 300 DPI file and you can't go wrong.

Redstone