Choose the Resolution for your images by looking at the pixel dimensions and the file size in the charts below.

To choose the right size, remember:

• WEB design: think of the entire screen area as 800 pixels by 600 pixels, so that an image that fills 25% of the screen will look large. Web software will ignore inches, and only read pixel dimensions.
  
  
• Prints: remember that very large prints usually have a lower dpi, because the viewer is not going to focus as closely on the image (and most printers cannot handle high dpi). Small prints and postcards require a higher dpi. Prints need dimensions in inches, but frequently the same sized image (in pixel dimensions) can used for both a large and small print.
  
  
• Video: most NTSC video is 640 pixels x 480 pixels. You may want to scan large enough to zoom in on details, but a huge file will slow you down unnecessarily.
  
  
• Page Layout: Quark Express and Adobe InDesign require that the final size of the image be in correct inches, but you can adjust in Photoshop (if resample is clicked off, the data size will stay the same
  
  

Change units to pixels if necessary.

• Resolution is actually calculated in pixel dimensions.
  A scan at 100% and 144 DPI is identical to a scan at 200% and 72 DPI
  
  
• For input and output of 35 mm slides/photos use the chart below, paying attention to the mgs and pixels to determine the file size.:
  

• Keep image at 100% unless original is very small or very large.
  
  
• Depending on the software, you can increase the size of the file (pixel dimensions and mg size) by changing percentages, so that the same scan can be used for different purposes
  
  
• Most printers can multiply an image by 4 without any noticeable decline in quality. (Thus if you are printing to a 600 dpi printer you can send a 150 dpi file).