Photoshop Elements - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 29

pixel dimensions for your image based on what that picture will be used for. An image that is
destined to become a poster will need to have substantially more pixels than one needed for a
postage stamp. 'Just how many more pixels are needed?' is a good question. The answer can be
found in the numbers that you input into the scanner dialog.

Downsizing - retains quality

Upsizing - loses quality

Downsizing images is ac-
ceptable but enlarging al-
ways produces a final pic-
ture that is poor in qualit y.
It is better to rescan the
original if you need to
print it bigger. Only en-
large a small picture as a
last resort.

The final dimensions of your digital picture should be input directly into the Width and Height
boxes of the control. Next, the output resolution that you will use when printing your picture
is placed in the Resolution box. The scanner driver will usually handle the rest, working out
the exact file size needed to suit your requirements.

If you are unsure what resolution to input, use the settings in the following table as a starting
point. If your picture is to be printed at a variety of sizes, scan your image for the largest size
first and then use the tools in Elements (Editor: Image > Resize > Image Size) to downsize the
digital file when necessary. Making large images smaller preserves much of the quality of the
original but the reverse is not true. Enlarging small files to create the correct resolution needed
for a big print job will always produce a poor quality file, especially when it is compared to one
that was scanned at the right size in the first place.

How the image will be used The final print resolution

to select

Screen or web use only 72 dots per inch (dpi)

Draft quality inkjet prints 150 dpi

Large posters
(that will be viewed from a distance)

180-220 dpi

Different image outcomes
require different levels of
output resolution. Use the
values in this table as a
guide when sizing your
photo.

Photographic quality inkjet printing 240-360 dpi

Magazine printing 300 dpi