Image Is The Size Of A Tennis Court!!

[ElijahBaley]

Hello

My question is really about images in general and not specifically Photoshop, but I feel that this is where I will find the expertise to answer my question:

Can anyone explain a problem that rears itself every so often - the image file, which when displayed is the size of a tennis court!!

I have just received a gif image of a A4 page with hand written comments on it, so I assume that the source document was scanned and was a A4 sheet of paper, however when I view it in either Internet Explorer or MS Paint, it really is over size, the handwritten comments are about 40mm in height.

If I import this image into a word document, it scales perfectly ???

I have had this problem before, when attempting to scan my own docs and images, they almost allways 'blow up' to enormous screen and print size.. is this supposed to happen or are steps being missed in the scanning process?

Thanks for any help,

EB

 

[MarkEdwards]

The problem comes from the fact that the source image was scanned at much higher than screen resolution.

Photoshop won't automatically scale an image down when you load it, but instead will display the full pixel resolution.

Since a normal computer monitor resolves to around 72ppi (pixels per inch), if your document has been scanned in at (say) 300ppi, then the image will display as enormous on screen.

If you need to downsample the image for display on a monitor only, open the Image/Image Size menu.

In the Document Size properties, ensure that the correct physical proportions of the image are set along with the actual pixel resolution. Clicking OK from here should refine the image for you.

Regards,
Mark -------------------
Mark Edwards
Consultant
Infrasolve Ltd.
e: mark.edwards@infrasolve.com
-----------------

 

[ElijahBaley]

Thanks for your reply Mark,

I just have a few more questions before I finally start to understand this issue:

Is it 'normal' to scan or create images above and beyond the standard screen resolution of 72ppi?

What about graphics created for web pages would they have to be created at the same resolution as the screen in order to display properly?

What if I wanted to create a graphic to insert in a Quark doc and the final printed size of that image was 30mmx50mm - would I create a image 30mmx500mm in Photoshop or should I create a larger more detailed image and 'shrink' it into the pic box in Quark?

Thanks for your help

EB

 

[MarkEdwards]

If an image was only for screen display, I would scan/edit it at 72ppi. Anything more than that is simply wasted and only adds to the file size (which can be a critical factor with websites).

If the image is for print/process work, then scan the image in at the recommended dpi resolution that your production facilities require. Then, adjust the physical size in Photoshop to be those required (although a scanner should do this for you). That way, when displaying on screen in photoshop, the image will appear huge. However, when inserted in Quark and printed, it should come out at the correct size.

As for recommended scanning resolutions, I unfortunately don't have the information to hand, but if I remember correctly, the Inside Photoshop 6/7 books has a handy reference table (and a damn good chapter on preparing for prepress)....


Regards,
Mark
-------------------
Mark Edwards
Consultant
Infrasolve Ltd.
e: mark.edwards@infrasolve.com
-----------------

 

[ElijahBaley]

Thanks for your help

EB

 

[BDNFLNC]

Personally I find that scanning at a higher DPI is better for clarity.

I scan at the optical resolution of the scanner that I am using. Then adjust the image quality using PhotoShop and when I am nearly satisfied I resize the image, reducing it quite a bit. This seems to produce much clearer immages than scanning at only 72DPI.

Then using the save for Web option, the image is saved at 72DPI and you have managed the quality as it should be.