Image scanning and Default Resolution issue in PSP 7

[ajohnska]

My 'wares:
Paint Shop Pro (PSP) 7.02
Scanner Agfa SnapScan600
Scanner(twain)-driver: FotoLook

When I scan a photograph, in a certain scanning resolution, into PSP (using Import-Twain-Aquire)
- does it matter what Default Resolution setting there is in PSP (File-Preferences-General Program Preferences)?

I'm thinking about eventually difference/loss in quality.

Scenarios/examples:

1. I scan a 8,5 cm x 8,8 cm (21,59 x 22,35 inches) paper image with 300 ppi into into PSP where the Default Resolution setting is 72 ppi. The image in PSP then will be in this 72 ppi resolution, and I save it with this 72 ppi resolution.

2. I scan the same paper image with 300 ppi into PSP, but now with 300 ppi as Default Resolution in PSP, and then I save it with this 300 ppi resolution.

Will the end result of this two scan jobs differe - in quality?
(the end result is the finally image that I'm going to save and burn to archive CD).

Finally (the third scenario):

3. If I resize (PSP: Image-Resize) the 72 ppi saved image in the first scenario "back" to 300 ppi and save it as new file.
Will the end result of this resizing differe from scenario 2 in quality?

Do this 72 ppi Default Resolution in PSP affect my originally 300 ppi scanned picture at all, because it seems to (but I'm not sure) that it is just to resample it back to 300 ppi using Resize settings in PSP? Or it is best do set the Default Resolution in PSP to the same resolution I use during the scanning process?

To get an answer/solution to this issue is very important to me, beacuse I'm scanning alot of old paper images that I will save on CD's for overall use in the future (view on screen, print out), and until now I have scanned all my pics to PSP with different (mostly 300 to 600 ppi) scan resolution, but with Default Resolution 72 ppi in PSP.

I would be very greatful if I could get a descent answer to my "problem", because I can not figure this out.

 

[Eyespi20]

I'm not for sure, but think PSP's default dpi resolution will take precedence over the scanner's setting.

Definitely the difference in dpi settings will make a difference in the quality of the picture as well as to the file size. Think about what dpi stands for -- dots per inch -- the more dots per inch you have, the better and sharper your detail, but also the larger your file. The dpi setting you use should be dependent upon the end use of the files -- those for e-mail or web, 72 dpi is plenty -- for printing, you would want a higher dpi, but 300 is plenty for that as well.

Resizing in PSP unless using the bicubic choice will almost always result in a loss of sharpness -- that's why you see so many tutorials advise to sharpen after a resize.

It would be best to have the two settings the same as the conversion from one to the other is bound to result in a loss of detail and/or sharpness to the image.

I hope this answers your questions.

Margaret