What resolution should I select for my scan?
What Resolution Should I Select for My Scan?
Applies To
Description
In Home Mode, you can only change the resolution if Other is selected as the Destination setting. In Professional Mode, you can select the resolution at any time.
Before choosing a resolution, consider whether you'll enlarge the image, and if so, when:
- No enlargement planned (scanning at 100% or smaller): the Resolution setting EPSON Scan selects automatically, based on your original and destination settings, is fine as-is.
- Enlarging while scanning (increasing the Target Size setting): also fine to accept the automatic Resolution setting.
- Scanning at original size, enlarging later in image-editing software: increase the Resolution setting now, by the same proportion you'll enlarge the image later. For example, scanning at 300dpi but planning to enlarge by 200% afterward means setting the Resolution to 600dpi now.
Solution
Click the arrow next to the Resolution list and select the dpi (dots per inch) value for your scan:
| What You'll Do With the Scan | Suggested Resolution |
|---|---|
| Email, upload to the web, view on screen only | 96–150 dpi |
| Print, or convert to editable text (OCR) | 300 dpi |
| Fax | 200 dpi |
| Enlarge after scanning at 100% | Increase resolution by the same proportion you'll enlarge the image afterward |
After selecting the resolution, preview the image and make any final adjustments before scanning.
Note: Enlarging an image beyond its original scanned size always loses some quality — how noticeable this is depends on the original's size and quality. For example, enlarging a passport-sized photo up to A4 will visibly reduce sharpness.
