Scanners,

Scanning Technology
and
File Size Management Tips
By Sematimba Joseph

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 256 Grays MAX!
• Human eye can see only 256
levels of gray

• 256 levels of gray require

– 75 Lpi screen x 16 = 1200 dpi
Image setter
– 150 Lpi screen x 16 = 2400dpi
Left: Halftone dots. Right: How the
human eye would see this sort of
arrangement from a sufficient
distance.
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Banding
• Occurs when:
– More than 256 levels of grey are
created on a machine with little
An illustration of Greyscale banding.
memory.

• How do we solve the problem:

– Limit oneself to 256 levels of grey.
– Use prog’s that have pre-programmed
gradient fills.
An illustration of colour banding.

Colour banding is a problem of inaccurate colour presentation in computer graphics

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Pictures! in computers

• Pictures are got into the computer through

scanning, cds, digital cameras,
phones,downloads etc.

• Picture info is then converted into a series of

dots (pixels) a computer can interpret.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Scanner Technology
• Reflective
– CCD (Charged Coupled Device) or CIS (Contact image
Sensor)
most economical.
– Photomultiplier –electro+ (very proprietary)
• Electro magnetic conversion of information (dots to vectors)
• Direct Light (no reflection)
– Slides
– Transperencies

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Reflective Technology

Original image

Reflected light is used

Digital Data

Light source

CCD /
Photomultiplier Grid

(Made up of grids interprets & reflects

And determine resolution)

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
Reflective Device

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Reflective Devices
• Rules of the CCD
– Use only excited cells
– Less than 50% of a cell
will not be used

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Types of Scanners
• There are four major types of scanners;
– Slide / Film scanners
– Hand held / half-page scanners
– Flatbed / Desktop Scanners
– Drum / Rotary Scanners

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
1. Slide / Film Scanners

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 1. Slide / Film Scanners
• Are small desktop scanners used to scan 35mm films
and slides.

• Most of them include an APS (Advanced Photo

System) film adapter for use with APS film format.

• Characteristics:
– High quality scans (b’se of the nature of slides)
– 5000 – 6000 dpi resolution range
– Can be very expensive

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
2. Hand held Scanners

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
2. Hand held scanners / halfpage-
scanners
• Small devices that you slide across an image
by hand
– They are the least expensive of scanners
– They can scan 2”-5” at a time
– They are used for small photos
– Use CCD reflective technology
– About 75-100 Lpi
– About 300 dpi

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
3. Flatbed /Desktop Scanners

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 3. Flatbed/Desktop Scanners
• Range from inexpensive consumer to
professional expensive high quality scanners
(not as high as Drum scanners)
– Characterised by glass bed on which to place
images
– Scan area of 8-1/2” to 13”x18”.
– Either the scan head is stationery and bed moves
or vice versa

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
3. Flatbed/Desktop Scanners
contd.
– Either Single pass or Three pass scanner
» Single pass – captures RGB colours by moving over image
Once (are much faster)
» Three pass captures each colour through three moves (are
more accurate)
– Can scan originals of varying thickness (some even 3D objects)
– Some have templates to hold Transparencies / Sides
– Usually head moves in one direction (but with the new XY Scanner
technology, head moves Vertically and Horizontally to ensure high
resolution and much higher enlargement % than traditional
flatbed)
– Most use reflective CCD technology
– Can scan RGB & process colours

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 3. Flatbed/Desktop Scanners
contd.
• 5000dpi is usually the Highest resolution (without interpolation)
• 11,000dpi with interpolation

INTERPOLATION
Interpolation is the technique used to mathematically increase
apparent resolution of an image.

Interpolation results in high resolution but colour purity may be

compromised (often visible through magnification)

Eg. Optical resolution of 600x1200dpi may have an interpolated

resolution of 96,000dpi

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
Inside a flat bed scanner

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
4. Drum / Rotary Scanner

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
4. Drum / Rotary Scanner

Photo Multiplier tube (PMT)

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 4. Drum /Rotary Scanner
• Scan images mounted on a rotating drum
which spins in front of a stationary reading
head
• Characteristics;
– Can be horizontal or vertical (space economy)
– Higher quality and very expensive ($25,000 <)
– Some do up to 12,000dpi without interpolation
– Require trained professionals for best results
– Scan area of up to 20” x 24” and larger
– Can scan large items or a series of small items
– Most use photomultiplier data technology
– Effective for process colours

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 4. Drum /Rotary Scanner
• Disadvantage:
– Original image MUST be thin and flexible
enough to be wrapped around the drum.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 5. 3D Scanners
• A 3-D scanner is an imaging device that collects
distance point measurements from a real-world object
and translates them into a virtual 3-D object.

• 3-D scanners are used for creating life-like images and

animation in movies and video games.

• Other applications of 3-D scanning include reverse

engineering, prototyping, architectural and industrial
modeling, medical imaging and medical device
modeling.

• 3-D printers can use data from 3-D scans to create

physical objects.
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 5. 3D Scanners
• Types include;
– Laser based 3D Scanners
– Non-Laser Based 3D Scanners
– Contact based 3d Scanners
– Optical-based 3D scanners
– Commercial Desktop Hand-held 3D scanners

…….Read about them

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Resolution
• This describes the detail an image holds (this also
applies to digital and film)

• In print, the size/number of dots that make up tonal

values of an image.
• In scanning, Optical Resolution (OR) refers to the
amount of detail captured by the scanner.
• OR is expressed by two(2) numbers (like 600 x
1200dpi)
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Resolution contd.
Number of pixel per inch the scanner
can capture in the horizontal direction

Pixel/dots per inch

600 x 1200dpi

Quantity of steps passed over as the

scanner head moves in a vertical direction

Actual image resolution is only the number of pixel per inch not the number
of steps taken
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Resolution contd.
• Usually ones scanning resolution should be twice the
Line Screen (Lines per inch/Lpi) that you plan to use
for printing. (unless you plan on reducing/enlarging
the image)

Formula 1:
Scanning Resolution = 2 x Screen Frequency (lpi)

Lines per inch (LPI) is a measurement of printing resolution in systems that use a
halftone screen. Specifically, it is a measure of how close together the lines in a
halftone grid are. Higher LPI indicates greater detail and sharpness.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Resolution contd.
• If you are going to enlarge the image, scan it at a
higher resolution using the following formula

Formula 2:

Largest file sized Final Image

Scanning Resolution = x 2 x Screen Frequency (lpi)
Largest file sized Original Image

After scanning with proper resolution go to “Image size” dialogue box and enlarge
your image, with “Resample” check box deselected.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Resolution contd.
• Exception to the rule:
– For Black and White scans (esp Line Art), scan at
high resolution for clear reproductions.

– 1200dpi is usually the standard

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Resizing Scans in “APS”
• Final size ÷original size = Y
(Y x Lpi) = 2 x 2 = dpi

• 7” wide reduced to 3” wide @ 90 lines would

be 77 dpi

• e.g. 3” ÷ 7” = .43
(.43 x 90) = 38.7 x 2 = 77.44

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
Can also resize scans inside applications using the same formula based
on width because of CCD arrangement.

NB: for better results its advisable to execute everything at scanning level

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Input resolution- Lpi scanning
If you do not know which Line Screen or paper will be used
ask your printer.

Usually:
• 0 – 85 lpi = Newsprint (eg. Newspapers
• 100 – 120 lpi = Uncoated paper ( ordinary Docs)
• Over 133 / 150 lpi= Coated paper (eg. magazines)

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Which Resolution?
• LOW
– Newsprint / letter
– Place holders / FPO (Fall Positions Online)
– Screen presentations

• HIGH
– Colour publications
– Slides

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Graphic © rules -electronic
• Creator OWNS all rights (if © symbol is included with your
name).

• User purchases USE rights.

• Data MODIFIED beyond RECOGNITION is OWNED by

the modifier.

NB: Avoid image re-use because might be sued

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Other ways to get photos into PCs

• CD graphics
– Kodak photo CDs
– Clip art CDs

• Digital Cameras
– Standalone
– Attached to other devices i.e. phones etc.

• Wireless connectivity
– Bluetooth
– Infrared.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Image Formats
• RAW
• PSD
• JPEG
• Giff
• PICT for multimedia
• PNG
• TIFF
• Windows metafile
• Etc.
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Scanning process
• Clean scanner
• Connect scanner
• Place image
• Set resolution
• Set image output type
• Set percentage
• Preview
• Scan
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 Exercise:
• Chose an image /object/material of your
choice that can make an interesting
background in design.
• Scan it at 300dpi, in full colour at an aspet
ratio of 20cm x 30cm.
• Save it as a JPG High Quality.

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022
 End and Bye! Bye!
See you in our next session

Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University ©2022