Going to appologize first because these images are not small. These are scans of 35mm images, and I really would like opinions here, I will explain as I go OK? This first image was shot with Kodak High Definition 400 ASA and was scanned to disk by a local camera shop. All in all I think he did he a good job scanning.

OK now I am resizing this first image to post in the gallery, I think I have lost some clarity? Is this normal behavior when making it smaller? Is this image less clear then the first?

Actually that first image is only 75% of the original size! The pictures themselves came out crystal clear! OK on to the second image, this is where I get a little frustrated, this image (and about 36 others) where shot using Fujichrome (slide film) and scanned to disk at the local Wal Mart. I am going to post the original image before I post worked it so you can see exactly how the scan came out. Here we go...

Oh I forgot to mention that this Fujichrome is 100 ASA and here is the post worked version using texture preserving smooth, still lacking clarity I think, you tell me...

OK, all of these images were taken with my Canon AE1 and the pictures and slides are crystal clear, so my focusing is not the issue, maybe they should be scanned in at a higher resolution? The second image actually looks better posted in here resized to 75% then it does full size in PSP. I have about four rolls that are being developed right now, so I need to know, at what resolution should these slides be scanned? And at what resolution should the pictures be scanned? Both of these images are 72dpi, I guess that is the norm? Please advise!

Resolution (dpi) depends on what you are using them for. 72 dpi is good for the web. For printing around 240-300 dpi is usually sufficient. Did you USM them to see if that helps with the sharpness? All of these appear too soft, and that is one of the downfalls of digitizing an image. Even images from digital cameras should be sharpened up slightly. It's the nature of the beast. I usually scan on a film scanner, with a resolution of (again depending on what final output will be) 1000 - 4000 dpi. 1000 being a low res, which I'll use for web, 4000 being the highest, which are destined to be prints. Later on I use Genuine Fractals to sample down the dpi to the final output needed. This looks like it could become a very useful thread. At the moment I'm about ready to leave for the day out. Will look forward to what others have to say.

i think michelle's covered all of it. scan at the highest resolution you're capable of now and then sample down for whatever output you need. from the few sites i've visited recently, posters are done at 150-200 dpi and all print work at 300dpi. i've read a few good reports of genuine fractals so it may be worth a look as well.

Maybe you know the best way to sharpen these monster images in a smaller size so that they can be posted in the gallery without much scroll? I only burn these images to cd to share with you all, and I sure hate having a fuzzy image in my gallery, cause most won't understand that the reason it is fuzzy is because of the resizing issue. What settings should I be using in unsharp mask? Any suggestions? Brenda :)

Using the UnSharpMask filter is always the last step in your workflow. After all postwork has been done (whatever that may be) resize your image to the desirable gallery size, and then use the unsharpmask filter.... this is available in all photo editing programs..... Good settings to start with would be a radius of between 1-3... I use a threshold between 0-3 (personal preference) and threshold you slide around until you like the results... often you do not want this to go higher than 150. A thing to keep in mind is that if you over sharpen, you will introduce lots of noise into the image, or give yourself an ickly halo around the objects in the image...or both. None of which is desirable... the idea is to be subtle.

As I agree with Michelle as well. Overdoing your unsharp mask can degrade the image quality. BEcause I'm a member of NAPP, I have access to many wonderful techniques for various issues. Here is one that you can try to see if it gives you the desired result. Step one: Open the image you want to sharpen. Chose Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask. Enter your favorite settings in the Unsharp Mask dialog (example: Amount 143%;Radius: 1.6; Threshold:1) and click ok. Step Two: Select Edit>Fade Unsharp Mask. Select Luminosity from the Blend Mode pop-up menu in the Fade Unshard Mask dialog box and click ok. Step Three: Select Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and apply a slight blur to your image. (Example: Radius: 1.5), click ok. Step Four: Choose Edit>Fade Gaussian Blur. Select Color from the Blend Mode pop-up in the Fade Gaussian Blur dialog box and click OK to complete the effect. Wahlah! Oh, This is of course using Adobe Photoshop. Hope this helps!

Hi ... just tried to do that trick myself. Works quite fine so thank you very much from my side :-)) Still trying to figure out what really happens here gg. A question to step 2 und 4: at what strenght do you use them? Greetinx, Tom :)

Hi Tom, I'm glad it seems to be working well for you. As for steps 2 and 4, you don't mess with the strength, you just make sure that you Luminosity from the blend mode on step 2 and select color for the blend mode on step four. Does that make any sense? If it doesn't I will send an image that shows what I mean.:)) Thanks Mel

Hi Mel,
blend modes are fine with me. If i can leave strength at 100% thats fine too. One thing less to worry about g. I did understand .. let's say 50% of what's really going on with that ... and i hope to get ... hmm .. another 30%, let the rest be PS-magic, i'm satisfied with understanding 80%. If i can't reach that, i'll ask you, ok? Thanks again!! :) Have a great day! Tom