Scan and Print question

[mindlessdocumentation]

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Hi again,

 

I'm curious how big the "scan and print" folks are printing their images and still retaining acceptable (I realize this is very subjective, so just go with your own sense of what is a good-looking print) quality. Let's assume you're using high-quality scanners and printers.

 

Thanks for any input.

[ndjambrose]

It's generally accepted that a scanned print will enlarge beyond the sizes formerly considered achieveable with optical printing because the process of digitisation allows for additional interpolation and sharpening at larger sizes.

 

With an optical print you're subject to the limits of diffraction which make edges soften as the print enlarges, not to mention hard limits enforced by the height of your enlarger and size of the lens. But with a digital process the scan can be sampled at high resolution and then interpolated further, and still be sharpened as needed for output at a given size. This extends its range somewhat.

 

In the darkroom I seldom made prints larger than 16 inches from a 35mm negative. But I can print the same negative comfortably at 24 inches without any interpolation after scanning at 4000 dpi. If I interpolate it further and resharpen, it still looks good up to 36 inches. That's as large as I've ever needed, but other people may make bigger prints still.

[andybarton]

I have several 30 x 20 inch prints from my 4000 dpi scans from both colour and black and white negatives and slides.

[mindlessdocumentation]

Thanks for the input!

[Vieri]

I have several 30 x 20 inch prints from my 4000 dpi scans from both colour and black and white negatives and slides.

 

Same here - negatives only though so far. I just printed 30 x 20 images (from scanned film, the "old" D2x & the M8) and the film ones look great - as in better, of course my own, personal, subjective, "better" - on the side of the others.