Scanning Line Art

Using Line Art or B/W Scanning Mode

Last 2 examples show how improper resolution or size can accentuate jagged edges of 1-bit images

• Scan at the same resolution as the output device
  . Will you print the image on a 600 dpi laser printer? Scan at 600 spi resolution.

• Resize while scanning.
  Will you print the image at a larger or smaller size than the original? Use the scaling options in your scanning software to resize while scanning. Don't resize in your page layout or graphics program. You can resize by percentage or by inputting a specific physical size. Use inches to specify printed sizes. Use pixels to specify screen display sizes.

• Rotate on the scan bed
  Some images, especially 1-bit images, lose definition and don't look as good when rotated in a page layout or graphics program. If you know that you will use the image at an angle, place it at the desired angle in the scanner before scanning.

The above illustration simulates (left to right):

1. sketch scanned in line art mode at same resolution and size as final output device
2. sketch scanned in line art mode at lower resolution than final output device
3. sketch scanned in line art mode at actual size then resized after scanning

See How to Scan Black and White Line Art for step-by-step instructions on scanning in line art mode.

• Three Modes of Scanning Line Art
• Using Line Art or B/W Scanning Mode
• Using Grayscale Mode to Scan B/W Line Art
• Using Halftone Screening for Special Scanning Effects