Hello

I know, I have a lot of questions. But I just think to buy a new scanner. Does anybody know how many DPI you need to get really perfect images from the covers, also when the writting is in very thin or small letters. I like to perfect many discs and also contribute very good scans in the future. I see there are scanners from 1200 x 1200 DPI up to about 6400 x 9600 DPI and 48 or 96 Bit deepness. Who has the experience what is best so the covers can be read without difficulties on the PC or also iPad where they are shown bigger.

And another question, what size do you find we should contribute the images. I took until now 580 pixel wide and find this is ok on the iPad also. I often see much smaller images, bad they don't look so good then on the iPad. What is the preferable or best size to be fine on every device?

Thanks,

Fritz

I know i been using 300DPI

Quoting KinoNiki:

Quote:
How you contribute them doesn't really matter since they are automatically converted to 500x700 for the online.

That's not entirely true. They are only converted again, if you exceed any of these limits: 700px for height, 500px for width and 200,000 bytes (195 kb).

If you stay below these values, there is no resizing again, which also means there's not another reduction in quality (JPEG compression).

I scan with a Canon LiDE 20 at 600dpi. Then I crop the scan, clean the picture from any remaining artefacts, darken it a bit (my scanner usually scans too bright) and then resize it to 500*700. Of course I keep the aspect ratio, so I usually end up with 490*700 for a standard keep case cover.

I'm doing my scans on a Brother All-In-One
@ 600dpi 24Bit
all enhancements: Off
File-Format: BMP
Retouching and recropping with: Paint.Net

Conversion to JPG after being finished.

When I used to scan covers...before I upgraded to Vista and my Epson Photosmart 2600 Flatbed scanner no longer works , I scanned at 600dpi. Using Adobe Photoshop CS2 I'd crop, sharpen, and adjust colors if necessary. I'd save the image for my own use in DVD Profiler then resize to 500x700 +/- for contribution. I like my personal scans to be larger because I view DVD Profiler on my 42" Plasma and I also use phpDVDProfiler and have my collection online.

I personnaly have no problem with the resolution as it is now. My screen has a resolution in height similar to the Ipad (1050), and the little stretching doesn't bother me much.

Another problem I see is the amount of cover contributions that will be needed to upgrade. And in a few years some will ask for another increase of the resolution and we will have the same situation again.

For the scanner question: I'm happy with my Kodak AIO.

Hi,

My way with the Moiré problem and general cover scanning:

I use a Canon 8800F and Photoshop Elements 5. Works very well for me.

Hint 1: Don't let the scanner-software try to be clever! Disable all image enhancements. Calibrate your monitor.

These are my usual steps for cover scans:
- scan at 600 dpi with a slightly rotated cover on the scanner.
- adjust rotation and crop the image.
- for Moiré check: scale down to 500x700, take a look at 100%. If there are any, scan at 1200 dpi
- clean the original size image
- adjust saturation and levels (almost never color correction, the canon mostly get's it right)
- scale down to 500x700
- (optional) again adjust levels
- slightly sharpen the image (about 30%)
- (optional and very slightly) edge enhancement
- copy to Profiler to get the right filename for the DVD (sort by date)
- save at different jpeg settings to get near to the 200k limit. Check with windows explorer.

Hint 2: !Never, I repeat - never - let Profiler save the cover. The results are far from satisfying.

It's fun, isn't it. 

Dieter

I'm using my Canon MP810 for my scans. What I usually do is :
- scan at 600DPI in Jpeg for an image that is about 1.500 pix in height
- recalibrate whites with Photoshop (so white becomes in-white. Makes white text on back covers much clearer and defined)
- recalibrate blacks (so that black is inky black)
- remove dust speckles
- add more saturation for that extra visual pop
- slightly reduce brightness
- Downsize to 1.000 pix in height
- add cover to DVDP, lock locally at that size
- submit to online which automatically downscales to 500 pix