Re: Highest Resolution RGB Drum Scanner
Re: Highest Resolution RGB Drum Scanner
- Subject: Re: Highest Resolution RGB Drum Scanner
- From: Don Hutcheson <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 11:16:52 -0400
Dan,
You don't need any higher resolution for billboards than normal print
applications because required resolution is a function of viewing angle, not
picture size. Even a double-page spread (64MB) is generally a waste for
billboards because we tend to see less detail in a billboard than a printed
magazine. This is partly because magazines don't fly by at highway speed and
partly because we can hold a magazine closer than a billboard. In other
words a billboard typically fills a smaller angle of view than a double page
spread, hence the eye demands less information.
Another way to look at it is that a 35mm transparency - even Kodachrome(TM)
- contains only enough detail to justify scanning at about 3000 to 4000 ppi,
regardless of final output size. Any more simply starts replicating pixels
optically, much the same as if the file were digitally enlarged later in the
process, for example in Photoshop with the bicubic setting. If you scan a
35mm at 4000 ppi you get roughly a 75MB 24 bit RGB file (depending on
cropping.) Scanned at 3000 ppi you get the same visible resolution but the
file size drops to about 40MB - quite a savings in disk space and processing
speed.
If you're looking for an excellent drum scanner try the recently improved
ICG 360 series. They have finally modified the software (in beta now,
shipping soon) to deliver true 4.00 density range and the resolution is
awesome. Beats even the venerable Hell 3000 series, which is also a great
scanner, but now discontinued.
Of course, you could buy the new $1,600 Nikon CoolScan 4000 and get equal or
better resolution, fabulous shadow detail, faster scans, no need to remove
mounts, optional 48 bit RGB export plus the magic of automatic scratch
removal (digital ICE really works) AND ICC profile support, but who wants to
save all that money?
Regards,
Don
*************************************
Don Hutcheson
Hutcheson Consulting
(Color Management Solutions)
Phone: (908) 689 7403
email@hidden
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