I'm guessing this isn't going on a commercial press, but this is what I consider.

1. Scan for approximately 300dpi when it's being reproduced at 100%. It allows you to enlarge a photo to about 120% without having to worry about pixelation occurring.

2. What's the software you're manipulating the photos within? If you're doing image editing in Photoshop, scan in colour to achieve the best colour depth, then use the Channel Mixer to control the grey values. (Mode > Adjustment > Channel mixer (click on Monochomatic)

3. Change the colour mode to grey scale and import into your favourite page layout software.

Please give me a hand if you are a scanning hound. I am running OS 8.6 on an iMac and using a Umax Astra 1220U scanner with the Vista Scan software that came with it. My problem is that for the first time I'm scanning black & white photos and having trouble getting things to look as good as I would like.

I would appreciate any tips including at what level of dpi should I scan, black & white photo vs. black & white 16bit, etc. As you have guessed somewhat of a rush...putting Christmas presents together. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I'll second Coyote's advice. If you can provide a little more info I may be able to help. Incidentally, a great book for this kind of stuff is 'The Non Designers Scan and Print Book' by Robin Williams.