CHAPTER 6 GETTING YOUR PIX ONSCREEN 79Scanning for Laser and Offset Printing
If your goal is to print on a halftone device, such as a laser printer or an offset print-
ing press, you will need to determine pixels per inch in a different way. For a laser
printer, use 2×the manufacturer’s published “screen lines per inch.” To find this
number, you will need to read the printer manual or find out from lab personnel. It
is likely to be between 90 and 133, so your printed image will need between 180 and
266 pixels per inch.
If your image will be printed on coated paper (magazine-type paper) by an offset
printer, use 2×the press’s stated screen lines per inch (see Figure 6.6). Ask the printer
or service bureau how many screen lines per inch they will print. It is likely to be
120 to 144 lines per inch, so your printed image will need 300 or 333 pixels per
inch. Uncoated paper is printed with fewer screen lines per inch, usually 70–100.FIGURE 6.6
Laser printers
output images
similar to an
offset press. On
the left, an
enlargement
from a maga-
zine; on the
right, an
enlargement
from a color
laser printer.
Alternatives to Scanning
The Kodak Photo CD and Kodak Picture CD are good alternatives to scanning.
Kodak will digitize your negatives and transparencies, put them on a CD, and return
the CD to you for a reasonable fee. With Kodak plug-in software, you can open these
images directly from the CD. A number of higher-end developers also create their
own CDs for you with a faster turnaround time.