Scanning Images for Web Use - Tips

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• Always save images for use on the Internet at 72-dpi. The only exceptions to that rule are so few I won't cover them. I don't have many "hard and fast" rules, but this is one of my biggest. Anything more than 72-dpi causes files to be larger than needed and increase download times.
  
  
• Don't resize an image using the size tags in your HTML. Make the file the proper size in your image-editing program. Do your cropping, stretching, shrinking, and other resizing tasks BEFORE you save the file out. The only situations I can see cause to resize an image via HTML tags is in the case of a single pixel GIF or for odd special effects. Don't do it for everyday run-of-the-mill image resizing.
  
  
• Don't use files intended for a Web site for print. Files destined for print need much higher resolution than files to be displayed on screen only, at least by twice the number.
  
  
• Do you have rights to reproduce the image you're scanning? Copyright law is REAL and can carry some very stiff penalties if disregarded. Only use images you have legal rights to use.
  
  
• Don't blur an image to get rid of an annoying moiré pattern. By the time you've eliminated the moiré, you will have eliminated a lot of your image too. Try the above listed tips and keep in mind sometimes an image can't be salvaged. If you absolutely have to use this specific image "No Matter What" then consult your local imaging expert. They may fix something that you can't. After all, there are some reasons why graphic artists and such are occasionally employable.
  
  
• Scan everything at the highest number of colors possible unless the item is grayscale or line-art. Even then, it's often a good idea to reduce the number of colors after you've scanned the image. You can always get rid of information from an image to make it smaller, but it's nearly impossibly to "add back" what was never there.
  
  
• Is the image you scanned sharply defined line based artwork such as a logo? As a general rule photographs and images with smooth, subtle transitions should be saved as JPEGs. Sharply defined line-based art should be GIFs. Every image is different, so experiment. The right file type can make an image, or destroy it.

Getting usable scans onto your Web site isn't hard. Follow these guidelines and spend some time getting to know your equipment. Working together, with proper application of these ideas, we may save millions from the sheer horror of unsightly scanned images on the Web. Okay, maybe that is a little lofty. This probably can help your site look nicer and load a lot faster, and wouldn't that make the world a nicer place?

DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware.

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