The most common question we hear is ... "What rate do I have to scan my negatives at to get a specific size file or print?" We have to admit that it can be a confusing topic even for professional photographers. The size of the resulting file is always of utmost concern to those who must know if their scan will be of sufficient size to produce a quality print for publication. The converse is equally important. You do not need to produce huge files if your intended purpose is for use on a web site or as an email attachment. That merely creates unnecessarily long download times, and in some cases may not reach that email recipient, due to mailbox size limitations. If the intended use of the file is currently unknown or varied, it is always best to scan at a higher rate initially. Then, if you need a smaller file, it is an easy process to downsize in Photoshop or other image editing programs.
So, to help clear up some of the confusion, we have provided some basic file size charts. We do not provide a chart for every film format, but we do for the main ones. Refer to these charts when attempting to determine your file size needs. For additional information, please check out the handy megapixel chart, as well as the scanning and printing resolution calculator on our links page here.
35mm Slide Scans
Scan Resolution
|
Approximate Pixels
|
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi
|
Approximate TIFF File Size
|
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD |
Per DVD |
|
|
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
2000ppi
|
2891 x 1973 |
9.6 x 6.5 inches |
16.3 MB |
32.6 MB |
42 |
21 |
275 |
137 |
3000ppi |
4336 x 2959 |
14.4 x 9.8 inches |
36.7 MB
|
73.4 MB |
18 |
9 |
122 |
61 |
4000ppi |
5782 x 3946 |
19.2 x 13.1 inches |
65.3 MB
|
131 MB |
10 |
5 |
68 |
34 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
35mm Negative Scans
Scan Resolution |
Approximate Pixels
|
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi
|
Approximate TIFF File Size |
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs) |
Per CD
|
Per DVD
|
|
|
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
2000ppi |
2979 x 1973
|
9.9 x 6.5 inches |
16.8 MB
|
33.6 MB
|
41 |
20 |
267 |
133 |
3000ppi |
4469 x 2959
|
14.9 x 9.8 inches |
37.8 MB |
75.6 MB |
18 |
9 |
118 |
59 |
4000ppi |
5959 x 3946 |
19.9 x 13.1 inches |
67.3 MB |
134.6 MB
|
10 |
5 |
66 |
33 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
120/220 (6x6cm) Negative Scans
Scan Resolution |
Approximate Pixels |
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi
|
Approximate TIFF File Size
|
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD |
Per DVD
|
|
|
|
8 bit |
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
1000ppi |
2240 x 2240 |
7.4 x 7.4 |
14.4 MB |
28.8 MB |
48 |
24 |
311 |
155 |
2000ppi |
4480 x 4480 |
14.9 x 14.9 |
57.4 MB
|
114.8 MB |
12 |
6 |
78 |
39 |
3000ppi |
6721x 6721 |
22.4 x 22.4 |
130 MB
|
259 MB |
5 |
2 |
34 |
17 |
4000ppi |
8961 x 8961 |
29.8 x 29.8
|
230 MB
|
460 MB |
3 |
1 |
19 |
9 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
120/220 (6x7cm) Negative Scans
Scan Resolution |
Approximate Pixels |
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi |
Approximate TIFF File Size |
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD
|
Per DVD
|
|
|
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
1000ppi |
2240 x 2756 |
7.4 x 9.1 inches |
17.7 MB
|
35.4 MB |
39 |
19 |
253 |
126 |
2000ppi |
4480 x 5512
|
14.9 x 18.3 inches
|
70.6 MB |
141.2 MB |
9 |
4 |
63 |
31 |
3000ppi |
6721 x 8268
|
22.4 x 27.5 inches
|
159 MB
|
318 MB
|
4 |
2 |
28 |
14 |
4000ppi |
8961 x 11016
|
29.8 x 36.7 inches
|
283 MB
|
566 MB
|
2 |
1 |
15 |
7 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
120/220 (6x9cm) Negative Scans
Scan Resolution
|
Approximate Pixels
|
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi |
Approximate TIFF File Size
|
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD |
Per DVD
|
|
|
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
1000ppi |
2240 x 3295 |
7.4 x 10.9 inches |
21.1 MB
|
42.2 MB |
32 |
16 |
212 |
106 |
2000ppi |
4480 x 6591 |
14.9 x 21.9 inches |
84.5 MB
|
169 MB |
8 |
4 |
53 |
26 |
3000ppi |
6721 x 9886 |
22.4 x 32.9 inches |
190 MB
|
380 MB |
3 |
1 |
23 |
11 |
4000ppi |
8961 x 13176 |
29.8 x 43.9 inches |
338 MB
|
676 MB |
2 |
1 |
13 |
6 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
4x5 Large Format Scans
Scan Resolution
|
Approximate Pixels |
Approximate Print Size @ 300ppi
|
Approximate TIFF File Size
|
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD |
Per DVD
|
|
|
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
8 bit
|
16 bit
|
500ppi |
2000 x 2500 |
6.6 x 8.3 inches |
14.3 MB |
28.6 MB |
48 |
24 |
313 |
156 |
1000ppi |
4000 x 5000 |
13.3 x 16.6 inches
|
57.2 MB
|
114.4 MB |
12 |
6 |
78 |
39 |
2000ppi |
8000 x 10000 |
26.6 x 33.3 inches |
229 MB
|
458 MB
|
3 |
1 |
19 |
9 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.
Print Scans
Print Size
|
Scan Resolution
|
Approximate Pixels |
Approximate TIFF File Size |
Approximate # of Files (TIFFs)
|
Per CD |
Per DVD
|
4 x 6 inches |
300ppi |
1200 x 1800 |
6.2 MB |
112 |
724 |
4 x 6 inches |
600ppi |
2400 x 3600 |
24.7 MB |
28 |
181 |
5 x 7 inches |
300ppi |
1500 x 2100 |
9.0 MB
|
77 |
500 |
5 x 7 inches |
600ppi |
3000 x 4200 |
36.0 MB
|
19 |
125 |
8 x 10 inches |
300ppi |
2400 x 3000 |
20.6 MB
|
33 |
217 |
8 x 10 inches
|
600ppi |
4800 x 6000 |
82.4 MB
|
8 |
54 |
Note: Numbers are approximate. Actual results may vary.