Selecting A Flatbed Scanner

Resolution vs. Resolution

Pixel capture resolution is another specification that some manufacturers do a poor job of communicating accurately. (Resolution here is not to be confused with the resolving power or quality of the scanner's optical system.)

Pixel resolution represents the number of pixels per inch (or centimeter) that can be physically sampled from an original, and is usually called 'optical' resolution. It is directly tied to the number of CCD elements resident in the scanner. Being one of those specs that directly affects image capture quality, it is particularly important for some line art workflows, as well as for extreme enlargements of small-format transparencies.