Selecting A Flatbed Scanner

Dynamic Range vs. Maximum Density

Dynamic range (also called density range) translates into the ability of a scanner to capture detail in the deep shadows of an original. This is not such a big concern if all you're scanning are photo prints for pleasing color, but it's critical for transparencies and high-quality printing. It is therefore an important specification; there is an enormous difference between a dynamic range of 3.0, for instance, and one of 3.8. Like most important quality-related specifications, it is the result of many contributing factors, such as CCD sensitivity, bit depth, level of unwanted system noise and the quality and resolving power of the scanner's entire optical system.