Right size for scanned photo

[jkarar]

Hello...can someone please tell me if this is optimal?
I am making a classic book and it will probably be close to 100 pages with 1-6 photos to a page. All the photos will be scanned and some are black and white from the 50's.
Right now I have a sample image that is 300 dpi, 3740 x 2550 pixels, 12.467" x 8.5" and it's 3.74 mb. I scanned it at 800dpi and brought it down in size in Photoshop.
Before I spend hours sizing all the other photos, can someone please tell me if this will work and if not what do I need to do? I have read so many different things on the forum and I'm just a little confused about what's optimal. I think I have the dpi right, but not sure about the pixels.
Thank you in advance for your help. I appreciate it.

[Domcuddy73]

Another scanning question...at what image style should I save the scanned photos? Im saving at 300ppi. Is that adequate?

[mypublisher]

Hello All,

To ensure that your images are printed to our highest standards, it's crucial that they conform to the following specifications:

--- FILE FORMAT ---------------------------------

Your images must be saved as JPEG files (file ends in .jpg or .jpeg)

--- IMAGE SIZE ---------------------------------

Image size requirements (in pixels) ultimately depend on the desired printed size.

The software will warn you if you have used a photo that has insufficient resolution for the size you have chosen. These images will be outlined in red as opposed to blue. Reduce the size of any red outlined images (by using the Zoom Out button) until the outline turns from red to blue; otherwise, images will not print clearly and may appear pixelated.

If, on the other hand, your images slightly exceed the specs, or are used in a smaller size in the book (in a four per page layout for example), your software will downsize them accordingly – no adjustments are necessary.

The following image sizes (in pixels) represent the minimum dimensions for the largest images (one photo per page) in each of our products:

- Paperback PocketBooks: 1500x1150 pixels
- Classic Hardcover Books: 2150x1700 pixels
- Deluxe Hardcover Books: 2850x2225 pixels

The maximum dimensions are:

- Paperback PocketBooks: 2250 x1725 pixels
- Classic Hardcover Books: 3225x2550 pixels
- Deluxe Hardcover Books: 4275x3338 pixels

--- RESIZING ---------------------------------

If you have a lot of large images that exceed the maximum specs listed above, you may want to consider resizing them with a third party image editor prior to bringing them into your software.

While your software is capable of sizing the images accordingly when the book is purchased, resizing them first using a dedicated image editor will give rise to better performance while making the book, as well as faster uploads.

--- USING THIRD PARTY IMAGE EDITING SOFTWARE ---------------------

If you are using photo editing software to create or edit your images, please keep these points in mind:

~ Use sRGB or RGB when enhancing photos – no CMYK.
~ Use sRGB or RGB for black and white photos – no Grayscale.
~ Remove any vectors, slices or layers from your images.

IMPORTANT: Please allow a 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch 'gutter' around all sides of these images to allow for cropping. Without this allowance, any text or image elements near the edges of the image will be cut off when the book is printed.

--- ASPECT RATIO ---------------------------------

If you want to use square images in your book, we recommend that you use a third party image editor to create a rectangular document that maintains a 4:3 aspect ratio, using at least the minimum specs listed above.

You can then place the square image into this rectangular document, allowing a border or background to occupy the remaining space in the rectangle.

Inserting this rectangular image with the 4:3 aspect ratio into the templates in your softwarewill ensure that images with differing aspect ratios are printed without distortion or cropping. This also holds true for any image whose aspect ratio differs from that of the book – ie, panoramic or widescreen images.

--- VIEWING IMAGE DETAILS -----------------------------

To verify specific information about your images, you'll need to take the following steps. Please note that you cannot do this from within your software– this information can only be acquired from the original image file.

PC Users

~ Right click on the image
~ Left click 'Properties' from the menu that follows
~ Left click on the Summary tab
~ Left click on Advanced

Mac Users

~ Right (or ctrl) click on the image
~ Left click 'Get Info' from the menu that follows
~ Left click on the 'More Info' arrow

From here, you can view an image's pixel dimensions.

If you need anything else just let us know.

Kindest Regards,

MyPublisher
Customer Care