File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Can anyone tell me why I keep finding scans with a texture on them like this one? Is it the texture of the paper? Howcome some scans don't have that? Do people clean it up in photoshop or something? if so, then what filters do they use in order to get rid of that texture?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
And here's an example of a scan without that texture to it.
>> Texture = Moire RPG-Pro
     File :-(, x)
The 'texture' is what we in the printing trade call 'moire'. It happens when the frequency of the scan, and/or the angle of the scan do not match the linescreen (measured as lines per inch, or lpi), resolution of the printing process used in the original image.

To get the best scans, one should scan images at a multiple of the line-screen. Most high-quality printing is done at an lpi of at least 150, although you'll find fine lpi levels of 175-200 in a lot of artbooks. Use a loupe (eyeglass, fabric tester, or if you're pushed, a magnifying glass) to count the number of black dots in a quarter-inch length (straight line, be careful not to be measuring across the diagonal of the linescreen) and then multiply that value by four.

If you get something weird like 168, then it's most likely 175 lpi. if it's 207, then the actual value is most likely 200 lpi.

Take THAT number and find a exact multiple in your scanner softeare and use it to scan the image, making sure that it is PERFECTLY straight on the glass.

If your scanner can't manage it, then scan high, and try using a gaussian blur filter on it. It's often quite successful.

(Image not related, but it illustrates why digitally mastered images are always best, and at least it's pretty big, eh?)
>> Anonymous
>>92757

Is lpi by any chance the same as dpi (dots per inch)? My scanner only has the setting for dpi. If not, how would I conver the lpi to the inputable dpi setting for my scanner? What if my DPI setting is purely variable (have to manually input a number) and does not provide preset selections?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>92757
Most screens are circular. (Usually each dot has six equidistant dots around it.) Also, each channel - black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and/or any custom colors used in the print - are at offsets to each other. There's simply no way possible to match these up perfectly with a square-pixel scanner at anything close to the actual resolution; scanning high, descreening, bluring and bit, and sizing down by half gives you the best quality with the least work.

At best, by using the native resolution of the screens, you're performing a similar effect as scanning high and downsizing, since it's averaging the dots and whitespace together. Sometimes it works, something it looks horrible.

The only time your advice would work at all is in black and white, non-patterned screens, which happens to describe most cheap manga. On the other hand, the dpi of those is so low (like 20-60) that it's not worth scanning that low, since you'll lose solid ink strokes.