Resolution Requirements for Master Files of Musical Scores | Jenn Riley

Resolution Requirements for Master Files of Musical Scores

Riley, Jenn and Ichiro Fujinaga. “Recommended Best Practices for Digital Image Capture of Musical Scores.” OCLC Systems & Services 19, no. 2 (June 2003): 62-69.

Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 | Example 4 | Example 5

Small detail from an average-sized score, enlarged to the same size for comparison
600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Small detail from an average-sized score, actual pixels
600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Extremely small detail from a miniature score, actual pixels
1600 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 1200 dpi scan	1200 dpi Offers a small improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan, perhaps an 800 dpi scan would be sufficient
600 dpi Almost adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Extremely small detail from a miniature score, enlarged to the same size for comparison
1600 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 1200 dpi scan	1200 dpi Offers a small improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan, perhaps an 800 dpi scan would be sufficient
600 dpi Almost adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Small detail from a miniature score, actual pixels
1200 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan	600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Small detail from a miniature score, enlarged to the same size for comparison
1200 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan	600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Small detail from a miniature score, actual pixels
1200 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan	600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Small detail from a miniature score, enlarged to the same size for comparison
1200 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 600 dpi scan	600 dpi Adequate detail reproduction	300 dpi Inadequate detail reproduction

Detail from standard-sized score, actual pixels (click here for 1200 dpi scan)
600 dpi Does not offer significant improvement in detail reproduction over 300 dpi scan	300 dpi Adequate detail reproduction

Back to Supporting Materials list