Which Epson V600 scan format is best for maximum editing flexibility in Lightroom?
Asked 8/1/2019
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I’m scanning with an Epson V600 and the Epson software offers several output formats. For the most editing latitude in Lightroom, which format should I choose? I want the best balance of image quality and post-processing flexibility rather than the smallest file size.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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The only two viable options in the list are JPEG and TIFF.
JPEG is fine for lossy compression, 8-bit/channel color, and smaller file sizes. I would use JPEG for paper originals that will not be heavily edited.
TIFF supports 16-bit/channel images with lossless compression that can hold up better against extensive editing, but files tend to be very large. I would use TIFF for film originals.
PNG is not in your list, but most scanner software do support it. Like TIFF, they support high bit-depth color and lossless compression. Files are usually a bit smaller than TIFF, but also take longer to process.
The following formats should be avoided:
BMP and PCT – Platform specific formats that are usually not compressed. While they might work fine with Lightroom, you're just asking for problems later by using them.
PDF – Document format that is capable of storing images, but not suitable for editing.
Multi-TIFF – Like PDF, this format is intended for storing scanned multi-page documents. Image editors usually don't work well with multi-page documents.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For maximum editing flexibility in Lightroom, use TIFF.
TIFF is the best choice because it can store higher bit-depth images and uses lossless compression, so it holds up much better to heavy editing. The tradeoff is much larger file sizes.
JPEG is the practical alternative if you want smaller files and don’t expect to do extensive edits. It’s lossy and typically 8-bit per channel, so it gives you less headroom for adjustments.
Based on the community answers, the only really viable choices from the Epson list are JPEG and TIFF. If you’re scanning film originals or want the most latitude for later editing, choose TIFF. If you’re scanning paper prints and just need smaller, easier files, JPEG is usually fine.
Avoid BMP and PCT. They’re older/platform-specific formats, usually uncompressed, and offer no real advantage for a Lightroom workflow.
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