Using Enhannce Tool to increase saturation of images viewed after iDVD...

Question

Some points to throw out for comment.
Scanning 4x6 prints into iPhoto, then FotoMagico, to iDVD. End result is quality is good to great, with respect to sharpness, but a little washed out. Should I use the Enhance Tool in iPhoto, to restore the richness and sometimes the color balance--does applying that do anything strange to the images as they are encoded/rendered etc later in FotoMagico/iDVD? Recent customer I had expressed that images in their slideshow looked washed out (simply raising the color setting on their TV may well be the solution!)
Also, I'm using a HP Deskjet F340 All-in-One to scan. Up to 1200x2400, 48 bit color, but I scan at 300x300 for 4x6. Adaquate scanner and dpi?
Thanks, Dale

Answer 1

OtherCaveman:
Not sure the size you're referring to for the 4 x 6s. are you referring to 300 dpi. If you're scanning 4x6's at 300 dpi for printing that should do the job quite well.
Enhancing in iPhoto before using in MagicFoto/iDVD shouldn't have any adverse affects. I found that stills show much brighter when played the a TV from an iDVD disk than when viewed on the monitor. Same goes for video clips.
To adjust the severity of the Enhance mode you can try this hidden trick:
How to Change the Size of the Retouch and Red-Eye Removal Tool
Type Caps lockControl9
Undo caps lock
Click on the Retouch or Red-Eye Removal tool
The tab key will toggle between cursor types, a cross or a circle
The "[" and "]" keys decrease or increase the size accordingly.
NOTE: Using the "{" "}" keys will will change the value next to the circle and that represents the degree of change or intensity that the tool imparts on each pass.
This was described in the most recent MacWorld magazine, Page 90.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.