What are the photo dimensions in the iPhoto book?

Question

I'm scanning 35mm slides and want to know what size I should set my output. I'm looking in the iPhoto Help, but don't see anything about the printed page dimensions.
Currently, my scans show up in Photoshop's image window as: 4"x6", 256 dpi and 1500x1000 pixel size.
I think/hope this will be OK for 4, 3 and 2 images per page, but I want to rescan for the pages that will only have 1 picture.
Should I set my output to the actual physical size of the picture on the printed page of the book? If so does anyone know what the dimensions are for 1, 2, 3 and 4 per page?
Using VueScan software, I can set the input Scan Res from 300 to 4800 dpi. Is 600 dpi enough? Or should I go to 1200 or more?
My Canon LiDE 600F scanner says it handles up to 48 bit rate. Should I set the Bits to pixel to this?
Thanks for your assistance,
Steven

Answer 1

Steve:
Setting the print size in Vuescan will adjust the dpi of the resulting file so that the photo is set to print that size. The scan dpi is what sets the number of pixels to be created during the scan. The print size just adjusts those pixels in the file so that an application like Photoshop will read it as that print size and adjusts the dpi as read to fit that size. If the print size it larger than the scanned image the dpi will be less than the scan dpi. It the print size is smaller conversely the dpi will be greater than the scan size.
If you think that you might use a photo for a full page layout in the iPhoto book, 8.5 x 11, you would want to scan at a resolution that would give you 3300 pixels in the largest dimension. For a slide that would be 3300/1.4 or about 2400 dpi. The books are printed at 300 dpi so a 2200 dpi on the maximum dimension would fill the bill for nearly all but a full, one photo per page, layout. And then it would still come out pretty good.
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.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.