text: what is the best dpi setting to scan negs, slides & pictures? i want to make digital copies of negs, slides & photos in case of damage to orig & so i can make prints at a later time if needed. scanner using is a epson perfection 3490. it depends what you mean by best. the best quality would come from the highest setting your scanner will scan at. the best combination of quality and size/speed will vary depending on your needs, but i usually use 300dpi.