Often there is a discussion of how high a resolution you should scan an image in order to convert it to a vector-based image usable for letterpress.

Below are three images of Adobe Caslon Pro 18 point. An image of the digital font was produced in Photoshop in resolutions 4800 dpi, 2400, 1200, 600, and 300. If you were scanning from a printed image you would be including any degradation of the type outline based on the quality of the printing into the image.

The images were brought into Adobe Illustrator and converted to vector-based (outlined) images using the LiveTrace option.

I then took overlaid versions of the 2400, 1200, and 600 dpi versions so you could see the differences from one to the other. The red outline is the lower resolution.

The main problems above occur around the bottom serifs. Generally the type has become slightly bolder a the lower resolution.

At 600 you are losing any sharpness around the outside corners of the lower serifs and around the top. Clearly the type is becoming noticeably bolder.

The question after this is, “How much detail do you want or need?”

Keep in mind these images are from 18 point type. If you were doing a Bewick illustration (which I should take a shot at) with lots of thin lines, it would almost assuredly require the 2400 dpi or even 4800 and then a careful manipulation of the tonal value to maintain the highest quality with the least loss of detail.

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