Hi NYP -
Thanks for the additional info, screen shots, etc.
I spent a good half hour trying to track down the full user's manual to that software, being especially interested in the TWAIN-compliant scanning features and controls. Unfortunately, all I could find was either lists of the menu options, or quick start guides. I was not willing to try downloading what was promised to be the full version from some questionable websites, especially when you see that what they want you to download is an *.exe file, not a pdf or word document!!!
Without a manual, there is just no way to know for sure exactly their user interface works, but I can make a good guess.
It appears to me that the software estimates the horizontal and vertical dimensions (in inches)of the object being scanned during the pre-scan phase. It then transfers these numbers to both the "source" and the "output settings" sections of the user interface (UI), along with the default ppi/dpi setting of 300 ppi.
Based on the example you showed, when you do the math (ie, 3.33" x 300 ppi, and 3.60" x 300 ppi), you come out with numbers very close to the pixel dimensions of the first file you posted. So, up to this point, everything looks great. The question then is why is why in the world is the ppi value in Photoshop or Bridge for this file appear to be only 72 ppi, not the 300 that either you entered, or was the default for the scanner?!?!?!!!
So, I double checked the contents of the file using two additional EXIF data viewers. They both came to the same conclusion: Your Photo Studio software appears to have simply neglected to write ANY value for the ppi value in the file, so when Bridge (the first viewer that I used) or ACR or PS itself opened the file, it needed some number for the ppi value, so it used the default value of 72 ppi and this error (72 instead of 300 ppi) made the rulers display the dimensions in inches incorrectly.
The fix is simple: In Photoshop, (a) go to the Image / image size dialog box; (b) make sure the "resample" option is NOT checked; (c) type in "300" (or whatever value you used when scanning) in the ppi field; (d) hit "OK", and the rulers should jump to display the correct values.
This is exactly what I did when, in Post #7, I said,
"...Now, if I change the ppi from 72 back up to what it should be, 300 ppi, then the size in real world units goes back down to around 3.5 inches. Below is the screen grab from PS...".
Problem solved.
HTH,
Tom M