How to Convert Computer Output Microfilm to Digital Image

Computer Output Microfilm (COM) is the most tricky type of 16mm roll film to convert to digital image. Computer Output Microfiche is not problematic, but its roll film version creates numerous issues for roll film scanners not manned by an experienced scanner operator.

The true professional and experienced scanner operator relishes in the challenge of scanning Computer Output Microfilm to digital images because it truly pushes his or her level of technical expertise.

Why is Computer Output Microfilm is different than tradition roll film? Regular roll film has frames containing documents with a clear separation/space in-between each frame. The edges are nice and contrasted from the background of the film. Scanners can be set up to detect on these edges and separate each frame to create individual images.

However, Computer Output Microfilm usually has very thin edges between frames and almost no space in-between them. This is due to how they were created: they were electronic data stored on a PC and were transferred to 16mm roll film.

Depending on the layout of the Computer Output Microfilm, the experienced scanner operator can attempt to detect frames by carefully choosing multiple sense areas, and modifying edge detection filters, but the operator is at the mercy of the nature of COM, and this usually results in missed detection.

Another aspect that is film dependent is if the COM has blips or not. If the COM has small markers on the outside of the frame, it may be possible to detect each image. However even this may not be an exact science due to the nature of COM.

The final method would be to scan strips of several images with a backup over-scan to guarantee that all frames are captured in these ribbons. Then these giant images must be manually split and cropped to create individual frames from the strips.

If you have Computer Output Microfilm to convert, please contact Generation Imaging today,

Microfilm Scanning And OCR Rescues Researchers

News articles describing modern time libraries talk about the roll they serve in today’s technological advanced age. The roll microfilm scanning serves is significant but is sometimes misunderstood. While libraries consider that they meet the needs of most people, there are advantages that will inevitably create a demand for further advancements. This includes microfilm scanning and OCR processing. The common thought is that regardless of technological advancements, people still like to read something they can hold on to, like a book.

While this may be true in some cases, and I happen to like reading a hard copy book in certain occasions, most of the time people just need to get information, and they want to get it as fast as possible. Here is where microfilm scanning helps. When it comes to searching for information, whether

a student researching for homework information, or a historian searching or a genealogical research looking for ancestors, they do not what to waste time reading books. Instead, they want the fastest way to specific information. Here is where OCR and microfilm scanning can really be beneficial.

OCR is the process of creating a text version of an image after microfilm scanning or some other image. Microfilm scanning takes microfilm and creates plain images like Jpeg. But you need OCR to facilitate quick searches. Imaging you are looking for a persons name within a book. What page? And How often does it appear? With microfilm scanning and OCR, you could just type the name in the computer and have the software find it for you.

Best Microfilm Conversion Cost In Slow Economy

At Generation Imaging, we’re doing all we are able to to assist our clients deal with their microfilm conversion projects. As part of our efforts, we have established a free no obligation testing process, where we take a sampling of the microfilm conversion mission and carry out a microfilm conversion simulation test, just like we might on the true job. This check has many benefits. It offers our customer a good understanding of what the ultimate microfilm conversion product will appear like, it allows us at Generation Imaging to properly time the method for each particular undertaking, and gives our prospects the chance to make adjustments to guarantee that the final product will be exactly as wanted, and is completely free.

Microfilm scanning foto de ianare sevii

One other essential issue we consider invaluable to our customers is the price of finishing the microfilm conversion project.  It will likely be difficult to discover a microfilm conversion center that can match the prices or services offered at Generation Imaging. We thought of all variables to guarantee that we’re in a position to provide high-quality and greatest service. To do this, Generation Imaging uses top of the line microfilm conversion equipment, able of producing optimum high quality images at top speed. In addition, we are capable of produce any sort of image file format at various resolution.

Questions to ask for microfilm scanning costs

Before you give a price for microfilm scanning, it is important to ask the right questions to your client. Here is a list of microfilm scanning questions:

What type of roll film needs to be scanned? The two most common types are 16mm and 35mm reels. You can take a ruler and measure the film width if you are unsure of roll film size.

Do the images need to be indexed? Generally clients just need virtual folders named by reel number or microfilm roll label, however other times they would need data entry from fields, like SSN, Names, or Case Numbers.

What is the preferred file format? Group IV TIFF, PDF, JPEG, Uncompressed TIFF, bi-tonal images, greyscale images, multi-tiffs, multi-PDFs, searchable OCR PDFs, or another image format? (Most clients used bi-tonal tiffs, but in recent years PDFs have become more popular). One one thing to consider: if you client is already using a document management system or you have your own document management software, you must comply to the requested  file format.

What is the output media? CD, DVD, external USB hard drive, FTP, or flash drive are all options.

What is the microfilm scanning turnaround time? When does the film need to be shipped back, and at what priority? Can the film be released all at once or in waves? Is there a deadline to deliver the images?

The crazy thing about the microfilm scanning industry is that there were no true standards. However, it does help to perform this information gathering task for many obvious reasons. An imaging company can assist you with microfilm scanning quotes, and scan microfilm at the lowest pricing in the industry.

16mm roll film scanning

A  16mm roll film conversion requires different microfilm scanner hardware accessories than a 35 mm roll film digital conversion, such as smaller rollers and guiders. However, when it comes to digital microfilm conversion, the final product is not different when comparing 16mm to 35mm.

Generally, all types of documents are contained on 16mm roll film, in many cases  8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 images. That means microfilm scanning takes care of everything.  Of course, 16 mm film can also contain maps, blueprints, checks, computer printouts, EKG graphs, earthquake records, and technically anything that was on paper.

From the technical standpoint, the reduction ratio or aspect ratio is very different. Most 16mm film was reduced from 18x to 48x. Contact us.

Microfilm scanning

Since microfilm scanning is such a niche industry, many salespeople  don’t understand the terms or methods of microfilm, microfilm scanning, and digital imaging. Some sales representatives believe that microfilm conversion is the same as paper scanning, or don’t realize the important details about digital imaging. Some think that all microfilm scanning services and microfilm scanning companies are the same.

Here are some questions salespeople should be asking  when dealing company, organization, government, or municipality that has 16mm roll film:

1) Is the film original, silver halide, a diazo duplicate, or vesicular? Generally speaking, originals and silver film create a better copy than duplicated microfilm.

2) Does the 16mm film have dual level blips? These are counters that generally group frames by document and page, for example a big blip indicates the start of a new student record, and is followed by the pages of that folder with small blips.

3) Does your potential client have an existing electronic data management system or are you trying to sell your own EDS? This is important when it comes to the imaging file format: does the software have any limitations or requirements concerning bi-tonal vs gray scale compression, CSV format, XML format, TIFF, PDF, or JPEG?

4) Do the images need to be indexed via data entry, OCR (ICR), blip folder, or sequential digital number? Does the data need to be in the image filename or exported into a comma delimited (CSV) text file, Excel spreadsheet, or XML file?

5) Do the images need to be scanned at 200DPI, 240DPI, 300DPI, or something else? If not, 200DPI is standard.

6) Can the organization use CD’s, DVD’s, USB external hard drives, or FTP? You’d be surprised how many places don’t know how to upload images to their servers.

7) What is the  cost of microfilm scanning?

Answers to these questions would greatly enhance the chance of you pricing the microfilm scanning project the right way.

Contact Generation Imaging for pricing on your microfilm scanning projects: