microfilm to tiff – Generation Imaging

September 22, 2011

Computer Output Microfilm (COM)

Computer Output Microfilm is by far the most difficult 16mm roll film to digitize to images because the computer generated images do not have standard frame breaks most of the time. Unlike traditional 16mm roll film, Computer Output Microfilm has a super thin border (or no border!) or may have bits of data that is accidentally detected as a frame border. Most of the time, any roll film scanner (regardless if it saves one image at a time or saves the entire reel as a ribbon) will totally skip over Computer Output Microfilm sections or cut frames.

If the Computer Output Microfilm contains a 100% consistent, fixes, and thick frame order or blip marker, it is possible for a 16mm roll film scanner to detect images properly. In addition to having the correct micrographics equipment, it is very important to have experienced scanner operators. Let’s put it this way: if you have no experience with scanning Computer Output Microfilm, you will be totally lost and will need to pay the scanner manufacturer to come to your office and do it for you. They will only help you if you have a maintenance plan. In other words, you may be out of luck or it may cost you thousands of dollars to scan a few rolls of Computer Output Microfilm .

Generation Imaging has created a tried and true method to detect troublesome COM reels. Our scanner operators have been performing this method since the 1990s. It requires a knowledge of mathematics, detection algorithms, and attention to detail. It also requires post-processing: manually clipping strips. This method assures that all frames have been detected.

September 8, 2009

Microfilm scanning from Generation Imaging

Hi, and welcome to Generation Imaging’s microfilm scanning blog. We hope to provide educational resources for microfilm scanning, microfilm scanners, roll film conversion processing, archiving microfilm, microfilm RFP bids, and much more.

Converting microfilm to digital image is a niche industry- but, as they say, it’s a living. For the people that manage and operate Generation Imaging- it is a FUN living, have been in the microfilm digitizing industry since the early 1990’s, and know every little detail about microfilm.

So../what is microfilm and why is microfilm important? Microfilm is generally measured 16mm or 35mm across, and are hopefully stored in reel spools or 3M or Kodak cartridges. I say hopefully because sometimes we have seen unspooled roll film, which needs to be reeled. Microfilm is used for archiving, research purposes, and some organizations use microfilm to look up insurance records, school records, medical records, or government records. Microfilm are created by reducing paper documents into image frames with a specialized microfilm camera.

The process of microfilm scanning converts microfilm to digital images, like TIFFs, PDFs, JPEGS, or other file formats- and the images can be black-and-white (bi-tonal) or grayscale. The benefits of converting microfilm to PDF or other format are obvious- no more manually searching old microfilm in a microfilm viewer. You can also make an unlimited number of digital copies, have the images indexed, uploaded to systems or the Internet, modify them, print them out, and you eliminate the need to waste valuable space storing microfilm.

A microfilm scanning company should have the experience and technical know-how to transfer microfilm to TIFF. In the new economy, a microfilm scanning company should also have the best price- to be competitive microfilm scanning companies have been reducing the cost of microfilm to encourage and stimulate the economy.