Tag: Generation Imaging

September 22, 2011

Florida Aperture Card Scanning

Aperture card scanning is the process of digitizing PC cards that contain a rectangular cutout with film pasted in it. Generation Imaging is a Florida aperture card scanning solution, although we accept aperture card scanning projects from all over the world.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, PC cards containing microfilm was a great way to store and retrieve drawings, blueprints, maps, technical schematics, and other documents or records . However, in today’s digital world where having a computer is commonplace, the continuing use of apertures is impractical.

Generation Imaging uses industry leading equipment and software to create the best image quality possible from aperture card scanning. Images can be converted to PDFs, TIFFs, or JPEGs; bi-tonal or greyscale; multi-page or single page.

Once the apertures are converted to digital images they can be stored on a server or CD/DVD/hard drive. The images can also be processed with an optical character recognition (OCR) if necessary, or have a database built from the Hollerith code punches or data on the header or image.

Why aperture card scanning is a good idea:

It reduce retrieval time
Its creates office space s
Individuals can quickly find specific images
It gives instant access to an entire collections
Users can access documents over on intranet, e-mail, or internet

If your company is in South Florida and local (Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County), and you prefer to do business with a local company, than Generation Imaging is a great Florida aperture card scanning solution for you. If you are not in the area, keep in mind that the bulk of Generation Imaging’s clientele is out of state, and your business is welcomed.

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 17, 2011

Computer Output Microfilm

Computer Output Microfilm is the rarest of 16mm roll film types (ironically Computer Output Microfilm is a very popular form of microfiche). Because of the nature of most COM reels not having regular edges like normal 16mm roll film, converting COM rolls into digital image can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, Generation Imaging has tons of experience working with all kinds of Computer Output Microfilm.

An example of Computer Output Microfilm

If the COM roll is blipped (small markers on the outside of the frames) and the frames have fixed sizes and are equidistant from each other, although the scanner operator must be highly experienced and the setup time is lengthy, it is theoretically possible to scan the Computer Output Microfilm without problems.

If the COM roll does not have blips, the highly skilled scanner operator must used advanced detection algorithms to attempt to find a sense area and setting to capture each frame by itself. Again, the Computer Output Microfilm must pretty much be perfect to pull this method off.

If none of the above methods will work, the expert scanner operator will have to scan the COM images as strips of frames. By padding an overscan and setting the backup, the operator can assure that no frame is missed. However this method requires post-processing: the frames must be manually cropped or split to create individual frames.

Generation Imaging offers scanning solutions for converting COM reels to PDF, TIFF, or JPEG. Please contact us today if you need this type of roll film to be converted to digital images.

September 13, 2011

Reselling Microfiche Scanning Services

Reselling microfiche scanning services is an excellent way for your company, organization, or you to have access to a stream of revenue without investing in equipment, labor, office space, training, or liabilities. For example, let us say you work for a litigation company and one of your clients- in addition to needing documents converted to PDF- also has a collection of microfiche containing payroll records. Let us also assume that the set of fiche contains 1,000 cards.

It doesn’t make sense to perform the microfiche scanning on your own for the following reasons:

Cost. Why buy a new microfiche scanner for $65,000 to digitize something worth around $4,000?
Inferior scanners. There are scanners that are cheap (like $10,000) but what type of quality would you expect from low level camera technology?
Labor, training, workflow. Do you really want to incur money up front costs to expand your company just to handle 1000 COM fiche?

Anyway, after you spend some time investigating all of these options and have meetings about the feasibility of your company doing the microfiche scanning, you will realize that it is more efficient to outsource the microfiche scanning.

Since Generation Imaging is a wholesale service bureau you will get a below market conversion price, which will give you room to add on to the price to your end client, i.e. reselling the microfiche scanning service. After all you are the one responsible for taking care of your end client, you are taking the risk, and you will be the one servicing the end client.

Generation Imaging can be your silent partner for reselling microfiche scanning services, or if you totally don’t want to get involved you could simply have us go direct and we’ll give you a commission- it’s your choice.

September 3, 2011

Best Florida Microfilm Scanning Company?

The word “best” may sound presumptuous, arrogant, or condescending, but I assure you that is not our intention to be cocky when titling this post “Best Florida Microfilm Scanning Company?”. In fact I left the question mark in there for you to find out yourself. One definition of best is “of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality”. As you can see I’m not comparing Generation Imaging to other Florida microfilm scanning companies, I am simply stating confidence in the services that Generation Imaging provides. It’s OK to be confident, right?

Damian Hospital and Dan Gandul- G.I. Partners, LLC- have a small business mentality which focuses on customer satisfaction, low prices, high quality, meeting deadlines, and giving advice when necessary. There are indeed many Florida microfilm scanning bureaus, some are large corporations, some are small, some focus on other industries, and some work out of their garage. There is even one company online that offers “Florida microfilm scanning” services, but it is actually based in California. That’s a nice little hook. Also, thanks to the beauty of the internet anyone can set up a storefront and claim to offer Florida microfilm scanning services without actually owning any micrographics equipment.

We all have to make a living, so I don’t begrudge anyone exercising their freedom of speech, but I just wanted you to know that G.I. Partners, LLC is a legit Florida microfilm scanning business located in Florida.

Generation Imaging treats a client with one roll film the same as a multimillion dollar company with 20,000 reels. Communication is an important component of choosing a Florida microfilm scanning business, and you can be rest assured that G.I. will get all of the necessary specifications for your conversion project. After G.I. gets all of your requirements, once the digitization process begins, we will keep you abreast of any issues that may arise and when we are nearing completion of our agreed due date.

You can read some Generation Imaging testimonials if you are still unsure about G.I. being a viable solution for your Florida microfilm scanning needs.