Discounted Microfilm Scanning, Microfiche Scanning, Aperture Card Scanning, and Imaging Services

Tag: microfilm rolls

July 29, 2011

Convert Microfiche vs Convert Microfilm

A mistake that occurs from clients or organizations who are not familiar with micrographics is mixing up microfiche and microfilm. Every industry or niche has its own lexicon, and in the micrographics industry there are major differences between microfiche and microfilm. The purpose of this article is to describe the differences between microfilm and microfiche.

Microfilm- It’s rolled.

In the most simplest terms, microfilm is rolled and microfiche is flat. Microfilm is also called roll film, and microfilm reels, microfilm rolls. Sometimes the width of the film is used to describe the types, such as 16mm roll film or 35mm microfilm.

Microfilm is usually stored in plastic or metal spools.  Some old microfilm is stored in metal pans. Yes, microfilm generally looks like small versions of movie reel film, except without the classic sprockets.

Microfilm cartridges look different that the standard reel spools- but only on the outside. The film is enclosed in a hard metal square casing to protect it. Kodak and 3M were innovators in producing microfilm cartridges.

There is no such thing as a 35mm roll film cartridge; there are only 16mm microfilm cartridges.

The actual microfilm frame placement and types vary, such as duplex film, positive, negative, duo, fixed, blipped, variable, etc, however that is a different topic and is unrelated to identifying microfilm vs microfiche.

Microfiche- It’s flat.

scan microfiche

A jacketed microfiche

Microfiche are flat “cards”, usually 4.13 x 5.83 inches, containing a few frames on them. Whereas a microfilm may hold 500 (35mm) to 20,000 frames (duplex), a microfiche card may hold as many one one frame to a couple of hundred (COM fiche).

Jacketed microfiche are simply roll film cut up into strips and inserted into plastic sleeves. Some people get confused if they don’t see the jacket sleeves, but it could be that the microfiche was duplicated. If it was duplicated, the copy may still have faint lines highlighting the border of the jackets. Since jackets are created from microfilm strips, they can come in the 16mm microfiche or 35mm microfiche varieties. A 16mm jacket has more rows and columns, and thus can hold more frames that a 35mm jacket (1-6 frames).

COM microfiche is computer generated and contain very small frames (usually with a 42x or 48x reduction ratio).

Step-and-repeat microfiche were created with a step-and-repeat camera. Many times they contain manuals or books and can hold hundreds of frames.

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May 17, 2010

Northwest Microfilm Scanning Services

Northwest microfilm scanning
Many states and regions around the United States, like the Northwest, may be engaged in a microfilm conversion project to digitize their microfilm records, or a microfiche conversion job.  Other cities in the Northwest that have not scanned microfilm or microfiche records will probably look at this possibility in the near future.

The end clients of these companies and the County, City, and State Governments in the Northwest may have great benefits from the microfilm conversion and microfiche scanning if performed by Generation Imaging. As an example, a government in the Northwest could have many millions of public records stored on microfiche. These records may need to be available to many users or have been mandated to be archived as a backup. Northwest companies may need to make sure that thousands of rolls of microfilm are inventoried in an efficient manner so that the microfilm can be located as needed.

It is also very important that in this case, companies or governments in the Northwest maintain a temperature control room to protect the microfilm from damage. In a case like this, they would also need to have staff available to manage the work related to this process.  Another step towards protecting the integrity of microfilm may require that the Northwest business or government create a duplicated of each microfilm roll for a backup. Any time a duplicated roll is made, it may represent additional cost.

Once all the records are digitized, Northwest companies that have microfilm may be able to take advantage of an automated system. A digital storage and  retrieval system may alleviate these Northwest microfilm bureaus  from the continued burden of maintaining an enormous library of microfilm rolls or microfiche cards.  A Northwest government agency may also be able to save customers time  and reduce their own cost with a digital system in place. You may have fast access to records from a digital retrieval system. It is possible to have fast view of record by searching though a computer and not have to deal with microfilm rolls again. A system like this can save Northwest businesses and government entities lots of money and also save time.

If you have a need to convert rolls of microfilm, microfiche cards, aperture cards, or other types of microfilm, to digital format, contact us for additional information. We can help you create your own digital storage and retrieval system if you use microfilm rolls or microfiche cards.

Although Generation Imaging is located in Hollywood, South Florida (between Miami and Fort Lauderdale) we provide microfilm scanning services from all over the United States, including Northwest microfilm scanning services, and around the world. If you have any reservations about sending microfilm or microfiche from the Northwestern part of the United States (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast Alaska, Nevada, Northern Utah, Northern Colorado and California) contact us so we can alleviate your concerns.

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