Tag Archives: microfiche cards

Scanning Microfiche Containing Genealogical Records

Many historical and genealogical records are stored on microfiche cards. This is available to someone interested in the information for private and or historical uses. In many libraries and other locations around the United States, they have microfiche readers to help you find what you need.

Converting the microfiche to digital allows this process to be much easier. Microfiche to digital conversion is the process of scanning microfiche with high tech equipment, and creating an image that is stored on computers. Microfiche to digital conversion can make a big difference to genealogy researchers that are looking for specific information contained within a large collection of data.

Traditional Uses vs Digital Conversion

A good way to compare these processes is to consider the differences between the two formats and what can be accomplished with each. Traditional microfiche readers rely on you to manually locate the film, insert it into the reader, then finding the general area where your data may be, and then hunting for names as you would find a word in a book. A Microfiche to digital conversion creates digital images of the entire collection.

All the data is then stored in a computer and can be viewed as many time as you like. The scanning of microfiche to digital technology has been available for a few years and is the logical means for optimization. Microfiche readers and printers where great years ago, but the time it takes to find information is greatly reduced thanks to a microfiche to digital conversion process.

Searchable PDFs or Text Files

There is even better news. After the Microfiche to Digital process is complete, we can perform an OCR or, Optical Character Recognition, to the files. By doing this, all files that were converted from microfiche to digital can be data searched by simply typing a name in the computer. Imagine you are looking for persons name and you don’t know where it is within thousands of records. The value of microfiche scanning is realized when you are able to type in the name and have the computer bring up the page and point to the location where the name is found. CONTACT US

Convert Genealogical Microfiche to Digital Image

May 17, 2010

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

Digitizing genealogical records– it is easier now than in the past to find information about your ancestors. Many organizations are collecting genealogical information for research reasons. In spite of this, finding your family history may not be as easy as you would like. Original certificates of marriage, divorce, birth, death and other historical records, may be found in their original paper format. Generation Imaging are experts at converting historical records from microfiche archives, microfilm archives, or original paper form, to a digital format, such as PDF, TIFF, or JPEG.

There has always been an interest in people looking their ancestry information. Years ago we could only get genealogical information that had been passed down from family members. Many people have spend countless number of hours gathering information to build their own family tree. But many times this information was very limited in-spite of their efforts.

Companies that offer genealogical records to individuals that are looking for family history are looking for ways to provide more information for you. If you have records on microfilm or microfiche cards, and you need to convert these archival records to a digital format, contact Generation Imaging. We also scan paper documents and aperture cards. In addition, we can perform OCR and create searchable PDF files. This can allow individual to look up names, dates and other information. We can convert all types of hard copy records to digital format and help you build a digital automated system. Using this method, Genealogical Research Institutions are becoming more efficient than years ago.

We recently converted old newspaper records from 35mm microfilm to digital format for an out of state genealogical records institution. In this particular case, the microfilm had information that dated back about 100 years. Before the conversion took place, people had a very difficult time finding valuable information that was stored in the microfilm. It is easy to assume that many people got frustrated and did not find all they were looking for. We were successful at digitizing and creating searchable PDF files that can now be easily search. In an automated system, records can be found by typing a name into a field and the system locates all the records that have that name . This automated process is usually more efficient at locating records when compared to a person searching through thousands of documents. In addition, the time savings when using an automated system is huge. This time savings and efficiency may turn into a win win situation for everyone.

Contacting us for your microfilm or document conversion needs is easy. We are equipped to quickly and efficiently convert your genealogical records for you. Old documents that are kept on microfiche or microfilm, or are in paper format, require an expert to carefully and safely digitize the information. We use the latest technology to scan records. We have converted 35mm microfilm, 16mm microfilm and other types of documents for many years.

If you have millions of vital records that need to be digitized, or if you just have a couple of rolls of microfilm or a few microfiche cards, we can help you decide the best way to digitize the images, and we can provide you with the best options for you historical records. CONTACT US

Signs You Should Invest in Microfiche Scanning

July 23, 2009

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

When Should You Convert Microfiche?

Okay, so you either work with microfiche in your office OR you have come across a project which requires microfiche conversion. What are the signs saying you should invest in microfiche scanning?

You Have Too Many Microfiche

It may be hard to organize and work with thousands of microfiche cards on a daily basis or even to deal with the occasional microfiche request. On one end of the coin, you may have gotten used to dealing with so many microfiche- and perhaps it is even job security- but if you want to make your life easier and save your organization money, you might as well bite the bullet now. In fact, you may be surprised how inexpensive a microfiche conversion is compared to the labor already invested.

Your Microfiche is Decaying

Microfiche will get damaged from overuse, light, poor humidity, chemicals, water, cockroaches, and poor storage. If the microfiche starts to smell badly (like vinegar) you need to scan that microfiche as soon as possible or risk catastrophic loss. If you are not currently using standard microfiche preservation techniques, you are in trouble.

How to Perform Microfiche Scanning

If you or your organization has COM fiche, 35mm or 16mm microfiche jackets, step and repeat microfiche, or other types of microfiche, I’m sure you have wondered about how to digitize microfiche to PDF. The simplest way is to simply e-mail or call a scanning company like Generation Imaging to get a microfiche scanning quote.

Microfiche scanning requires specialized machinery called microfiche scanners, manufactured by such companies as Mekel, Sunrise, NextScan, and others. Microfiche scanners are not easy to set up and require microfiche scanner maintenance plans, experienced labor, and a whole network configuration. They also cost a ton of money.

Converting microfiche to digital images makes your life easier. Many microfilm government RFP bids require microfiche conversions as well, so if you come across a microfiche conversion job, feel free to contact this scanning company and see how you’d like to partner up. CONTACT US

COM Microfiche Scanning

July 16, 2009

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

What is COM Microfiche Scanning?

One of the most popular types of microfiche is COM (computer output microfiche). In fact many veterans in the microfiche conversion industry have the picture of a COM microfiche in their mind when they use the word “microfiche”.

Back in the day, the micrographic industry was all about creating microfiche and microfilm. Salespeople would sell COM machines, which would out the computer data to the microfiche cards. Accessories included COM duplicator machines. COM microfiche scanning is the process of converting those cards to digital images.

Scanning COM fiche is necessary if you are working with account records contained on the fiche and you grow weary of using a microfiche reader printer or EyeCOM fiche viewer. With the images digitized and indexed, you could search for specific accounts easier.

How Many Images are on a COM microfiche?

Generally there are 208 images (16 columns x 13 rows) or 270 images (18 columns x 15 rows) on COM fiche, with some variance in-between. For example some columns may not be filled with images and some people do not count the index frames. There is a special type of COM fiche called ultrafiche, which could have hundreds more of images!

The Microfiche Scanner

Most microfiche scanners must be set up to create a grid to line-up over the microfiche card. Other scanners can create image ribbons which can be broken down into individual images. Still other scanners could take a snapshot of the entire microfiche card, however you need special software to view that type.

For most microfiche scanners, the digital format received would be single page images or multi-page images. These types are usually PDF, PDF/A, JPEG. JPEG 2000, bi-tonal Group IV TIF, uncompressed greyscale TIF, and LZW TIFF.

There are many microfiche scanners sold online. These can be bought second hand from a microfiche equipment dealer, directly from a manufacturer, or from a reseller who makes a commission from the manufacturer. In addition to buying the microfiche scanner, you may have to get a license or maintenance plan. You must know how to operate the microfiche machine, and be able to train others.

Or, you could outsource your microfiche to a microfiche scanning company who will give you a price per image (or price per card). If you are on the fence about if you should purchase a microfiche scanner or have a company scan the microfiche for you, feel free to contact us for a free estimate and guidance to help you come to a decision.