Transfer microfiche image to digital.

[offshore]

I have an opportunity to get a bunch of rare and valuable watch info, on micrifiche.

Have been exploring the possibilities of transferring it to CD or hardrive, but keep running in to roadblocks.

Commercial services here in Oz are out of the question, and Govt, and Uni resources seem limited.

Best I have found so far is to copy to paper @ 10c copy, and then scan to hardrive/CD.

As I would have 18 microfiche, with 180 images(average) each (3240 copies) ie $324, and then have to scan them all, for my purpose this is not economical.

So....anyone with any clues?

Thanks,

Offshore

[McRae]

The microfiche is basicly just black printed on transparent film, since this is a hobbyproject (I assume?!), it's money rather than time that's the hurdle, or?

Shouldn't it be feasible to scan them in a good scanner (which is basicly all modern scanners, i.e. quite cheap) with a white background paper, as jpeg's directly into your computer. Scanning each image as a separate picture should work, timeconsuming yes, but what the heck...

I have some microfiches somewhere, if I can find them I can try doing this as a test, if you don't have the equipment and don't want to buy something just for experimenting.

Cheers,

Mac

[narikaa]

http://www.microstat.co.uk/microfilm.html?...CFRcYewodvypd5A

First hit off Google

easy peasey

.

[milsub5517]

high resolution scanner with some kinda background should work.

[offshore]

So what we are suggesting here, is scanning the microfiche, and then blowing each page up in an editing programme?

Seems feasable, although i would have thought the level of magnification required would distort the images (I use Irfanview) But certainly worth a shot.

Hope one of my scanners is hi res enough to achieve a result- Thanks guys.

@ Narikka, Thanks. I had contacted a couple of similar companies here, but @$1-$2 per image, it is uneconomical. One company even suggested I buy a specialised scanner @$3500, complete the job, and resell it Good for some.. but this is really only a hobby project.

Worst comes to worst, i can buy a microfiche reader pretty cheaply on ebay or at a local auction house, for my own home use. (would be just another bit of kit taking up an already crowded work area and gathering dust for most of the time however)

And if i had the scanned images on CD, maybe others could then benefut fom them.

Thanks guys, will come back with a wrap up.

Offshore.

[KB]

Sorry bud I used to have a microfiche reader only a couple of years back, if I still had it I would have sent it up with your mate in March/April.

Ken

[Pugwash]

Several scanning applications can cut up a scan into separate images on the fly. What you ideally need is a scanner with a light box for transparencies/negatives. You may be screwed by the sheer resolution needed to get readable data off microfiches, but you never know.

Without a lightbox on the scanner, I wouldn't even try. If you're exceedingly determined, use tin foil instead of paper to back the film.

Basically, it's non-trivial, which is why someone will gladly take money off you for doing it.

[narikaa]

@ Narikka, Thanks. I had contacted a couple of similar companies here, but @$1-$2 per image, it is uneconomical. One company even suggested I buy a specialised scanner @$3500, complete the job, and resell it Good for some.. but this is really only a hobby project.

Just re-read that link:

'Prices start from around

[offshore]

Just re-read that link:

How economical are you looking for............. they pay you?

Sorry N! didn't see that.

(Although paying me would be a great gesture! )

Have sent them an email to get a cost.

Thanks.

Offshore