Re: Scanning microfiche

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

I have a Visioneer 9520 Photo Scanner. Am I able to scan microfiche
cards with this unit? If so, what are the suggested settings? Thanks!

Bill

That's a decently rated flatbed scanner, with a "claimed" resolution
of 4800 x 9600. Usually, scanning at the highest (rated) resolution
only increases file size, not readability. However, the best approach
is to simply try scanning the microfiche and see what you get at
various resolutions.

A lot depends on what is on the fiche you are trying to get... common
size of microfiche is 105 x 148 mm, with various size images on the
one film, usually of about 10 x 14 mm. So what you are trying to read
may be a very small image.

Since it is film, you should of course set your scanner to the
transparancy mode, and since color probably isn't an issue, try
setting it for grayscale, or possibly even monochrome.

 

[Rob]

Not sure if you are using a transparency lid on the scanner, I think you
are or should be.

Suggest that you mask off the section of the microfiche which you are
scanning to stop the flare this will give a better result.

 

[Rob]

On 14/06/2011 12:13 AM, Bill wrote:


When I was scanning MF tranny's I had to mask to the image size, so I
cut a mask from black mat board with 45 deg edges this thickness helped
sandwich the film in place. Make sure your not getting any newton rings
as well.

Another thought is to get an old microfiche reader and just photograph
the screen. There were quite a few about and now virtually redundant -
looked on ebay?

I did pull apart about 6 that I was given just for the surface mirrors
so I could make a periscope never kept a single unit intact.

rob

 

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

<snip>

You might check with one of the firms that convert 8mm film to DVD.
They use a special scanner to scan each frame of 8mm, 16mm, or
whatever to digital, then combine the images into a DVD. They may have
the capability to scan microfiche.

The place I used to convert several hundred feet of 8mm movies is
www.gotmemories.com

I don't know if they can scan microfiche, but I'm sure there is
someone "out there" who can.