Microfiche was used for decades to store large amounts of information and data. However, with the rise in technology, such forms of data storage have become obsolete. This is why if you have microfiche data lying around, it would be wise to convert the microfiche to digital format.
The transparent sheet can be easily converted into a digital format to be stored easily, shared instantly, and kept preserved forever. Besides these, there are tons of other benefits of why you should consider microfiche scanning services.
However, before using this service, you should consider a couple of factors to help you understand whether microfiche scanning is the right option for you. In this blog, we will discuss them in detail.
What Does It Mean To Convert Microfiche to Digital?
Microfiche is thin sheets of photographic film that store data from documents in miniaturized form. These are too small to read with your naked eye, so instead, you magnify the text to read it through a specific device. All of this is quite tedious compared to the convenience of digital documents.
As a result, more and more people are considering converting microfiche to digital format. This is typically done through a document scanning company, such as Smooth Solutions. Our process for microfiche scanning is quite straightforward. It involves the following:
- We gather and adequately organize the microfiche documents before scanning
- We use high-quality, efficient, and professional scanning machines to convert the microfiche to digital format
- We then manually review each digital document for quality check
- The scanned documents are then compiled in your choice of storage, which can include hard drives, USB drives, and CDs
- The original microfiche is also gathered, packed, and delivered back to you
Things to Consider before Taking up Microfiche Scanning Services
Now that you know what the microfiche scanning service process looks like, here’s a look at the things you need to consider before taking it up:
1. Assess the Conditions of the Microfiche
Clear and readable images in the microfiche are necessary if you want to get them efficiently scanned. Any damage to the images can negatively impact the information and clarity of the scanned digital document. Hence, you should assess your microfiche and check it for quality.
2. Determine the Volume and Quantity of Your Microfiche
Since microfiche is in sheet form, estimating the number of films and rolls can be challenging. However, the quantity will determine the scope of the scanning project and impact the total cost.
This is why it is important that you try to estimate the microfiche films accurately. It might be difficult to count each film, so you can instead measure the length of the total films and then calculate one inch of film in the total inches of a stack of films.
3. The Cost of Microfiche Scanning
A primary consideration is also the cost of scanning and your budget. This will help you determine whether you can get all of the microfiches scanned in one go or have only the priority microfiche films scanned that fit your budget. There are different factors that can impact the project’s overall cost, such as the type and condition of films, desired results, timeline, and more.
You can visit Smooth Solution’s official website to see what we offer for microfiche scanning services. However, you will get a more accurate estimate if you get in touch with us so we can learn about the desired scope of your project.
4. How Long It Takes for Microfiche Scanning to Be Completed
You should also consider the timeline taken for your microfiche scanning project to be completed. Again, it is best to get in touch with the scanning company to understand the full picture.
The overall time taken depends on your desired timeline for the project, the number of microfiche films, your desired output, and more.
5. Choose the Right Scanning Company
Microfiche scanning is a complex project that should be handled by the very best experts in the industry. It is possible that the microfiche may have degraded over time, which also raises the need for having the most suitable scanning company. Hence, you should do plentiful research on your options for scanning companies.
Final Words
Overall, microfiche scanning requires the use of high-quality scanners and an eye for digitization, which is why it is imperative that you hire professionals for this task.
Smooth Solutions is definitely one of the best options to consider for microfiche scanning. We are a document scanning company that offers tons of digitization and scanning services. For more information about us, visit our website and get in touch with us for a quote!