Tag Archives: OCR

Scan Auto Parts Microfiche with Generation Imaging

Do you need to read an auto parts manual contained on microfiche? Are you a mechanic, customer service rep, autoparts reseller, or actual manufacturer? You can try to find an old microfiche reader or even a microfiche printer at a library, or you could send Generation Imaging the microfiche in the mail and have us scan them.

Automobile mechanical parts and vehicle manuals were filmed on step-and-repeat microfiche. They are microfiche cards with genuine OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part drawings and index direct created by the manufacturer. We can convert those car parts to pdf, tiff, or jpeg. If you would like an extra service, we could also enhance them to become searchable PDFs (also called OCR). Auto parts microfiche have all the parts from the major manufacturers. So if you need to look up something obscure like 2013 Audi A5 Cabriolet L4 2.0 Alternator Diagram, if you can get your hands on that microfiche, we can convert that for you.

There are a few reasons why you may need vehicle parts manuals to be digitized to image. You could be a mechanic, a DIY owner, or a service manager from a motor vehicle corporation. We have scanned many different types of companies over the years, and not just cars. We have also converted jet skis and construction vehicle manuals on microfiche.

List of some car brands on microfiche:

Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
Benz
BMW
Bugatti
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Citroen
Corvette
DAF
Dacia
Daewoo
Daihatsu
Datsun
De Lorean
Dino
Dodge
Farboud
Ferrari
Fiat
Ford
Honda
Hummer
Hyundai
Jaguar
Jeep
KIA
Koenigsegg
Lada
Lamborghini
Lancia
Land Rover
Lexus
Ligier
Lincoln
Lotus
Martini
Maserati
Maybach
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Noble
Opel
Peugeot
Pontiac
Porsche
Renault
Rolls-Royce
Rover
Saab
Seat
Skoda
Smart
Spyker
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota
Vauxhall
Volkswagen CONTACT US

What is Computer Output Microfilm (COM fiche)?

September 13, 2011

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

What is Computer Output Microfilm (COM)?

Computer Output Microfilm (COM) is a system that converts stored data directly to microfilm or microfiche. I know around ten people who used to sell Bell & Howell Computer Output Microfilm systems as far back as the 1960s to the 1980s. It almost seems to be a prerequisite for salespeople in the micrographics industry from that era.

COM recorder

Computer Output Microfilm systems are still used today, mostly by organizations who need to store payroll, accounting, insurance, inventory, or employee data. Yet because most of these organizations have outputted the Computer Output Microfilm to microfiche, they have to manually search for a record and use a reader printer to save out a particular file.

Old diagram of COM creation (microfilm)

A more feasible option is to convert Computer Output Microfilm to digital image via Generation Imaging’s microfiche scanning services. Generation Imaging specializes in microfiche to PDF, TIFF, or JPEG conversions.

Using high quality/high production microfiche scanners, we convert the COM microfiche to digital. Generation Imaging provides this COM fiche scanning service to end users as well as other service bureau’s. Clients can choose from Adobe PDF format, Group 4 TIFF (tagged image file format), or greyscale JPEGs. PDFs and TIFFs can be wrapped in a multi-page file. Generation Imaging offers an optional OCR (optical character recognition) image processing and other indexing services (by folder or filename).

The end result of this entire process is a digital image which you could easily search the file containing records by name, account number, date, and/or social security number. Obviously this saves time and efficiency.

COM Fiche

Definitions of COM

1. Computer Output Microfilm: microfilm containing data, which is created by a recorder from computer generated electrical signals.
2. Computer Output Microfilmer: a recorder which converts data from a computer into language and records it on microfilm.
3. Computer Output Microfilming: a method of converting data from a computer into language onto microfilm.

You can substitute “microfilm” with “microfiche“.

Do you have microfiche to convert to pdf or digital image?

If so, please contact us today for a free microfiche scanning quote. Let us digitize microfiche for you. Generation Imaging has wholesale scanning prices, and is run by a specialized experienced team. With over 30 years of experience, we have seen all types of microfiche. We have top notch customer service and a quick turnaround. CONTACT US

Historical Society Microfiche To Digital

August 23, 2011

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

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 Microfiche to Digital Images (PDFs, TIFFs, JPGs)

August 22, 2011

Damian Hospital

Microfiche scanning No Comments

Did Your Reader Printer Break?

When should one convert microfiche to digital images, such as PDFs, TIFFs, or JPGs? How about right now! Just recently the Mt. Vernon Clerk and Recorder office has suffered extensive water damage, and their microfiche machine no longer works. Generation Imaging has received numerous inquires from many government entities, school systems, and insurance companies that were using reader printers or Canon scanners which broke down.

If they don’t convert microfiche before an accident or mechanical failure, they would be unable to service the public or digitize the data. The huge advantage of using a microfiche scanning service bureau is that a company like Generation Imaging can convert microfiche to digital images much more quick than a slow reader printer or Canon scanner.

Good Microfiche Scanners

G.I. uses NextScan high speed microfiche scanners to convert microfiche to PDF, TIFF, or JPG, at various DPI, bi-tonal (black and white) or grayscale. Images can be converted through OCR (proprietary software) or indexed by directory or at the filename level. In other words, G.I. can create an image retrieval format for you to match your existing organization or create an entire new way to organize your images.

The key to avoiding disasters and getting involved in the tricky business of disaster recovery is to be proactive. The first step is to convert microfiche to digital. You may be surprised just how affordable the cost of microfiche scanning is with Generation Imaging.

Go Digital

The benefits of digitizing fiche are numerous: increased productivity, easy file transfers via e-mail, internet, FTP, networks, and printing; and the ability to copy images quickly.

Governments, private organizations, and individuals (researchers, veterans, genealogists, hobbyists) that have fiche should convert microfiche to digital images as soon as possible. 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