e-ImageData’s DRFT scanning technology is the latest trend in microfilm digital conversion. Learn more in this recent article written by e-ImageData's Vice President of Engineering, Todd Kahle.
It was once thought that ribbon scanning was the only way to ensure that 100% of the images on a roll of microfilm would be captured. Since the recent introduction of e-ImageData’s Do it Right the First Time (DRFT) scanning technology, this archaic thinking has fallen by the wayside.
Ribbon scanning is a “do-it-quick, fix-it-later” process that was considered to be the fastest way to do microfilm digital conversion. We all know the old adage – “There’s never enough time to do it right but always enough time to do it over”. Such is the case with ribbon scanning. Although the scanning step in ribbon scanning is fast, the subsequent post processing steps of straightening, cropping, adjusting, and rescanning can take many times longer than the scanning step.
e-ImageData’s ScanPro® All-In-One™ conversion scanner features DRFT scanning technology that ensures images are straightened, cropped and adjusted on the fly, eliminating the post processing steps required with ribbon scanning. The All-In-One was developed to fill the need in the marketplace for a microfilm digital conversion tool that is versatile (scans both roll film and fiche), simple to operate, saves time, and at a cost that is a small fraction of that of ribbon scanning equipment.
With DRFT scanning technology, ScanPro All-In-One users enjoy:
√ Total Image Capture | Scans 100% of the images
√ Saves Times | Your job is 99% done
√ Saves Money | A small fraction of the cost of ribbon scanning equipment
√ Versatile | Scans roll film and fiche
√ Secure | Portable, allowing secure in-house scanning of confidential documents
“e-ImageData's DRFT scanning technology is a paradigm shift in digital microfilm conversion. What once required hardware and software costing $50,000 and more is now available in a ScanPro All-In-One costing less than $7,500. Stay connected with us to see our progress as we will soon have a web-based viewing option that will allow web access to all your scanned document images,” says Todd Kahle, Vice President of e-ImageData.
Overview of ScanPro All-In-One
With the award-winning ScanPro All-In-One, you are able to convert entire microfilm collections that include 16mm, 35mm, fiche, jacketed fiche and aperture cards and perform on-demand research all within in one unit. The All-In-One allows you to easily read, scan, print and convert your images with exceptional speed and accuracy and automatically with its motorized AUTO-Carrier™. The surprisingly affordable All-In-One reaps the benefits of both a roll film and fiche conversion unit and an on-demand unit all within one machine - saving you time and money.
The All-In-One conversion scanners are built on the ScanPro platform first developed in 2006 and has been continually improved since then. Today, these microfilm scanners are fast, and have features and capabilities not found on any other microfilm equipment. Patrons have named these features as being special in making working with microfilm enjoyable and fun. Names like the "magic button" and the "must have feature" that reflect patron appreciation for the continual effort to make working with microfilm both easy and fun.
A ScanPro Advantage membership is included with the ScanPro All-In-One for free, for the first 6 months. The membership includes advanced software features like AUTO-Scan™ Pro that scans up to 100 images per minute, the ability to auto-adjust each scan for proper brightness, PowerScan Productivity Suite (Optical Character Recognition software) that provides the ability to save scans in many file formats and OCR while scanning and linking directly to a database for information look-ups. Being a member grants you full access to new features and performance enhancements as they become available – making your ScanPro the only scanner you will ever have to buy.
All current ScanPro models (ScanPro i9300, ScanPro 3000 and the ScanPro 2200) can ship from the factory as an All-In-One conversion scanner for both roll film and fiche. Every ScanPro All-In-One model maintains all of the features and benefits of the model that has been selected for its desired requirements.
“Our ScanPro 2200 All-In-One works fast, it does the scanning job without flaw, and all of the aforementioned is done without a hiccup. The price is not too expensive, it can scan to multiple locations with one click, and it can scan 16mm/35mm microfilm, too!”
– Elizabeth Chan, Tamarac Branch Library, Florida.
Myths in the Microfilm Digital Conversion World
Myth #1: Ribbon scanning is the only way to ensure all images are scanned.
Reality: e-ImageData’s DRFT scanning technology not only scans 100% of the images on a roll of film, but it also straightens, crops, and adjusts brightness and contrast for each image on the fly, eliminating the time-consuming and costly manual fixes.
Myth #2: Ribbon scanning reliably captures all images.
Reality: Although ribbon scanning does scan 100% of the images on a roll of film, the entire roll is scanned using a fixed brightness and contrast setting. Consequently, due to the inevitable contrast and brightness variations of document images on film, ribbon scanned images are frequently unreadable resulting in the need for re-scanning.
Myth #3: Ribbon scanning is the fastest technology to digitize your microfilm.
Reality: Ribbon scanning does scan the film at a high rate of speed however, when the ribbon scanning step is finished, your work has just begun. The ribbon scanned images are not cropped nor straightened, nor have brightness and contrast adjustments been made. These post processing steps can take many times longer than the scanning step.
e-ImageData’s DRFT scanning technology gives you the ability to scan with confidence, knowing all your images are scanned and easily available. Don’t take our word for it, see the ScanPro All-In-One in action! Schedule a virtual or in-person demo today! For more information, please visit our website at www.e-imagedata.com.
e-ImageData’s DRFT scanning technology: Do it Right the First Time!
