The new year is synonymous with new beginnings. In fact, in many ways the new year is the ultimate new beginning. Thus, we recognize and celebrate this by making resolutions or implementing new plans – by making promises to ourselves that we’ll do certain things better or try things we hadn’t before.

In this frame of new beginnings and taking on new challenges, it makes sense to start a long overdue or much needed conversion project (don’t put it off another year). But like many other kinds of projects, such as home improvement, there is consideration and planning involved to make sure you get it done right. The same theory applies to a digital conversion project. As my grandfather used to say, “If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time.”

Doing it right the first time is a concept we at e-ImageData believe so strongly in that we developed DRFT scanning technology. As you might guess, DRFT stands for Do it Right the First Time. It’s technology that was born from the inherent shortcomings of ribbon scanning, which might do a conversion job quickly, but doesn’t always (rarely, in fact) get it right the first time.

The shortcomings of ribbon scanning

Ribbon scanning was long the preferred method of capturing a roll of microfilm. On the spectrum of “doing it right” or “doing it fast,” ribbon scanning leaned toward the do it fast end. While speed is great, it often comes with a caveat, which is quality.

The results of traditional ribbon scanning typically require subsequent post-processing steps – including straightening, lightening or cropping – that eventually counteract the speed of the process. In other words, ribbon scanning can do the project fast, but may not always do the project right.

That’s why DRFT technology is important to any scale of conversion project, and why DRFT is featured in e-ImageData’s award-winning ScanPro® All-in-One scanners. It ensures images are straightened, cropped and adjusted on the fly, eliminating the arduous post processing steps required with ribbon scanning.

That means with DRFT, you have no excuse for continuing to put off those digital conversion projects you know should be done this year. With the All-in-One and DRFT, sticking to your plan for digital conversion will be easier than sticking to that diet you committed to starting this year.