At Carmel we offer a wide range of Microfilm and Microfiche Services, Our full range of microfiche conversion services include: Microfiche Scanning, Microfiche Duplication, Microfiche Printing Services and Microfiche Archiving.
Microfilm
For archival-based applications, there is no better long-term storage mechanism than microfilm. The cost of microfilming your documents is less than that of digital scanning and can be accomplished in less time as well. Should an application have a lengthy retention demand, with virtually no retrieval frequency, microfilm serves as the most cost-effective storage solution.
Once documentation has be converted to microfilm, permanency is established beyond reproach. With an established 100-year minimum archival standard, original microfilm is universally accepted in courts of law and, once indexed, provides for an unparalleled means for the long-term storage of files.
A typical five-drawer file cabinet occupying 3.75 square feet in floor space is reduced to .5 square feet. A conventional 10′ X 20′ storage locker, stacked with 500 Banker Boxes, is reduced to the equivalent of 1 conventional 5-drawer file cabinet.
Carmel offers the following microfilm services:
- 16MM & 35MM Roll Microfilming
- 16MM Services can be provided at your location
- 16MM & 35MM Jacketizing (105MM Format)
- Microfilm-to-Paper Conversion
- Microfilm/Microfiche-to-Digital Image Conversion*
- Back File Conversion
* Roll microfilm and microfiche can be converted to digital images. With properly indexed microfilm, only desired image sets or specific files can be captured and converted to electronic files. The original microfilm/microfiche remain in their incorruptible format while a user enjoys the ease of viewing scanned images without the use of specialized retrieval equipment.
16MM & 35MM Roll Microfilming
16MM microfilm is perfectly adapted for the archival capture of documentation from the smallest restaurant receipt to an 11″ X 17″, “B” Size drawing. While not all documents microfilm well (photographs, x-rays, ink-colors), microfilm cameras efficiently capture documents of a varied size, paper weight and complexity. The dynamics of microfilm cameras automatically adjust to accommodate paper textures, background colors and spectral density. The resultant output is uniform and, coupled with an index, specific files are precisely retrieved.
35MM microfilm remains widely used by municipalities in the secure, archival capture of engineering documentation. From the 8-1.2″ X 11″, “A” size to the 36″ X 48″, “E” size drawing, 35MM microfilm can significantly reduce storage demand while retaining file integrity. Bond, vellum, blueprint and sepia original drawings converted to microfilm virtually guarantee the information is preserved and archived. Furthermore, Carmel supports conversion to the 35MM Aperture Card format.
Key benefits:
- Universally accepted in courts of law
- Established 100-year archival retention standard
- Significant reduction in storage demand and related expense
- Easily and cost-effectively convert to digital images, either selectively or globally
16MM & 35MM Jacketizing (105MM Format)
Carmel can convert 16MM & 35MM roll microfilm to the 105MM microfiche format through the jacketizing process. 105MM microfiche viewing and printing equipment is far less costly to purchase and maintain than roll-film devices. And, the 105MM microfiche format can be easily and effectively created to perfectly emulate a conventional paper based file cabinet system at a significantly reduced storage demand.
It is critical to keep the roll-film in its original form. Carmel uses a generated duplicate to create the 105MM format using the versatile jackets. 16MM, 35MM and 16/35MM Combination jackets, created by Carmel, successfully emulate the 105MM microfiche format.
Key benefits:
- Retrieval/Printing equipment remains inexpensive to purchase maintain
- Format closely emulates the paper-based file cabinet storage system
- Significant reduction in storage demand and related expense
- Original roll microfilm remains intact to support potential migration to more
- sophisticated formats (digital conversion)
Microfilm-to-Paper Conversion
It never fails; once paper has been converted to microfilm, there arises a need to have captured documentation converted back to paper. State employment agencies, insurance companies, financial institutions. Many entities request documents from your archives and insist on paper copies.
Carmel will provide the means to selectively retrieve desired documents from generated microfilm and produce paper copies. By restricting the volume of material printed, the overall cost to produce paper copies is significantly reduced. Paper copies can be delivered in a loose-leaf scheme, bound or presented in binder-ready format.
This is especially of importance for our Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical customers. Frequently, the printing is a desired Lab Notebook by Carmel from generated microfilm proves less costly and a delivery more expeditious than requesting a Notebook from storage and generating a copy through the use of a conventional office copier.
Key Benefits:
- Eliminates the capital expense of microfilm/microfiche printing equipment
- Selective/Specific copying response
- Cost effective and fast turnaround
Microfilm/Microfiche-to-Digital Conversion
Carmel can provide the means necessary to digitize microfilm and/or microfiche to digital images. Once converted, scanned microfilm/microfiche imagery are readily accessible from a users desk top computer without the need of special equipment, software or training.
The film scan process can be accomplished globally or selectively. Entire microfilm/microfiche libraries are scanned and indexing producing an electronic, digital library for easy retrieval. Carmel can accommodate scanning requests for specific documents or files resident on film thereby reducing the conversion expense.
Output files are delivered in either the non-proprietary based Group-IV TIFF or the popular Adobe Acrobat PDF/A scheme. Regardless of format requested, Carmel guarantees the file will be accessible on your system without the dependency on specialized viewing softwares.
Key Benefits:
- Access and retrieval to electronic, digital imagery is easy and convenient
- Selective/Specific digital conversions available to reduce expense
- No specialized retrieval software is required to view Carmel generated files
- Original microfilm/microfiche remains intact, preserving a document/file’s audit trail
Back File Conversions
Out of sight, out of mind. The long-term storage of paper gets to be expensive. While the month-to-month storage of a standard Bankers Box full of documents can be very cheap, $0.25-0.50/month, extrapolated over a multiple year period, the cost to physically store paper proves very costly. Add in the “hostage fees” charged by most national storage companies when material is permanently removed from storage and this only exacerbates the issue.
Many applications have an unlimited retention demand. For the sake of integrity, the documents must be kept forever. Some of these files may never have to be accessed, but we have to keep them. Just in case. Forever.
Microfilm represents the most cost efficient means to legally, permanently store documentation over the long-term. There exists a no better alternative.
The rate-of-return generally falls between the seven to ten year retention time frame, depending upon the complexity of the stored files. Having to store a Bankers Box beyond a ten-year cycle, the cost of a microfilm conversion proves to be a net zero. Add one retrieval request during the same ten-year period, and the rate-of-return is reduced by 30%. Two retrieval requests, reduce by 60%. Add in the “hostage fee”, reduce by 75%.
Have to retain documentation for a period beyond 10 years? Don’t store it, film it!
Key Benefits:
- No better cost effective storage for the long-term storage of documentation exists
- Archival, original silver halide microfilm has a rated shelf-live in excess of 100 years
- Provides for the efficient migration to more sophisticated storage and retrieval systems, either globally or selectively
- Universally accepted in courts of law. Once on microfilm, the file becomes the original document
Digitizing Microfilm
Microfilm and microfiche remain the most cost-effective alternative to paper storage today. Unfortunately, the cost to purchase and maintain film viewing and printing equipment increases year-to-year. While properly generated and stored microfilm has a shelf life in excess of 100 years, the cost to access records on microfilm only becomes increasingly expensive.
Carmel can digitize, or scan your: microfilm, microfiche and aperture cards. Any microfilm-based format can be digitized by Carmel. Documents presently trapped in a microfilm-based environment can now be accessed without having to leave your desk. Do not allow the cost to maintain microfilm retrieval equipment become the prohibitive factor in accessing your vital information.
- 16MM roll microfilm scanning
- 35MM roll microfilm scanning
- 16/35MM microfiche scanning
- 35MM aperture card scanning
- 105MM microfiche scanning
- 105MM superfiche scanning
- Database-to-digital image integration