How to Scan a Microfiche to PDF
By Steve Struthers
Updated September 28, 2017
Items you will need
High-resolution flatbed scanner
Photo editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop
PDF capture and conversion utility
Before the advent of personal computers and large-scale mass storage peripherals, the microfiche was commonly used as a means of storing and accessing large amounts of reference data. A microfiche is a large piece of slide film on which thousands of pieces of data are captured and optically reduced to microscopic size. The data is organized in rows and columns, and accessed using a microfiche reader. A microfiche reader optically enlarges portions of the film to make them readable. A slide projector or scanner operates in the same manner. With a scanner, photo editing software, and a PDF capture utility, you can convert a microfiche to PDF format.
Connect a flatbed scanner to your computer. A scanner with a resolution of 7,200 dots per inch (or greater) is recommended.
Install Adobe Photoshop, or similar photo editing software, and set it up so that it recognizes your scanner. The application should remain open while scanning. Set image properties in the photo editing software. The resolution should be 6,400 dots per inch or higher, at a bit depth of 48 bits.
Install a PDF capture and conversion utility, such as PDF Writer Pro (see Resources).
Place the microfiche face down on the scanner glass. Ensure that the film is positioned correctly. Close the lid of the scanner.
Press the "Start" or "Scan" button to scan the item. Once scanned, the image of the microfiche should appear in your photo editing software. Save the item as a bitmap (.BMP) or JPEG (.JPG) file.
Open your PDF capture and conversion utility. Point it to the image file that you just created using your scanner. Save the file as a PDF document. Image resolution should be a minimum of 600 dots per inch, with 16-bit grayscale selected.
Tips
For better results, use a microfiche carrier that isolates the film from the remainder of the scanner glass. If a carrier is unavailable, you will have to make one from heavy white paper or card stock.
Some PDF conversion utilities can access a scanner directly.
Warnings
Many consumer-grade scanners have difficulty coping with the very fine resolution of a microfiche. As a general rule of thumb, if you can read some of the text on a microfiche with the naked eye, a high-resolution photo or film scanner should be sufficient to capture the microfiche data. If not, professional assistance will be required to convert the microfiche.
Images scanned at very high resolutions may produce large files. Therefore, ensure that your computer has sufficient memory and processing power to handle them.
If you are converting a microfiche for archival purposes, or need the best quality, a number of companies that specialize in microfiche conversion can scan it for you for a fee.
Dedicated microfiche scanners are available, but expensive. They may also require significant computing resources. The Scanpro 1000 is a good example of a dedicated microfiche and microfilm scanner.
References
Writer Bio
Steve Struthers has been writing professionally since 1992. His articles appear in business newsletters and on various intranet websites. Struthers also regularly creates and edits custom business correspondence. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Western Ontario.