If you are looking to do large volume scanning projects, please take time to
check if there is exisiting microfilm of those records. It is significantly
less expensive to convert the microfilm images to digital with virtually no
loss of quality if you have high quality microfilm. Several reasons are that
you have already invested in the labor intensive "handling and preparation"
of the hard copy phase of the conversion at the time of filming, the images
have already been standardized as black and white images and the film to
digital conversion process is automated. 
 
We are using 200 DPI for standard document applications and 300 DPI for
large format conversions. IRC did some comprehensive testing for the State
Assessors regarding the quality differences between scanning microfilm
versus scanning original large format blueprints and mylars. It was
determined that at 300 DPI there was virtually no difference in the quality
of the scanned film images over taking time to handle, prep and scan the
original blueprints or mylars.  
 
The main difference was discovered at the time we tried to re-print the
plats to their original 24x36 size on the plotters which was when we were
able to see obvious differences between the 200 DPI and 300 DPI scans. There
was still no difference between the quality of the scans from film or
original hard copy! 
 
I have these samples available on disk for anyone interested in taking a
look for themselves! 
 
 
Janie Wait 
 
 
Janie Wait, CRM, MBA 
President 
Director of Marketing 
Intermountain Record Center, Inc 
3765 Airport Parkway, Casper, WY 82604 
PO Box 2770, Mills, WY 82644 
307-265-9553 
307-237-8225 
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www.intermountainrecords.com

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