Microfilm’s History
Introduced in the early 20th century and widely adopted by the 1930s, microfilm became a reliable method for preserving large volumes of records in a compact, durable format. Libraries, government agencies, educational institutions, and businesses embraced microfilm to safeguard valuable documents while significantly reducing storage requirements.
Today, microfilm scanning transforms microfilm and microfiche—containing miniature photographic reproductions of documents—into accessible digital files. This process helps preserve valuable historical, legal, and institutional records while enhancing accessibility, information sharing, and long-term preservation. Through indexing and optical character recognition (OCR), digitized records can become searchable, enabling users to locate information quickly using keywords. By reducing reliance on traditional microfilm readers, digitization streamlines information retrieval, improves records management, and brings archival collections into the modern digital environment.
Our Microfilm & Microfiche Scanning Services
Microfilm & Microfiche Conversion
IDI uses nextScan ribbon technology to efficiently convert microfilm and microfiche collections into high-quality digital images, including searchable PDF files when OCR is appropriate. Transform difficult-to-access archival collections into digital files that are easier to search, share, and manage.
Industries We Serve
FAQs
Document Scanning and Digitization Services: We work with almost every type of document. This includes books, correspondence, meeting minutes, newsletters, newspapers, magazines, and other common materials. We also handle more specialized items such as maps, architectural drawings, microfilm and microfiche, and a wide range of multimedia including photographs, slides, negatives, 8mm and 16mm film, VHS, Mini DV, audio cassettes, and reel‑to‑reel recordings. If it needs to be digitized, we can almost always accommodate it.
We provide files in whatever format best fits your workflow. The most common are searchable PDFs, TIFFs, and JPEGs. We can also provide data in XML or CSV formats for easy import into your existing Document Management System (DMS).
Yes. We offer “Scan-on-Demand” services. If you urgently need a file that is currently in our queue, our team will locate it, scan it immediately, and securely email or upload it to you within hours.
We offer three options: we can securely return your documents in their original order, provide long-term archival storage, or perform certified shredding with a Certificate of Destruction once you have verified your digital files.
Absolutely. Security is our top priority. Our facilities follow strict Chain of Custody protocols, and our staff is background-checked. We maintain compliance with HIPAA and other data privacy regulations to ensure your sensitive information is protected from the moment it leaves your office.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that converts the text in a digital image into machine-readable data. Every document we scan is processed with OCR, allowing you to search your entire archive by keywords, names, or invoice numbers in seconds.
Yes. IDI specializes in converting legacy media like 16mm/35mm microfilm and microfiche into high-resolution digital formats. We use “Ribbon Scanning” technology to ensure no frames are missed and to improve the legibility of old or scratched film.
