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Clubroom => Foto Forum => Topic started by: LWC82PE on December 02, 2007, 03:49:06 pm

Title: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on December 02, 2007, 03:49:06 pm
after haveing a little read in this topic i thought it might be good place to ask this.

i have some suzuki microfiche cards i want printed off or developed somehow.

all i want is for each diagram and parts numbers to fit onto A4 sheets of paper.

ive searched around everyhere, rang photo/film shops, tryed libraries etc with no real success and everone giveing a lead to some place else that couldnt end up helping.

the only success i had so far was the State library who said they can transfer each card to CD but the cost was out of this world. i think it was going to cost $10 to convert each image into a format for CD and then another $5 to burn the image to CD. i think it was going to cost me over $1000 a card!!!!!

they also said they could print them for me but that was still going to cost about $250-$500 per card

its not that hard to find places or bike dealers with Microfiche readers but not many people have the printers.

so at this stage if i can just get them printed some how then i can scan the pages into JPEGs and get them on CD myslelf.

the images are in negative form so need to be swaped round so its black text on white backround.

is there anyone one with the knowledge on this hi tech stuff and has any fancy old skool microfiche/computer hardware and can either transfer the microfiche cards to CD's for me at a reasonable price or can simply print off each page and im willing to pay for paper and for some of your time to do it. the 2 main cards i desperatly want printed or put on CD's are brand new so no cleaning up of images would be required.
any one work at a dealer who could do this for me maybe?

can anyone help me with this??

Thanks
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Lozza on December 02, 2007, 05:17:29 pm
Unfortunately it doesn't work well now but at work we had such a printer(fische to A4).Ask any Telstra blokes you see around to find out if the fishe printer still works at their depot(if they have a depot).
HTH
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Hoony on December 02, 2007, 05:58:51 pm
LWC, check out the trading Post and Ebay. i bought a Microfiche reader for $40 15 years ago and for every bike i get the fiche to suit from a dealer (they are cheap to buy last one i got was $5 new i think, some dealers give them away as they have 2 copies for lod models). they should be nearly worthless technology now so see how you go.

i know you would rather the printed copies but this is a cheaper alternative.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: vmx42 on December 03, 2007, 07:22:36 pm
Hi LWC,
you need to find a mate with a high quality flat bed scanner. If you can find one with sufficient optical resolution, its a simple task to scan the microfiche and invert the scan [turn the black bits to white and the white bits to black].

The simpliest way to tell if the scanner is adequate is to try it. You will end up with a very large file [if it is too large for your computer then do it in smaller sections] and then you simply copy each page into a separate file and save in your preferred format.

the key is getting the right scanner. Ask your mates.
Good luck
VMX42
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on December 04, 2007, 08:48:07 pm
i guess getting buying the equipment my self could be an option i didnt think of
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Tony T on December 04, 2007, 11:19:23 pm
Good thought Jeff.
I've got a Canon one in the cupboard that I used to scan slides on. I haven't used it in a couple of years but it still should work fine.
It's supposed to scan to something silly like 3200 dpi so it may be a possibility. And just round the corner too.  ;D
I'm laid up crook for a couple if days at least, but give me a ring or pm later in the week and I'll drag it out and give it a try.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on December 05, 2007, 09:09:38 pm
yep no worries i just gotta find the time. things are getting hectic!
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Tony T on December 05, 2007, 09:34:46 pm
It's not going anywhere, so when you're ready, let me know.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on December 05, 2007, 10:00:42 pm
oh i totally forgot i got Andy at Strength to try scanning them for me but it didnt work, but i dont know if a really really good hi res scanner would be any better?. i cant believe i forgot that we tryed that!
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Tony T on December 05, 2007, 11:30:38 pm
It would probably be expensive, but if you could find someone with a darkroom and good quality enlarger, you could probably do something with that.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: GMC on December 08, 2007, 03:02:22 pm
Scanning may work with a high res scanner, but not just any old scanner. A microfiche is similar to a neg. or slide so try a scanner with a back light attachment for doing slides, or was that what you tried already?
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on December 08, 2007, 07:57:39 pm
i reckon what we tried was just a normal scanner but we sat there for 10 or 15 mins for it to scan but it was no good. ive been told by a few people you can take it to a photo shop and they can get it on CD no problems, so i will go back to basics and actually go into a photo shop and try that. sometimes the people you get on the phone have no idea.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: mboddy on January 13, 2008, 07:48:56 am
ive been told by a few people you can take it to a photo shop and they can get it on CD no problems
How did this turn out?
What resolution did they scan at?

I have used a film scanner at 4000dpi and they turned out very well but I had to cut the fiche to get it into the slide holder.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on January 13, 2008, 09:03:39 am
i sort of came to a dead end on this, plus i havent had time to do any more on it. ive got a week off in 2 weeks so i might go the option of the state library, i really dont know yet, i know i want to work on my bikes that week.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Tony T on January 13, 2008, 12:52:25 pm
Good thought Jeff.
I've got a Canon one in the cupboard that I used to scan slides on. I haven't used it in a couple of years but it still should work fine.
It's supposed to scan to something silly like 3200 dpi so it may be a possibility. And just round the corner too.  ;D
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on January 16, 2008, 06:16:55 pm
so you reckon you have the scanner to do it. dould you have any spare time next week? i may be able to come round then and we can try it.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Tony T on January 16, 2008, 06:34:24 pm
I can't guarantee it without trying, Leith. But I'm more than happy to spend a little time and try it out.
It scans and transperancies (which microfische is) so in theory should work quite well.
We can save to CD or print or both. Whatever you like.
1. It's free. and 2. you don't have to go to Adelaide.  ;D
I'll get it out and set it up on the weekend.
How does Wednesday next week suit?
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: LWC82PE on January 16, 2008, 06:47:47 pm
hi, i will email you about this for further details. i hope i will have time, im flat out trying to get a tank finished and article written for the next issue of VMX.
Title: Re: printing/developing microfiche cards
Post by: Viper79 on January 19, 2008, 05:54:52 pm
There is actually a microfiche reader that will print out A4 copy's. I printed out a complete parts list for my RM 400. You will find most big motorcycle shops will have one.  The one we have at work is a Canon.

Viper 79