Microfiche scanning

[Jim Leonard]

Jim Leonard wrote:
> Depends on the scanner.  Mine is optical 1200x2400 and cost $200, it 
> handles fiche just fine.  I just put a white sheet of paper behind it 
> before I start scanning.

CORRECTION:  Filmstrip, not microfiche.  My apologies.

So what *is* enough?  The last microfiche I read at my local library was 12 
pages by 16 pages on a 4"x6" film, so we have roughly (12/4)*(16/6)=8 pages per 
inch of film.  150 DPI is the absolute bare minimum for a readable page, so a 
scanner would need a minimum resolution of (150*8)=1200 DPI just to get 
something discernable.  A better bet is 2400 DPI for easily readable text, and 
4800 DPI if you want to be able to make out line drawings.  So it *is* possible 
with a consumer scanner of 2400 DPI optical or greater -- just make sure, as 
someone else earlier already wrote, that it is a true 2400, and not 1200x4800 
(ie rectangular pixels).
-- 
Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org)                    http://www.oldskool.org/
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