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Micro -Film, -Fiche, and -Card Scanner

An overview of digitization equipment in the Freedman Center with step-by-step instructions.

Opening Program

1. Insert the key into the USB port on the left side of the monitor. Computer will open automatically to the Freedman Center main page. Minimize for future use.

*** PLEASE NOTE: From this point forward there will be MINIMAL manual/physical adjustments to the scanner itself.

  • Do NOT move the scanner. 
  • Do NOT pull the scanning bed out of the scanner. 
  • Remove ALL items from in front of & the sides of the scanner. 
  • Do NOT touch the scanner unless loading MicroFilm or placing MicroFiche-Card on glass.
  • The process is otherwise automatic from the computer.
     

2. On the desktop, find the “PowerScan 3500” icon and open:

***This will take a few moments to load. If it seems to get stuck or not respond, please be patient, the scanner is loading!

3. Choose the type of material you are viewing. Reels of film will use the arms, while flat film/ cards will lay between the glass. 

Selection Window

The Green Selection Window

                    

When you open up the software, this is your viewfinder! Whatever is scanned through the scanner will be done with this green selection window.

  • You can manipulate the window;

    • Stretching and increasing/decreasing its length or width.

    • Proportionally changing the window’s size by pulling a corner.

    • Grabbing the entire green window and moving to a preferred image. 

  • You can even grab the window and move to the left or right edge of the screen and quickly move the camera that direction.

The Red Selection Window

The Green Selection Window may go red. This is just the scanner telling you, “Hey, I cannot pick up any information! Fix me so that I can do that!” 

1. Change your "Film Type." 

a. Your viewpoint may be in “Black Out” mode, which really just means that the light is shining from above on an object that instead needs light shining from below. Change to a positive image or negative image.

                    

Positive Image (Light from Below)                Negative Image (Light from Below)

2. Adjust "Brightness." 

a. If viewing Microcards and the red selection window appears even on the correct "Film Type" setting, adjust the brightness until the image comes into view.