Generation Imaging » About GI

2012 Microfilm Scanning Update

GenerationImaging — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:43:58 +0000

Microfilm scanning has been transferring microfilm documents to digital images for many years and chances are that we have all benefited in one way or another. After all, microfilm scanning has been used to convert microfilms from libraries, banks, hospitals and many other common organizations. This process has allowed these and many organizations to better service their customers and this could include you and me at one point or another. Since we are accustomed to a fast paced life style, we tend to demand faster response from our service providers, and microfilm scanning has help close the gap that existed and still exists in many cases. Microfilm scanning is the efficient and safe way to store and quickly retrieve document and this is precisely what allows providers to service customers quickly.

Although this has become a standard, there are many countries that somewhat lag in this technology advancements. Microfilm scanning requires very expensive equipment to be done well and in a timely manner. In addition to microfilm scanning which is used to create digital files from documents stored on microfilm, a good network and system is needed to transfer and process a large number of digital images. This is especially true if additional data processing and indexing is required after the microfilm scanning is complete. These and other obstacles has hindered many companies from advancing into the digital world and continue to operate using hard copy documents or microfilm.

Recently I interviewed a representative from a South America publishing company, who was looking into the possibility of using a microfilm scanning process to convert their large archive of newspaper document stored on 35mm microfilm. In addition, other publishing companies across South America had similar opportunities. The chances to apply microfilm scanning across many organizations and multiple countries with similar needs and similar information is very interesting. Microfilm scanning opens the door for creating a very large data bank that can be shared over the internet and provided to the general public.

Microfilm scanning has become more accessible to everyone thanks to the used of very fast microfilm scanning equipment and reliable delivery sources. A good microfilm scanning service provider can now provide these services at prices that are attainable to just about every organization. When looking for such microfilm scanning vendor, make sure that they can accomplish all your needs at the right price. The best way to do this is to request samples of the deliverable and a written statement with the price commitment. Some microfilm scanning vendors used inferior scanning equipment that can compromise quality. By requesting samples, you will see what your final project will look like upfront and can prevent future issues.

Happy New Year from Generation Imaging

GenerationImaging — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:07:05 +0000

The staff at Generation Imaging wishes you a happy and prosperous New Year. Initial polls show people are more hopeful this year than the last few years, so let’s hope that it translates into happiness and work for everyone.

As far as Generation Imaging goes, the growing Florida microfilm scanning company has posted increased revenues and profits every year since it has started thanks to its competitive prices, no corporate overhead, and efficient work.

Generation Imaging would like to thank all of its clients for using its microfilm, microfiche, aperture card, color slides, and document scanning services, in addition to 16mm archive writing services. Generation Imaging realizes that the client is always right, that prices need to be low in this current economy, that deadlines need to be met, and that if you are a reseller confidentiality will be respected. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Generation Imaging’s Microfilm Scanning Services

GenerationImaging — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:19:58 +0000

Generation Imaging is a Florida company owned by Damian Hospital and Dan Gandul that provides 16mm and 35mm microfilm scanning services. They met each other at Lorien Technologies and have been working together since 1998. Prior to Lorien Technologies, Dan worked at First American Real Estate, and in their microfilm scanning services division for 22 years.

Experiencing life is fun, but so is learning from experiences. Damian and Dan have committed themselves to making sure microfilm scanning services provided by G.I. Partners, LLC are efficiently provided to clients with no excuses.

G.I.’s microfilm scanning services include:

-Free quotes and sample testing.

-Creating an Inventory of roll film to compare to your list or database or to build one from scratch.

-Examining the film to make sure it can be scanned or damaged or repaired.

-Digitizing film at 200DPI to 400DPI (and in rare cases higher) as bi-tonal or greyscale images. File formats can be PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, ad various bi-tonal and greyscale image compressions.

-Images can be split, autocropped, manual cropped, grouped by blips, and named whatever you wish.

-All images are audited/check/modified using ribbon software, which guarantees that every image is detected and captured.

-Roll film projects can be outputed to CD, DVD, external drives, USB stick, FTP’ed, or fileshared.

-While your project is in progress and is it completes, you will be informed about it with updates. We will meet our deadline.

What is NOT included in our microfilm scanning services: bait and switch pricing, bad quality work, missed deadlines without notice, lack of communication, or sending your project overseas or to other companies. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Florida Microfilm Scanning

GenerationImaging — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:52:56 +0000

There are quite a few Florida microfilm scanning companies. It goes without saying that the state is big and has many different regions and cultures. The bigger the city, the more digital conversion bureaus. Generation Imaging is a Florida microfilm scanning company situated at the Davie – Plantation border, right off 595, near Fort Lauderdale in Broward County.

What factors go into making a decision about which Florida microfilm scanning company to use?

1- Location. For many Floridians, to be within driving distance is an important factor. In fact the first thing organizations who need roll film digitized check is for conversion companies in their area. The mentality is usually based on the fear of lost shipments, shipment costs, or having the film nearby.

Although these seem like valid concerns, much of the fear in not justified. First, USPS has tremendous competitive rates compared to Fed-Ex and UPS. More and more clients use and request USPS than ever before.

The risk of losing film in the mail may be pretty much the same of having an airplane crash. The chances of getting into a car accident on the way to the local company may be greater.

As far as having the film nearby, well there are many services people use that aren’t nearby and require sending things in the mail. Converting roll film is not like bringing your automobile into the mechanic.

2- Arguably, price is the most important element of choosing a Florida microfilm scanning service bureau. Generation Imaging has the lowest price structure for various reasons, including knowing the market, keeping overhead low (you know, like not spending an $8,000 monthly rent), and not engaging in corporate waste (such as paying employees to “keep them busy” or buying lunch for upper management every day. Generation Imaging is a wholesale Florida microfilm scanning company: no middle-men, no subcontracting, and no mark-up costs.

3- For clients that have been through the ringer of using multiple conversion companies, reputation of quality of service may actually supplant pricing. If you are tired of missed deadlines, poor quality images, bait and switch quotes, lack of communication, and up front money demands, give Generation Imaging a try for Florida microfilm scanning. Dan Gandul and Damian Hospital’s faces, phone numbers, and e-mails are all over the internet. They have nothing to hide. Their company is G.I. Partners, LLC, which handles Florida microfilm scanning. Dan and Damian will either supervise, manage, quality control, or in some cases actually digitize your roll film project. G.I. is 100% accountable and takes full responsibility for your project.

What exactly do you have to lose by switching Florida microfilm scanning companies by at least giving Dan and Damian a chance? Loyalty or habit? If you are truly satisfied with your current Florida microfilm scanning company- that’s fine. But if you’d like to at least see if you can save money on a Florida microfilm scanning quote, please feel free to contact us. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Scanning Microfilm Is Our Specialty

GenerationImaging — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:08:04 +0000

Scanning microfilm is a niche industry. Generation Imaging’s founders have been scanning microfilm for decades and can attest to all of the different types of roll film, how a project can start off easy enough but “changes” due to various types of issues, such as film density, film degradation, different reduction ratios, and of course G.I. has the ability to recognize and fix roll film scanners if something goes wrong.

Many companies who have an opportunity or need to convert a sizable roll film project first consider buying microfilm scanners. After they are hit with the price tag for a new machine: $65,000+ assorted fees, they may consider used equipment (cross your fingers on those holding up with no warranty) or less expensive scanners (which naturally output inferior quality). Then they may search for microfilm scanning services. There are many microfilm scanning companies out there, or at least there seems to be.

Here’s a little secret: many so-called microfilm scanning companies online are actually storefronts and middle-men. Others harvest your personal data and sell it. Others may engage in questionable labor practices. If you’d like to go direct for wholesale prices, please contact Generation Imaging for a microfilm scanning cost estimate.

Scanning microfilm at Generation Imaging isn’t just “work”, it’s been a major part of our lives and it’s our career and hobby. We are not fly-by nights, not part of a get rich scheme, do not run some scam, and will not subcontract services.

We assure you that if your organization is seriously considering investing in expensive scanners for a large project, that you should not underestimate everything that could go wrong for such a project. Scanning microfilm for the first time can be a nightmare. Founders Damian Hospital and Dan Gandul know all the ins-and-outs of scanning microfilm and will not waste your time or money on rescanning entire projects or apologizing for not having a quality control system. Generation Imaging will perform the process of scanning microfilm right the first time.

Generation Imaging: microfilm scanning experts

Training, labor, maintenance, network, software, and experience are all factors that go into scanning microfilm. Don’t get too cocky thinking you can pull this off from scratch. You can calculate the numbers yourself to determine the profit margins for scanning microfilm. Just be sure to include all of the x-factors that the machine vendors don’t tell you: rescans, machine breakdowns, software bugs, server problems, accidental deletions, labor issues, quality control standards, and bumps in the scanning microfilm workflow process.

As far as other companies go, instead of believing the hype from them or us, why not give us a chance like other new clients did (see testimonials): ask us for a microfilm scanning quote and send us a sample. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Northwest Microfilm Scanning Services

GenerationImaging — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:58:24 +0000

Many states and regions around the United States, like the Northwest, may be engaged in a microfilm conversion project to digitize their microfilm records, or a microfiche conversion job. Other cities in the Northwest that have not scanned microfilm or microfiche records will probably look at this possibility in the near future.

The end clients of these companies and the County, City, and State Governments in the Northwest may have great benefits from the microfilm conversion and microfiche scanning if performed by Generation Imaging. As an example, a government in the Northwest could have many millions of public records stored on microfiche. These records may need to be available to many users or have been mandated to be archived as a backup. Northwest companies may need to make sure that thousands of rolls of microfilm are inventoried in an efficient manner so that the microfilm can be located as needed.

It is also very important that in this case, companies or governments in the Northwest maintain a temperature control room to protect the microfilm from damage. In a case like this, they would also need to have staff available to manage the work related to this process. Another step towards protecting the integrity of microfilm may require that the Northwest business or government create a duplicated of each microfilm roll for a backup. Any time a duplicated roll is made, it may represent additional cost.

Once all the records are digitized, Northwest companies that have microfilm may be able to take advantage of an automated system. A digital storage and retrieval system may alleviate these Northwest microfilm bureaus from the continued burden of maintaining an enormous library of microfilm rolls or microfiche cards. A Northwest government agency may also be able to save customers time and reduce their own cost with a digital system in place. You may have fast access to records from a digital retrieval system. It is possible to have fast view of record by searching though a computer and not have to deal with microfilm rolls again. A system like this can save Northwest businesses and government entities lots of money and also save time.

If you have a need to convert rolls of microfilm, microfiche cards, aperture cards, or other types of microfilm, to digital format, contact us for additional information. We can help you create your own digital storage and retrieval system if you use microfilm rolls or microfiche cards.

Although Generation Imaging is located in Hollywood, South Florida (between Miami and Fort Lauderdale) we provide microfilm scanning services from all over the United States, including Northwest microfilm scanning services, and around the world. If you have any reservations about sending microfilm or microfiche from the Northwestern part of the United States (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast Alaska, Nevada, Northern Utah, Northern Colorado and California) contact us so we can alleviate your concerns. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Microfilm Scanning Bureau

GenerationImaging — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:13:27 +0000

Generation Imaging is a scanning bureau that uses the right kind of digital microfilm scanner to convert your microfilm, microfiche, aperture cards, and Kodak slides. Generation Imaging’s staff has decades of experience with using different types of digital microfilm scanners from various scanner manufacturers, like Sunrise, NextScan, Wicks & Wilson, Canon, Minolta, E Image Data, and others.

Generation Imaging is able to keep your microfilm scanning price down because of their low overhead. G.I. is an ideal partner for other scanning bureaus who wish to outsource microfilm scanning projects.

Why would other scanning bureaus that have scanning equipment outsource to Generation Imaging? There are quite a few reasons:

1) Scanning Costs- Depending on the volume, time-frame, and labor costs of your microfilm scanning project, it is very possible that G.I.’s scanning costs may actually be lower. Some scanning bureaus don’t have a smooth microfilm scanning production set up and it can really be a hassle sometimes.

2) Scanning equipment- not all digital microfilm scanners are created equal- some name brands are better than others, some scanners have additional modules, higher resolutions, more imaging filters, and faster image output rates. At the most basic level, some scanning bureaus don’t have a microfilm scanner, microfiche scanner, aperture card scanner, or Kodak slide scanner.

3) Work Overflow- there are some microfilm scanning projects that are so big, that a scanning bureau needs to either buy a new digital scanner or partner up with another scanning bureau. Some scanning bureaus can be hit with a bunch of smaller projects that need to be outsourced as well.

4) Film Scanning service- at Generation Imaging, co-founders Damian Hospital and Dan Gandul are trustworthy, efficient, productive, technically orientated, and practice outstanding customer service.

5) Corporate pricing- some scanning bureaus get handcuffed by their corporate office when it comes to giving low prices for an internal microfilm conversion. Subcontracting the film scanning service to G.I. is an excellent alternative.

6) Microfilm government RFP bids- in addition to offering low microfilm, microfiche, and aperture card scanning prices so scanning bureaus can be in a better position to win government RFPs, G.I. also provides other micrographic services, such as microfilming, archive writing, Florida document scanning, microfilm duplication, paper blowback printing, and more. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

Trusting a Microfilm Scanning Company

GenerationImaging — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:24:30 +0000

Although in today’s economy price has become the main dictator for many when choosing a microfilm scanning company to perform such scanning services as microfilm conversion, microfiche digitizing, aperture card scanning, microfilming, archive writing, paper scanning, and other processes, trust should go a long way as well.

What is trust? For a business-to-business relationship that means Generation Imaging understands that you have deadlines and need a certain standard of quality. Many times in this industry there is confidentially with subcontracting microfilm scanning, and Generation Imaging respects that.

Damian Hospital, who has been the customer service point-man for the last two decades in this industry has never violated confidentiality or gone after end clients for subcontracted microfilm jobs. Damian has never manipulated clients in bid situations and always gives the same price if two or more companies are competing for the same project. Damian is an extension of your production crew, sales team, and technical support.

Dan Gandul’s reputation for honesty and integrity is well known throughout the Florida microfilm scanning production circles- some even say he’s too honest. Dan and Damian both do the right thing when it comes to pricing, service, business ethics, and communication. GI has the personal references to show this.

Damian and Dan are not afraid or shy to put their faces on the front page because Generation Imaging’s whole appeal is that these two men will be 100% responsible for your microfilm project. When it comes to skill, Damian and Dan are known as the cream of the crop when it comes to setting up scanners up and running production here in Sunny Florida- bar none- just ask around. When it comes to digital imaging technical skill, you can be rest assured that Generation Imaging will bring out the best potential of your images and microfilm.

Dan and Damian have put their reputations on the line with Generation Imaging and they will not let you down. GI is willing to scan one roll or one microfiche for a small minimum fee, and GI stands ready to scan large volume microfilm and microfiche projects. GI is open-minded and strives for mutually beneficial partnerships.

About the Co-Founders of Generation Imaging

Daniel Gandul and Damian Hospital worked together at Lorien Technologies for over ten years. Damian Hospital held senior position in marketing and customer service. He played a major role in developing customer relations, assisting with technical expertise, training key production personnel, and servicing customer accounts. In addition, Damian is a technical writer and scanner operator.

Daniel Gandul was a co-founder of Lorien Technologies and was the VP of production operations. As part of the senior management team, he was also responsible for developing company plans and company budgets. Prior to Lorien Technologies, Daniel worked for First American Real Estate solutions for over 22 years. He was part of the management team and had the responsibilities for the operation of multiple production departments, including the development and operations of the microfilm scanning department. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC

List of Generation Imaging Services

GenerationImaging — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:01:31 +0000

Generation Imaging offers a wide-range of digital imaging and microfilm scanning services, such as:

16mm and 35mm microfilm scanning
microfiche scanning
aperture card scanning
microfilming
archive writing
Florida document scanning
high volume color slides
data entry and indexing
image processing (PDF, TIFF, OCR conversions)
Paper blowbacks (printing)

G.I. Partners, LLC of Florida is very open-minded about providing services for you even if you have your own microfilm equipment. Sometimes it may be more cost-effective or quicker to subcontract work to us. We can offer excellent pricing for RFP government bids as well. We want to foster mutually beneficial business-to-business relationships. Copyright G.I. Partners, LLC