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Microfilm / Microform Scanners

Introducing Myrtle

Myrtle's capabilities
•    Microfilm type: 35 or 16 mm Reels only (no microfiche)
•    Digital images available? Yes
•    Printing: Dedicated printer, 8.5 x 11" paper.

Myrtle’s Story

The Minolta 6000 recently was given a new motor after it began groaning (loudly) when we tried to print. This machine will let you either print from microfilm or send images to the computer as a PDF if you prefer a digital copy of your information! 
Someday soon we will need to give up the printer that is attached to this machine since the toner cartridges are no longer available. When that time comes, we hope to connect it to the printer used by the Minolta 700 (Gene). 

Minolta 7000 microfilm scanner with a printer to the right and a computer to the left.

Turn on machine

Turn on Machine.

The power switch can be found on the front, right side of the machine.

Image of right side of microfilm machine where the power switch can  be found.

Loading Reels

Myrtle works only with reels of film, not microfiche.

Image of microfilm reel and microfiche.

In addition to these instructions, a diagram is also available on the machine for loading microfilm.

Close-up of film-loading instructions on the microfilm machine.

 

Loading the Reel

The microfilm available at Ort Library is 35mm. However, if you have 16mm film, you will need to adjust the take-up reel to accommodate this. (If using 35mm film, just double-check that the size is set to 35mm if you are having difficulty loading the film.)  To change the film size, look for the area in front of the lens which says either 16 or 35 mm. Move the metal part to the right of the measurement forward or back to change as needed.

 

Close-up of film-loading instructions on the microfilm machine. and Close up of option for changing film size to 16mm or 35mm. This images shows 35mm.

The reel of film should be loaded onto the spindle on the left side of the machine. Note that the center of the reel is square-shaped, and that the base of the spindle is also square shaped. Line these when putting the reel onto the spindle. Press firmly to push the reel back as far as possible.

Image of a plastic microfilm reel. The square hole in the center is highlighted. and Image of the metal spindle that the microfilm reel is loaded onto. The square shape of the spindle at the base is highlighted.

Also be sure that the film comes off the reel from over the top, rather than from underneath.

Image of microfilm reel being loaded onto the spindle with an arrow showing that the film should be coming over the top and to the right of the reel.

Pull the lever with the arrow toward you, and then swing it up and to the right. Place the film on top of the black roller. Do not push the film across the glass. The “Load” button will take care of this. Press the lever back down on top of the film.

Four photos together: Close-up image of the lever used for loading film and holding it in place.; Image of the lever used to load film and hold it in place when it is in the open position.; Image of microfilm positioned above the roller.; Image of the lever used to load film and hold in place after it has been closed over the microfilm.

On the control pad. Press the load button. This will load the film onto the take-up reel on the right.

Image of the microfilm control pad with the load button highlighted.

 

Adjusting and moving through the film

The knob at the front of the film carrier can be used to move the film toward and away from you.  This is necessary for making sure that it is in the right place under the lens.

Image of the microfilm carrier with the knob on the front, left highlighted to show that it is turned to move the carrier forward and back.

The knob on the right side of the controller pad is used to advance and rewind the film.  (Turn away from you to advance and turn toward you to reverse it.) The farther that the knob moves from the center spot, the faster the film will move forward or in reverse.

Close-up of the forward and reverse knob which is located on the side of the control pad.

Adjusting the Image on the Screen

Grey and blue knobs above the lens are used for zooming in/out and focusing. Blue (top) will zoom and grey (bottom) will focus.

The knob on the bottom, right of the screen can be used to rotate the image.
 

Close up of the lens with the gray and blue wheels which are used for focusing and zooming images. and Image of microfilm viewer controls with the rotation knob at lower right highlighted.

Printing Images

The printer can be found to the left side of the microfilm scanner. It is loaded with 8.5 X 11” paper.
The control for printing is the green button that appears on the front of the machine.
The outline on the screen will help you determine what part of the image will be printed.  
Since this machine can send images to both the printer as well as to a digital file, make sure that there is a number appearing on the indicator above the green button. (This indicates the number of pages to be printed.) If the indicator says Pc, then the images are being directed to a computer.   (See the section on Digital Scanning  (page 11 )to learn more about this function.)
 

Image of the microfilm scanner and printer with the green printing button highlighted.

If you wish to print, but the indicator shows that it is set to “Pc”, hold down shift  (on the right) and then PC/PR button (left), and wait until the screen changes to a “1”.  For multiple copies, press the left button.

Close up of microfilm scanner controls with indicator light showing Pc  Close up of microfilm scanner controls with indicator light showing 1.

Additional Printing Adjustments

Controls to the right of the screen will allow you to adjust the printed/scanned image.  The most common options are:

1.    Lighten/Darken
2.    Film Type used if you are viewing negative film (white print on black background). The “Auto” setting should usually adjust this for you.
 

Close up of microfilm scanning controls, including the options for lightening and darkening the image and for selecting negative or positive film type.

 

When Finished

Remove Film

Turn the knob on the attached control pad all the way toward you to quickly rewind the film. When the film has been completely removed from the take-up reel, move the controller back to the center point (marked by the middle line so that the spindle stops turning.
Pull film from spindle. Return to box, and place film on the reshelving cart when finished.
 

Close-up of the forward and reverse knob which is located on the side of the control pad.

Please remember to turn the power off on the microfilm reader.
Return your film by placing it on the designated cart. Library staff will return the film to the drawers.
 

Image of specially labeled cart for returning used microfilm.

Digital Images - Single Image

This machine will also allow you to send images to a digital file rather than to the printer. Log in to the computer to the right of Myrtle. (Community members will need a community borrower card and a temporary login to access the computer. Please visit the main desk to make this request.)

To change to digital scan, note the blue alternative labels underneath the two white buttons. Hold down shift (1) and then PC/PR (2) button and wait until the indicator changes to Pc. (Pc indicates that images will be sent to a digital file, rather than to the printer.)

These directions are divided into those needed for saving a single image to a digital file or for saving multiple (batch) images to a single document. (Skip ahead to the next box to scan batch images. However, be sure to read the warning about file types and image quality before choosing the batch option.)

Close up of microfilm scanner controls with indicator light showing 1. AND Close up of microfilm scanner controls with indicator light showing Pc.

Single Digital Image

Find image

Please use the instructions in previous boxes for loading film and finding/adjusting the desired image.

Open the imaging software

On the computer closest to this machine, open the Imaging software from the computer desktop.
 

Icon of the imaging software found on computer desktop.

Acquire Image:

Select File, then

Select Acquire Image
 

Screenshot of imaging software with "File" and "Acquire image" highlighted.

Enter the size of the image.

If you choose 8.5 x 11” (P), it will capture the image that appears within the portrait-oriented outline on the screen. If you select 11 x 17” (L) it will capture the image that appears within the landscape-oriented outline on the screen.

To scan that image, click Scan.
 

Screenshot of imaging software with "Scan size" and "Scan" button highlighted.

View the Scanned Image

The quality of the image may be poor at first. However, usually it “cleans up” after it has been saved.

If, after saving the image there are still problems, make adjustments as needed with the machine or the software tools. Request staff assistance with this if needed.
 

Image of low-quality initial scan.

Save the Scanned Image

Select file, then save as to save the image to your network folder or to a USB drive.

The file type defaults to a “TIFF” file, but this can be changed to other file types such as .jpg if needed. 
 

Screenshot of imaging software with file types highlighted.

Note how the image is much clearer after it has been saved.

Screenshot of imaging software with file types highlighted.

 

Digital Images - Batch Images

WARNING 

Please be aware that the software will not allow you to save images scanned in a batch to a PDF or to multiple image files other than as a TIFF file. There are options for saving images to word documents after scanning the text, but this usually does not work well for newspaper articles and other documents that combine text and images. The TIFF option is recommended to avoid errors.

Find image

Please use the instructions in previous boxes for loading film and finding/adjusting the desired image.

Open the imaging software

On the computer closest to this machine, open the Imaging software from the computer desktop.

Screenshot of imaging software icon
 

Acquire Image

Select File, then
Select Acquire Image
 

Screenshot of imaging software with "File" and "Acquire image" highlighted.

Enter the size of the image. If you choose 8.5 x 11” (P), it will capture the image that appears within the portrait-oriented outline on the screen. If you select 11 x 17” (L) it will capture the image that appears within the landscape-oriented outline on the screen.
The images that follow in the batch should also fit that size.
Enter a check next to Batch Scan Mode.
To scan that image, click Scan.
 

Screenshot of imaging software with Scan size, batch scan check box, and scan button highlighted.

Acquire additional images

After acquiring the first image, move to the microfilm machine and find the next image. 
The indicator under the screen on the machine should say PC, to indicate that images are being sent to the computer rather than to the printer.
Press the green Start button on the microfilm machine to scan the next image.
Repeat this for each image to be captured. (There is no need to return to the computer until after you have scanned the final image.)
 

Scanning button with indicator showing "Pc"

Finish Scanning

After the last image in the batch has been scanned, return to the computer, and click Done. 
 

Screenshot of imaging software "done" button highlighted/

Review Scanned Images

All the pages scanned within the batch will appear in a single file. Use the paging option at top (circled) to review each scan. Also note that the quality of these image will be much improved after they have been saved.
 

Screenshot of imaging software with page navigation option highlighted.

Save the Scanned Image

Select File, then Save As to save the file to your network folder or to a USB drive. Note that some file types like PDF, JPG, or BMP are not available for multi-page files. To save images, TIFF is recommended.  If you save to a word processing document, then the software will scan the text and save that rather than the exact image on the screen.  There will most likely be errors in the text that is captured.
 

Screenshot of imaging software with file types highlighted.