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Aperture Card Scanning

Our team of experts specialises in scanning and converting historical drawings that are stored on aperture cards into high-quality digital images in various formats such as TIFF, PDF, and JPEG.

aperture cards

Aperture Cards Scanning and Conversion Services

Our expert team offers a comprehensive service that involves scanning historical drawings stored on aperture cards and converting them into high-quality digital images. The resulting digital images can be saved in a variety of formats, including TIFF, PDF, and JPEG, depending on the client’s needs.

The scanning process involves capturing the image of the aperture card using advanced aperture card scanning technology to ensure a high level of accuracy, clarity and image scaling. Our team takes care to ensure that every detail of the original drawing is captured in the digital image, providing a true like-for-like representation of the original drawing.

Once the scanning process is complete, the digital images can be indexed and catalogued according to the client’s specifications. This enables easy access to the images and ensures that they are organised and easy searchable.

Our team is highly experienced in handling historical drawings and aperture cards, and we take every precaution to ensure that the original documents are handled with care. We understand the importance of preserving these historical documents for future archives and take pride in our role in helping to safeguard them.

aperture card image checking

Our Process for Aperture Cards Scanning and Indexing Services

Collection

We offer secure collection services that operate across the UK, to ensure hassle-free delivery of our customers’ data. Our top priority is to deliver data securely and on time, providing our clients with peace of mind and a reliable service they can count on.

aperture card

Scanning

Our advanced technology enables us to convert aperture cards into high-resolution digital images in various image formats such as PDF, TIFF, and JPEG. We provide a scanning service that ensures high-quality results, allowing for efficient digital data management and access.

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Indexing

Our comprehensive indexing service allows for the effortless indexing of data using drawing reference number, titles, and issue numbers, etc. We’ve designed our indexing method to handle any volume of data and it can be easily scaled for larger volumes.

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Delivery

Upon completion of the aperture card scanning process, our customers can receive the final data through various means, such as our secure download portal, a USB stick or hard drive. We can also provide our Halogen and Pearl Cloud systems to manage large volume of drawings.

Aperture Card Drawing Conversion and Indexing Options

We offer a professional indexing service for drawings scanned from aperture cards. Our indexing process involves assigning searchable and meaningful metadata to each drawing, making it easier for our clients to categorise, organise and retrieve their valuable historical or technical drawings.

Here’s how our indexing service works:

  • Each drawing is assigned a unique identifier, such as a drawing number
  • Further index data can be added to the digital record, including the drawing’s title, date, author, sheet number, issue  number, and any other relevant details
  • The metadata is indexed in the form of file name (file name convention) and can be stored in a searchable database that can be accessed using specialised software such as our document storage and retrieval software Halogen and Pearl Cloud

Our indexing service provides the following benefits:

  • Efficient and easy access to valuable historical or technical drawings
  • Reduced time and effort required to locate and retrieve specific drawings
  • Improved organisation and categorisation of drawings for easy reference and retrieval
  • Preserved information for future archives

At Pearl Scan, we understand the importance of efficient and effective indexing needs, and we’re committed to providing our clients with a reliable and professional service that meets their unique needs.

document indexing

Image Enhancement

We also offer a professional post scan image processing service to digitally enhance and optimise drawings that have been scanned from aperture card microfilms. Our advanced image processing software is used to crop, deskew and remove dark shadows or unfocused parts of the image to ensure the highest quality output. Here’s how our service works:

First, we scan the aperture card films using our industrial high-resolution scanners to achieve the best image quality. Then, we import the scanned images into our image processing software, where we can crop the image to remove unnecessary borders and edges, and focus on the drawing itself.

Next, we deskew the image to straighten any lines or curves that may be off-center. We use our software to adjust the brightness, contrast, and exposure to remove any dark shadows and improve the overall image quality. We can also sharpen and apply noise reduction tools to selectively enhance the focused parts of the drawing while minimising the impact of any unfocused areas.

The above image processing work can be carried out on individual drawings or batch of drawings, using both manual or fully automated method, depending on our client’s requirements.

Once the image has been cropped, deskewed, and optimised, we save it as a high-resolution file in a format such as TIFF or PDF, ensuring easy access and future reference or sharing. Our professional service helps to enhance and optimise drawings scanned from aperture card films, making them clearer and easier to read, while preserving their historical significance.

aperture card scanning in progress
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FAQs - Aperture Card Scanning and Conversion to Digital Format

An aperture card is a type of punched card that contains a cut-out or aperture for holding 35mm microfilm. These cards were commonly used to store engineering drawings, architectural plans, and other types of technical documents in the pre-digital era. The microfilm on the card can be viewed and printed using a microfilm reader or scanner. Although aperture cards are less commonly used today, they are still encountered in certain industries and archives.

The aperture card scanning process involves feed & aligning the aperture card correctly in the scanner by using either manual and automated feeder (depending on the condition and the original storage format of the cards), adjusting the scanner settings, scanning the image using a high-resolution camera, and reviewing the image for quality assurance. Once scanned, the digital image can be saved in various file formats such TIFF and PDF and securely delivered to the client.

Yes, our aperture card scanners capture high-resolution images to the correct reduction ratio, that retain the details and dimensions of the original drawings, making it possible for our aperture card scanning services to scan drawings stored on aperture cards to their original scale.

Yes, we provide onsite scanning and conversion of aperture cards for clients who prefer to have their documents digitised at their own premises. Our team of experts can bring our specialised aperture card scanners to your location and perform the scanning and conversion process on-site. This service offers clients greater convenience, control, and security over their documents, as well as faster turnaround times. We work closely with clients to ensure that the onsite scanning process is tailored to their specific needs and requirements.

Yes, our team of experts is trained to handle aperture cards and other delicate documents with the utmost care and attention. We understand the importance of maintaining the original order and condition of the aperture cards to ensure that clients can easily locate and retrieve their documents after the scanning process.

CAD Conversion

We offer a comprehensive service for converting engineering drawings to CAD format, using state-of-the-art technology and a team of skilled professionals. Our CAD conversion process starts with a thorough analysis of the source drawings to determine the best approach for conversion. We then use high-resolution scanners to capture the details of the original drawings, and our skilled technicians use specialised software to convert or manually draft (As necessary) the scanned images into accurate and detailed CAD drawings. We can convert drawings in a range of formats, including AutoCAD (DWG/DXF), SolidWorks, and Inventor.

Our CAD conversion services can help businesses improve their design processes, reduce errors, and enhance their ability to share and collaborate on engineering drawings.

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Do You Really Need Aperture Cards?

Everybody wants to save space where they can. But, before you start investing in the latest foldaway furniture, take a look at those boxes of aperture cards instead.

Space Saving

Modernise Your Aperture Cards Today

Today, aperture cards are no longer the most convenient way to store large engineering drawings. If you’ve still got drawings stored, scanning them can be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Modernising aperture cards