Professional Aperture Card Scanning & Digital Conversion

Scale your engineering archives with high-volume, high-resolution digitization from our team of experts

High-Volume Precision for Large-Scale Archives

Managing hundreds of thousands of documents requires more than just a scanner—it requires a proven process. We utilize production-level scanners capable of processing massive volumes monthly while maintaining exceptional image quality.

• Dual-Stream Technology: Our advanced equipment captures bi-tonal (B&W) and grayscale images simultaneously. This ensures you get sharp text and clear detail in a single pass.
• Automated Indexing: We instantly extract Hollerith (punched) data to index your files automatically. For cards without punched data, our team provides manual indexing from header text or digital images to ensure total searchability.

Trusted by Industry Leaders

With over 10 million aperture cards digitized to date, Smooth Solutions is the premier choice for organizations with critical data needs. Our portfolio includes successful projects for:

• Defense & Military: US Navy, Army, and Military
• Energy & Utilities: Nuclear plants, electric, and gas utility providers.
• High-Tech Manufacturing: Aerospace firms and complex global manufacturers.
• Public Sector: State and county governments.

The Benefits of Going Digital

• Modernizing your archives future-proofs your business and streamlines daily operations.
• Instant Accessibility: Retrieve critical technical data in seconds rather than digging through filing cabinets.
• Global Collaboration: Securely share engineering drawings across different plants or continents instantly.
• Cost & Space Savings: Eliminate bulky reader-printer machines and reclaim expensive office space while cutting maintenance costs.
• Disaster Recovery: Protect your one-of-a-kind historical records with secure, encrypted digital backups.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is an aperture card?
  An aperture card is a standard IBM punch card with a cutout window (“aperture”) that holds a piece of 35mm microfilm. These were primarily used to store large-format engineering drawings and architectural plans.
• What is “Hollerith” data?
  Hollerith data refers to the specific patterns of holes punched into the card stock. These holes represent encoded information like drawing numbers or project names. Our specialized scanners read these punches during the scan to automatically index and name your files.
• Can you scan cards that don’t have punch holes?
  Yes. Many collections include “Standard” aperture cards without punches. For these, we manually index the data by typing information from the printed title block at the top of the card or by viewing the scanned microfilm image.
• Will the digital image be scaled correctly?
  Our scanners are calibrated to capture high-resolution images that maintain the original scale and dimensions of your technical drawings. This ensures that the digital copy is a true 1:1 representation of the original film.
• How many cards do I have?
  If you don’t have an exact count, you can estimate your volume by measuring your storage. A standard rule of thumb is that 1 inch of cards equals approximately 100 cards when squeezed together.
• What happens to my physical cards after scanning?
  Once the project is complete and you’ve approved the digital files, we can either return your physical cards to you or provide secure certified shredding and disposal services.
• How much does aperture card scan cost?
  Pricing typically ranges from $0.25 to $2.99 per card. The final cost depends on your total volume, the complexity of the indexing requirements, and the physical condition of the film.