We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hardware

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Microfilm?

By Shannon Kietzman
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 73,800
Share

Originally developed in the 1800s, microfilm did not get put to significant use until the late 1920s. When it was first developed, banker George McCarthy held the patent for the machine capable of creating this film.

The microfilm machine created permanent film copies of bank documents by using a special camera, which took pictures of documents with black and white film. The film records were able to resist deterioration and helped save storage space. The images could be viewed later through a special machine. In 1928, Eastman Kodak purchased the rights to the machine, which helped catapult it into the business market.

In the 1930s, the New York Times began creating copies of their daily newspapers to store for later use. The paper used by the Times to create these copies, however, deteriorated rapidly. Therefore, the newspaper decided to switch to microfilm. After seeing their success with the process, Harvard University began an extensive recording project. This project continues today and involves copying newspapers from around the world onto microfilm, which is then stored in the library at the university.

To make a microfilm, a special camera capable of photographing at a reduced scale is used. Through the technology of these cameras, the document can be reduced 99% from its original size. The image is then printed onto a special black and white film, which looks much like the negative of a photograph. For businesses such as banks, news agencies, financial agencies, and government offices, microfilm can save massive amounts of space when storing information because it can be reduced to such a small size.

There are two primary forms of film used in the creation of microfilm: silver halide film and vesicular film. Silver halide is much like traditional film, and the image is transferred to the film with a process using silver emulsion on a polyester strip. Vesicular film, on the other hand, uses microscopic bubbles to create the image on the polyester strip. This type is inexpensive and can be exposed to daylight without being damaged, making it the more popular choice for most businesses.

The machine used to view microfilm is similar to a giant microscope. The lens on the machine enlarges the image, which allows the user to read the contents. Microfilm can last up to 900 years if stored within special envelopes and placed in a climate-controlled room.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By dautsun — On Nov 27, 2012

@SunnySkys - I'm pretty sure the first time I heard about microfilm was in a novel also. It's amazing the things you can learn just from reading fiction, I tell you!

By sunnySkys — On Nov 27, 2012

I didn't know microfilm was still in existence today! That's really interesting. I've personally never seen microfilm myself, but I do remember reading about it a lot in those old Nancy Drew novels I used to like to read as a kid.

In the novels, she always needs to research when she's solving a mystery. Usually her research involves looking through old records on (you guessed it) microfilm. Honestly, if it wasn't for those Nancy Drew novels, I don't think I would even know what microfilm was!

By ceilingcat — On Nov 26, 2012

@Monika - I think it's good to have physical copies of things. What if something happened and all the computers broke? Plus, digital files can break down over time. Storing a physical copy using microfilm equipment is a much more permanent way to store something.

By Monika — On Nov 25, 2012

@anon9755 - That's really cool that there is a way to make do microfilm conversion to digital storage. It seems like a lot of records that are stored on microfilm should be stored digitally also.

And in fact, with all the technology we have, I don't know why places bother with microfilm storage anymore. It seems like it would make more sense (and save a lot more space) to just store all those records digitally.

By anon303581 — On Nov 15, 2012

How much would a library invest to have this microfilm?

By anon110095 — On Sep 10, 2010

Can microfilm be recycled?

By garry — On Apr 07, 2010

what type of data or information is stored on microfilm?

By anon50627 — On Oct 30, 2009

It's actually 900 years!

By anon33255 — On Jun 03, 2009

I believe there are three primary forms of microfilm; silver halide, vesicular and diazo.

Vesicular and Diazo are not used in the original capture of an image but only in duplication/distribution of silver halide film.

The life expectancy of Vesicular and Diazo films is considered to be 100 years.

By anon9755 — On Mar 12, 2008

Microfilm records can now be scanned to digital through a process of Microfilm Scanning and Indexing.

Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-microfilm.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.