What Is A Microfilm?

Although microfilm was developed in 1800’s but was not put into significant use until late 1920’s. Banker named George McCarthy held the patent for the machine that was capable of creating a microfilm when it was first developed.

A special camera was used to take pictures of documents with black and white film and after that microfilm machine created permanent film copies of bank documents. The storage space was also saved and microfilm or film records were able to resist deterioration. With the help of a special machine the microfilm could be viewed later. The rights of the microfilm were purchased by Eastman Kodak which helped their business a lot.

In 1930’s, copies of daily newspapers were created by the New York Times that can be used for later use. However, the deterioration of the paper that the Times were using began rapidly. Therefore a microfilm was used instead of paper. An extensive microfilm project was started by Harvard University after seeing the success of microfilm in the Times. Even this project exists today and newspapers around the globe are copied on a microfilm. After that the microfilm is stored in the library of the university.

A special camera that is capable of photographing on a small scale is used to make a microfilm. The document can be reduced to 99% of its original size using these special cameras. After that on a black and white film, the image is printed. It appears as if it is negative of a photograph. Microfilm can save large amounts of space when storing information and helps in businesses like news agencies, government offices, financial agencies and banks because the size can be reduced to large extent.

Vesicular film and silver halide film are the two main forms of films that are used to make a microfilm. A process using silver emulsion on a polyester strip is used in order to transfer image to the film. Silver halide is similar to traditional film whereas in case of vesicular film microscopic bubbles are used In order to create image on the polyester strip. Vesicular strip is more popular than silver halide among businesses as it can be exposed to daylight without being damaged and is also cheaper than silver halide.

In order to view a microfilm, a machine similar to a giant microscope is used. The users can read the contents of the microfilm by enlarging the image on microfilm by using a lens. If a microfilm is stored in a climate controlled room and placed within special envelopes then it may last up to 900 years.

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