What is... Microfilm

Roll microfilm is 16mm photographic film on 30.5 metre spools, which can accommodate up to 2,500 images of A4 pages reduced by around 24x. Most suited to sequential data such as invoices and HR files, roll microfilm cannot be modified once produced.

Microfiche are 105 x 148 mm sheets of film containing 60 to 270 images, depending on the method of production. Jacket microfiche, comprising strips of 16mm roll film in a plastic envelope, provide a means of updating records after initial creation.

Aperture Cards are produced from 35mm photographic film, and are used primarily to accommodate large format originals at a higher definition than can normally be achieved on 16mm film.

In each case, specialised equipment is required to view and print from all microfilm formats. Except in special circumstances, therefore, for example when very long-term archival integrity is paramount, electronic archiving is replacing microfilm, due to the ease with which it fits in with current office technology without the need for additional capital expenditure.