Why Convert Back to Microfilm?

There are strong reasons to convert documentation to digital. The continued advancement in digital conversion technology, combined with the ease and many options of handling digital documents should make digital format the overwhelming favorite choice for document storage. Yet, there is also an interesting trend to convert digital images back to microfilm.

Traditional forms of document storage included microfilm, microfiche, aperture cards and paper. These formats are typically converted to Tiff Images or PDFs when digitized. A summary of the traditional formats are as follows:

Paper: This includes large format drawings, books, manuals etc. The storage can be in files, drawers, shelving, boxes, cabinets and

Microfiche: A flat film that contains a matrix of micro images can be stored in boxes, file cabinets, drawers and envelopes

Microfilm: A reel or roll of film that can be perforated in 35mm or 16 mm format contains micro image. Stored in open reel type systems or in cassettes.

Aperture Cards: A punched card with a microfilm chip mounted. Can be stored in boxes, file cabinets, drawers and envelops.

Why convert digital formats back to microfilm?

Many of our clients are requesting this, and the reasons seem practical, but are they really valid. There is a perception that microfilm lasts longer and is safer than digital when storage is required over several decades. Many organizations when faced with the need for storage over 30 to 50 years are opting microfilm, but is there really any basis for not trusting digital. Also many institutions such as libraries and government agencies simply want “eye-readable” documentation; another words not digital.

How long does microfilm last?

According to a couple of sources, high quality microfilm stored under good conditions can last well over 100 years. Furthermore, microfilm and microfilm scanning and storage have been around for a very long time (over 100 years), the technology and system has been demonstrated to work for long term archiving.

What about digital technology?

The answer depends as there are many methods for digital storage. The most common are hard drives, CD, DVD, Optical DVD, flash drive and magnetic tapes. Even within these formats there a many levels of quality and durability depending on manufacturing and materials. For this article, we are assuming high quality products designed for archiving purposes.

Magnetic tape is stated to practically last 30 to 40 years (even longer). High quality read/write CD can last much longer, perhaps even 100 years. Flash drives theoretically can last a long time with no moving parts but by their nature of use, one would not put much faith in reliable data storage. DVDs can last as long as CDs. Because of the relative newness of digital technology, we don’t have a lot of storage experience that prove reliability over a 50 year time period.

From a document storage perspective, the answer is not as easy as which medium lasts longer. The medium still has to be stored and handled for 100 years. The conditions that these mediums are kept in can make huge difference. While it appears that both microfilm and digital storage has the capability to last a very long time, the storage and management systems and facilities could be the weakest link. It would seem much more likely that both mediums would get damaged or lost over a 50 year period due to careless handling or storage.

There appear to be a lot more variables with digital storage. Digital technology changes very rapidly and systems will require frequent migration of data from one back up system to another in order to keep data from being stored in obsolete formats. This would require active storage management over a very long period of time.

The technology for microfilm on the other hand is very stable and very little has changed since its inception. Scanning or reading microfilm is very easy and the technology should always be around. One does not have to worry about formats or technology changes with microfilm, where as digital technology still seems to be evolving. So is microfilm a more reliable storage system for ultra long periods of time? In our opinion, yes, but we still have a lot of confidence in digital technology. The ultimate risk will probably be more with the storage and management organization and system rather than the technology.

Rick Romens founded Microfacs in 1988 after having 10 years in the micrographic industry. Microfacs Inc is a digital conversion company that specializes in microfilm scanning, microfiche scanning, scanning aperture cards and other digital conversion processes. Microfacs also scans paper documents and does large format drawings.