Microfilm & Microfiche
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Everything you need to know about microfilm, microfiche, and aperture cards — from formats and history to digitization best practices.
What Is Microfilm?
Microfilm is a photographic film medium used to store miniaturized images of documents, records, and other materials. Developed in the late 19th century and widely adopted through the 20th century, microfilm became the standard archival medium for libraries, government agencies, banks, hospitals, and businesses worldwide.
A single roll of 16mm microfilm can store up to 2,400 document images — the equivalent of several filing cabinet drawers — in a compact, durable format. When stored properly in a cool, dry environment, silver gelatin microfilm can last over 500 years, making it one of the most archivally stable storage media ever created.
Microfiche is a flat sheet of film (approximately 4×6 inches) that stores multiple document images in a grid pattern. Unlike microfilm rolls, microfiche allows random access to any image on the sheet without scrolling through a roll. This made it popular for catalogs, reference materials, and frequently accessed records.
Aperture cards combine the data-processing capabilities of IBM punch cards with the image storage of 35mm microfilm. They were the standard for engineering drawing management from the 1950s through the 1990s, allowing drawings to be filed, sorted, and retrieved by machine.
All Microfilm & Microfiche Formats
A visual guide to every format of microfilm and microfiche — and what makes each one unique.
16mm Microfilm Roll
MicrofilmThe most common microfilm format, used extensively for letter-sized documents, checks, bank records, and business correspondence. Standard lengths are 100 feet (30.5m) or 215 feet (65.5m). Reduction ratios are typically 24x, allowing a single roll to hold up to 2,400 document images.
35mm Microfilm Roll
MicrofilmUsed for larger format documents requiring higher resolution. Ideal for newspapers, engineering drawings, maps, and oversized documents. Lower reduction ratios (12x–15x) preserve more detail. Standard length is 100 feet (30.5m).
Standard Microfiche
MicroficheA flat sheet of film (105mm × 148mm, approximately 4×6 inches) containing multiple document images arranged in a grid pattern. Standard capacities are 98 or 208 pages per fiche. Widely used for catalogs, reports, and reference materials.
COM Fiche (Computer Output Microfiche)
MicroficheCreated directly from digital data using a laser plotter — the reverse of scanning. COM fiche was used for high-speed generation of structured data reports. Features very high page density (up to 270 pages/fiche) and is commonly found in data archives, transaction logs, and parts lists from the 1970s–1990s.
Jacket Microfiche
MicroficheA composite fiche created by inserting individual film strips into transparent plastic channels (jackets). Allows for updating and adding documents to an existing record. Commonly used for active files like personnel records, medical charts, and legal case files.
Step-and-Repeat Microfiche
MicroficheProduced using a dedicated camera that photographs documents onto a large film sheet in a precise grid pattern, one by one. Offers high-quality, uniform production. Often used for publishing directories, catalogs, standards, and reference works.
Aperture Card
Aperture CardA standard IBM punch card (80-column Hollerith card) with an embedded 35mm film frame. Primarily used for engineering drawings and schematics. The punched holes encode metadata for indexing and automated sorting. Each card holds a single image, facilitating individual drawing management.
Ultrafiche
MicroficheAn extremely high-reduction microfiche format capable of storing thousands of pages on a single fiche. Reduction ratios range from 90x to 150x or higher. Used primarily for large reference works, encyclopedias, and massive document archives.
A Brief History of Microfilm
The concept of microfilm dates to 1839, when John Benjamin Dancer, a British optician, created the first microphotograph. However, it was not until the 1920s and 1930s that microfilm became commercially viable. The New York Times began microfilming its back issues in 1935, and banks adopted microfilm for check storage around the same time.
During World War II, microfilm played a critical role in intelligence operations. The V-Mail system used microfilm to transmit millions of letters between soldiers and their families, reducing shipping weight by 98%. After the war, the technology expanded rapidly into government, healthcare, and business applications.
The 1950s–1980s represented the golden age of microfilm. Libraries microfilmed newspapers to preserve them from deterioration. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) standardized microfilm for federal records. Banks, insurance companies, and law firms adopted microfilm as their primary records storage medium.
With the rise of digital technology in the 1990s, new document creation shifted to digital formats. However, the vast legacy of microfilm and microfiche created over decades remains in archives, vaults, and storage rooms worldwide. Today, the primary challenge is converting these analog records to digital formats before they deteriorate further.
Estimates suggest there are billions of microfilm frames still in existence in the United States alone, representing irreplaceable historical, legal, medical, and business records. Professional microfilm scanning services like NationalMicrofilm exist to bridge this gap — preserving the past for the digital future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about microfilm scanning and digitization.
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