Microfilm Types, Descriptions and Estimating Images

During any document copy, scanning, or microfilming project the largest cost will be the per document or per image cost. The following should help you create a preliminary estimate of the number of documents you have for copy, scanning or microfilming. These are the same guidelines that we use when estimating a price quote for you and we have made them available to you so you can better estimate your own volume when using our Request A Quote forms.

Image Reduction

Popular Filming Reductions

Approximate Image Size

Sample Image

24x

9.0mm wide & 11.5mm tall

31x

7.5mm wide & 9.5mm tall

42x

5.0mm wide & 6.5mm tall

    Hold your film up to this sample
     

There are other reductions such as: 19x, 36x, 48x or 54x, but the above are the most common.

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Film Polarity

Negative Film - Clear Text on Dark Background

Positive Film - Dark Text on Clear Background

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Masters or Duplicates

105mm Master Microfiche

105mm Duplicate Microfiche

Identify by: No Color Stripe at the top of the film Images are ALWAYS B/W on clear film. The film is thicker.____ Identify by: Color Stripe at the top of the film & Images can be blue, black or blue/black in color. This film is thinner.

16mm Master Rolls

16mm Duplicate Rolls

Identify by: Images always black, thicker film & usually in the original black plastic or paper film box. Identify by: Blue, black or blue/black images, thin film, loaded into a C-Clip, 3M style or other type of cartridge.

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What are Blips?

There are two types of roll microfilms those with blips and those without. This will is to help you determine if you have blips and if so what type of blips you have. Rolls without blips cause some fairly serious issues when it comes to batching and indexing 16mm roll film. Contact us with the specifics of your job and we will help you work out a strategy.
 
Simply put a blip is a spot or block on your microfilm, that is optically sensed and used for timing or counting purposes. It is similar to a bookmark in a digital file.
  • Sizes of Blips
    • Small
    • Medium
    • Large
  • Types of Blips
    • Single Level - all the blips on the film are the exact same size usually these are or the Small or Medium size. (Below is an example of all small blips)

    • Dual Level - The major bookmarks or breakpoints are either Medium or Large Blips with all the images in between having the Small Blip. (below is an example of large and small blips)

    • Tri Level - Major bookmarks are Large Blips with Sub bookmarks having Medium Sizes and all the other images having Small Blips. Think of this like a roll with several books on it. The beginning of each book has the Large Book, each chapter of the books has the Medium Blip and all the other pages have the Small Blip. (below is an example of large, medium & small blips)

    • Custom Blips - Sometimes rolls only have blips (of any size) where the bookmarks are and then have no blips on the other pages on the film. (below is an example of medium & no blips)


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Images Per True Microfiche, COM Fiche or Jackets

Step & Repeat Microfilm

Jacketed Microfilm

COM Microfilm

Identify by: Images are cleanly spaced & images are generally straight & can contain portrait & landscape documents

Identify by: Plastic sleeves with strips of 16mm film inserted into 5 or 7 horizontal pockets & a typewriter style title.

Identify by: Images are perfectly straight, all the same size & evenly spaced very tightly & on and between rows.

Multiply Rows & Columns for an image count.

Multiply Rows & Columns for an image count.

Multiply Rows & Columns for an image count.


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Images Per 16mm Roll

24x Reduction

31x Reduction

42x Reduction

Labels usually report the number of images.

Approx. 2,000 to 2,400 8.5"x11" Images per 100' roll.

Labels usually report the number of images.

Approx. 2,500 to 2,800 8.5"x11" Images per 100' roll.

Labels usually report the number of images.

Approx. 4,000 to 4,300 8.5"x11" Images per 100' roll.


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Counting 35mm Aperture Cards

Aperture Cards

125 - 135 Cards
Per Inch


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