Tameran Reference Archive Media Formats
Choosing the right media for each application is important.
Factors such as document print size and document resolution for viewing or printing need to be carefully considered when choosing a type of archive media. The objective is clear images containing full readability of the content recorded. If the image does not have sufficient resolution for a human or a scanner to read the data, the microfilm fails as a "reference archive" for the purpose of preserving the document. Generally this means a minimum resolution of 300 dpi is desired. Resolution below 200 dpi should be avoided. Resolution is stated as referred to the orginal docuument.
When to Use 16mm Roll Microfilm
If all documents that are being archived are letter, legal, and ledger size documents (up to 12" x 18" landscape orientation or A3 size landscape orientation), commonly referred to as office documents, the use of 16mm roll microfilm as a reference archive media will, in most cases, provide the desired result.
Tameran's Archive Center produces 16mm microfilm with resolutions that exceed the minimum requirements.
- 400 dpi recorded at 24x reduction
- 300 dpi recorded at 32x reduction
When to Use 35mm Roll Microfilm
If the materials being recorded include larger documents such as engineering drawings, plat maps or ledger books (portrait orientation), the use of 35mm archive media in the form of roll film or mounted aperture cards is required to produce images that have sufficient resolution, (300dpi or better), for a human or microfilm scanner to read the document and achieve the purpose of preserving the document for reference.
However, document resolution is not only affected by archive media width but also by resolution capabilities of the recording device.
Unfortunately not all recording devices that can record on 35mm roll film have the ability to produce document resolutions of 300 dpi or higher.
Tameran Archive Centers produce 35mm roll microfilm with resolutions that exceed the minimum requirements.
- 600 dpi recorded at 16x reduction
- 400 dpi recorded at 24x reduction
- 320 dpi recorded at 30x reduction
When to Use 35mm Microfilm Mounted in Aperture Cards
If the archive system is a continuation of a legacy system that was based upon the use of 35mm microfilm mounted in aperture cards to store and distribute documents, you may want to continue this system for compatibility. This would be particularly true if you currently have a large legacy collection of aperture cards or if your application requires a unit file for reference or distribution. Historically, 35mm aperture cards have been used when originals include larger documents such as engineering drawings, plot maps, etc