Quality microfilm
There are good reasons to convert to digital documentation. Continued promotion of the digital switch technology with easy to combine and many options for managing digital documents in digital form should make the most obvious choice for storing documents. Yet returning an interesting trend to convert digital images to microfilm.
Traditional forms of storage of documents, including microfilm, microfiche and paper. These formats are usually in TIFF or PDF files are converted when digitized. A summary of the traditional model is as follows:
Paper: This includes large-scale drawings, books, manuals, etc.. It can be stored in files, drawers, shelves, chests, cabinets and
Microfiche: A flat film, which contains an array of micro-images can be stored in drawers, file cabinets, boxes and envelopes
Microfilm: A roll or roll film, which is perforated at 35 mm or 16 mm, contains records, you can micro-image. Filed in open-reel or cassette type.
Aperture cards: A mounted punch cards with microfilm chip. Can be stored in drawers, file cabinets, boxes and envelopes.
Why convert to digital format again on microfilm?
Many of our customers have requested this, and the reasons seem practical, but they are really down. One has the impression that the microfilm will last longer and are safer than in digital storage for decades is required. Many organizations, when faced with the need to store more than 30 to 50 years, to microfilm, but there is really no reason to trust not digital. Many institutions such as libraries and government simply wants to "eye-readable" documents, that is not digital.
How long does the microfilm?
Can be stored for a few sources, high-quality microfilm in good conditions last for over 100 years. In addition, microfilm and microfilm scanning and storage media have a very long time (more than 100 years), technology and the system as it was found that long-term archival work.
What about digital technology?
The answer depends, because there are many methods for digital storage. The most common is the hard drives, CD, DVD, Optical, DVD, USB memory, and magnetic tape. Even within each style there are many levels of quality and durability, depending on materials and workmanship. For this article we go away from high-quality products for archiving.
Magnetic tapes are practically in the last 30 to 40 years (even longer). High quality read / write CD can take a long time, perhaps 100 years. Flash drives can theoretically be used for a long time without moving parts, but ultimately by nature, you would not have much confidence in reliable data storage. DVDs can be as long as CDs. Made because of the relatively new in digital technology, we do not have much space experience, the reliability of evidence during a 50-year period.
From a document storage point of view, the answer is not as simple as the media lasts longer. The media must be in 100 years and treated for. The conditions which these media can make a big difference to be maintained. Although it seems that both microfilm and digital storage in a position to take a very long time may be systems for storage and handling and is the weakest link. It seems more likely that the two media would be damaged or lost during a period of 50 years of rough handling or storage.
Of course there are many more variables with digital storage. Digital technology is changing very rapidly, and is often the transfer of data from a backup system, on the other hand, need to keep the data will be stored in obsolete formats. This would require active Storage Management for a very long time.
The technology of microfilm on the other hand, is very stable and very little has changed since its inception. Scanning of microfilm, or treatment is very simple and technology should always be around. You do not act on the format and technical changes, with microfilm, where digital technology still seems to develop into memory. Thus microfilm is a more reliable storage for an extremely long time? In our view, yes, but we still have much faith in digital technology. The ultimate risk is probably more with the storage and administrative structures and systems and not technology.
