2.6. Computer Output to Microfilm.   

It is possible to get graphics images on microfilm via a sophisticated photoplotter/film recorder which can produce high quality high speed plots direct from the computer. The film recorder is electronically controlled and has no moving parts. This gives excellent line density, consistency and repeatability.

The data is recorded on a high precision CRT and a special camera system photographs the face of the virtually flat tube. The CRT has addressable raster lines of 65536 points on each axis giving a minimum pixel size of 0.025mm.

Many different film formats are available and the system can produce 35mm animated advertising logos as in Figure 2.18 or can be used to combine text and graphics for microfiche viewers as shown in Figure 2.17.

Microfilm
35mm film on reels. Typically newspapers, large sets of rare books, magazines and other materials are on microfilm

Microfiche
4 X 6 or 3 X 5 film sheets. Each sheet holds 40 to 98 pages. Technical reports, government documents, and dissertations are in microfiche

Microcard
3 X 5 opaque card. Now an obsolete form.

Microprint
6 X 9 opaque sheet. Now an obsolete form.