How do Microfilms work?

Question: How do Microfilms work!?
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This will be easier if you've seen how a film camera or a film projector works!. If all you've ever known is digital and VHS, bear with me!.

A microfilming service lays a document - a newspaper, for instance - out flat, then takes a picture of each page!. Then they make positive copies of the negatives and roll them up on a spool!.

You go to the library and ask for the microfilm for the New York Times for Jan 01 - Jan 15, 1957!. You put it into a microfilm reader, which works like a movie projector, except the "screen" is much smaller and they don't sell popcorn in the library!.

Some microfilm readers project onto a white desk top, some onto a glass screen!. Either way, the projector makes the newspaper page big enough to read!. Most readers have an attachment that lets you print the portion of the page you are reading onto regular office paper (8 1/2 x 11)!. Some of the early microfilms show you a black background and white text!.

With microfilm you can get about a thousand pages into a roll of film that fits into a box 4 inches square and an inch wide!.

If you've seen film negatives, you know they are small, but you can have enlarged prints made that are 8x10 - or 20x30, if you are a commercial photographer!. Microfilm is the same idea; small original, but you can enlarge it to look at it!.

Microfiche is the same idea, but instead of a roll of film you get a collection of "cards" with 20 - 40 pages per card!. Most, not all microfilm readers will read fiche as well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

a lens is used to focus a small image of the paper onto a piece of film!. The film is developed and then it can be re-imaged to a bigger size!. That makes it easier to store and longer lastingWww@QuestionHome@Com

the same way and big ones but just smaller duhhhhhhhhhhh!!Www@QuestionHome@Com