Microfilming Procedures

1. Microfilming Procedures with Kim Smith (aka Microfilm Whisperer)

2. Why Microfilm? • Life Expectance 500 years (LE-500) • Save storage space • Even technology changes, you can still view the microfilm Records Management Center

3. At RMC • MRD-2 planetary camera for newspapers • Step test for each newspaper title • Use Fujifilm • Store Newspaper master, 2nd Generation (silver dup), and service copy • Our microfilm is Silver Negatives, not Positive • Test weekly Methelyn Blue Test Records Management Center

4. Microfilm Procedures • Step test • Microfilm • Process • Inspect • Duplicate Records Management Center

5. Wait, Hold The Phone! Before you start, there are 3 things to consider and make decision. • Reduction ratio – 10X to 20X • Film type – 100ft (thick) or 131ft (thin) • Lot number Records Management Center

6. Step Test • Select a few test pages from the volume • Film them at different density settings • Targets: 100, 102 • Newspapers: 100, 102, 104 – 116 ss118, 120, 124 – 128 • Take density readings from the processed film • Select the proper light density settings • Microfilm Records Management Center

7. Step Test – Selecting Pages • Variety of sizes • Different background shades • Choose from beginning, middle and the end of the volume Records Management Center

8. Step Test – Result Density readings from step test Density setting on camera head Records Management Center

9. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

10. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

11. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

12. Microfilm – Loading a film 2 Records Management Center

13. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

14. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

15. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

16. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

17. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

18. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

19. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

20. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

21. Microfilm – Loading a film Records Management Center

22. Microfilm – Step Test • Place the white poster board on the copyboard Records Management Center

23. Microfilm – Step Test • Mark the lit boarder with a pencil. Records Management Center

24. Microfilm – Step Test • Place the step test pages from light to dark background shade to film at different light density settings Records Management Center

25. Microfilm – Step Test • Load a short roll of microfilm. • Turned off the room lights. • Place the density target and 5 resolution cards to microfilm. • Filming in increments of 2 starting with 100, 102, 104, etc. and repeat steps for document. Records Management Center

26. Microfilm – Step Test Records Management Center

27. Microfilm – Step Test Records Management Center

28. Microfilm – Step Test • The processor reviews the step test and gives the camera operator the best light density settings for each image. Records Management Center

29. Microfilm – Newspapers • Once the step test is processed without any issues, the camera operator microfilms the newspapers with the selected light density settings. Records Management Center

30. Guidelines – Content • Decision on what content should be on a roll • How many months, issues, years and titles are grouped on one roll. • For example, you don’t want to combine a single issue for 1889 on the same roll as 1890 issues. If there are no other issues for that year then and only then would you combine a single issue from a different year. Think like a researcher and be consistent. Records Management Center

31. Guidelines – Cini vs. Comic • Decision on the direction of film should be on a roll Top Top Top Top Cini Top Top Top Top Top Comic Records Management Center

32. Guidelines – 10x? 20x? • Decision on the reduction ratio • As the reduction ratio is increased, the smaller the print will be on the reader. • If the newspaper is older or in bad condition, the lower reduction will be used when possible. This will increase the size of the print making it easier to read. • If the newspaper is newer or in good condition, any reduction or direction of filming can be used as long as the document is in focus and centered. Records Management Center

33. Guidelines – Copyboard • Consistency of placing documents on copyboard • Make sure there is always at least 1 to 1½ inch border around the documents. Finder light illumination area Records Management Center

34. Guidelines – Targets • Targets provide information about the source documents and conditions during filming. • Bibliography “Bib” target • Content target • Missing issues/pages target • Courtesy target • Roll number target: 12.xx.xx and 200.xx.xx Records Management Center

35. Copyboard Camera Parts Exposure button Focus dial and lock Exposure lighting, Finder light switch Light exposure dial Reduction hand crank and brake Records Management Center

36. Camera Parts Lift and hold the brake level while turning the hand crank. Turn the hand crank clockwise will move the camera head up. Records Management Center

37. Microfilm Whisperer Said… • Step test – Sample pages with varying background shades from lightest to darkest and smallest to largest are pulled from the beginning, middle and end of the newspaper for step test. Records Management Center

38. Microfilm Whisperer Said… • Load a roll of film – the camera is loaded with 35mm microfilm with correct reduction, mask size and direction of filming. Records Management Center

39. Microfilm Whisperer Said… • Microfilm! Records Management Center