Archives Copying Tip

Making microfilm copies at the Archives (and anywhere else for that matter) has been frustrating. It is not unusual to make several copies, none useable, as I tinker with the lightness and darkness controls until landing on the setting that delivers the best possible print. Even then, print quality is far below that of digital scans, and probably never will be equal. The digital image is scanned from the original, and the microfilm copy is generations removed (original to negative to film to printer) to the source document. Until the day arrives when the Archives digitizes its records, I will be content with this little trick: Instead of messing with the lightness and darkness controls to find the right setting, I purposely print the copy dark. When I return home and sit down to make notes from the copies, I hold the print up to a strong desk lamp, and, voila! All is revealed.