What are archium® microsheets?

archium® microsheets are an innovative solution for the long-term archiving of digital documents. We use acid-free paper to store data in a miniaturized, full-color, and high-resolution form. This technology was developed as a modern alternative to microfilm and offers higher storage density as well as easy handling.

Main characteristics

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  • Application: High-resolution color printing for the data backup of digital or digitized documents in miniaturized format.
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    Benefit:Automated re-digitization from paper in the event of digital data loss.
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    Certification function: Blockchain technology and hash-key verification certify the digital authenticity of the original.
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    Readability: The miniature prints can be read using a magnifying glass, an office scanner, or a smartphone and contain metadata (human-readable and as QR code).
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    Longevity: microsheets store data without requiring energy, contain no rare earth elements, do not constitute special waste, and are easily recyclable.

Calibration

Every print is documented. The colors are printed using a color profile as well as black-and-white color channels. The resolution is readable on the Siemens star in 4 different contrast levels. In addition, technical documentation for the use of hash value validation is printed.

microsheets

Developed for long-term archiving

archium® microsheets represent a modern, paper-based microform technology specifically developed for the long-term archiving of digital documents. Since their development, which began in 2020 in Gera, Thuringia, microsheets have offered a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional microfilm systems. This technology aims to address the challenges of digital archiving, particularly the dependence on current technology and ensuring future readability.
As software developers, we encounter the challenges of processing and storing digital data on a daily basis. This gave rise to the idea of finding an analog microform for storing digital documents that is durable, cost-effective, and immediately re-digitizable anywhere using readily available tools. The choice fell on acid-free paper, which is less expensive and, above all, more readily available than microfilm. The process of combining images with metadata, optimized data preparation for pixel-perfect image reproduction, and raster-free printing technology transform high-quality paper into microsheets.

Table of contents

From the supplied metadata, we automatically generate a table of contents. This allows you to easily locate every file again via the page index, just like in an encyclopedia. If keywords are provided, we can additionally integrate a keyword index.

microsheets

Technical specifications:

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    Resolution: Achieves 22 line pairs per millimeter, enabling higher data density across the entire surface area.
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    Storage capacity: Up to 20,000 pages on 500 sheets in DIN A4 format (standard), also available in DIN A3.
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    Color capability: Full color, with grayscale option via the arCODECO method for RGB/CMYK sequencing.
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    Durability: Comparable to microfilm, protects information for at least 300 years.
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    Readability: Readable with a magnifying glass, office scanner, or smartphone; QR codes for metadata.
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    Usage: Backup with automatable recovery option and reference tool with table of contents and keyword index.
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    Sustainability: Paper-based, energy-free storage, no rare earth elements, no hazardous waste, recyclable.
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    Cost efficiency: Calculable savings of up to 99% over the lifespan due to the absence of license, electricity, technology, maintenance, and migration costs. In addition, the construction and operation of archive buildings can be eliminated.
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    Space efficiency: 96.4% space savings compared to folder storage – one meter of shelving with microsheets (9 archive boxes, each 11 cm high) holds 200,000 conventional document pages.
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    Comparison to microfilm: 3 times the storage density, printable in color with table of contents, easy digitization using office equipment.

Data storage

Digital and digitized documents are miniaturized and printed with metadata and hash values. Our process can confirm the digital authenticity of a file even after several centuries. In the event of data loss, the microsheets serve as a backup for automated re-digitization.

microsheets

Areas of application and benefits

archium® microsheets are used in a wide variety of fields, including public and private archives, museums, public administration, architectural firms, law offices, and companies with long retention periods. They enable hybrid archiving that combines digital and analog storage to ensure maximum flexibility and security in information preservation. Particularly in cases of server failures, power outages, or blackouts, they are technology-independent and crisis-resilient, requiring only a light source and a magnifying glass for reading. With the table of contents, you can locate any document just as you would in your own archive – only on significantly less space.

Backup function

The QR code contains the metadata and facilitates fully automated re-digitization from the paper medium.

QR-Code und Metadaten
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