'Microfilm' is a generic word describing several types of photographic negatives, all of which is used for storing small images of pages, drawings etc. These, and all other types of film, can be scanned successfully.

Rolled film was predominantly used for page filming and older individual negatives are usually used for drawings, plans and pictorial images. For text and lineart, scanning at one bit depth is required with a resolution of 200 ppi at the final image size. Black and white photographs require scanning in greyscales normally at eight bit depth resulting in 256 shades of grey. Resolution for greyscale scanning is as for lineart above.