The archive includes the first images of X-ray photography

The footage includes the first film of X-ray photography and the first apparent filming of the Loch Ness monster in 1936.

The Scottish Screen archive contains up to 3,000 hours of footage.

It is hoped that the online access will mean a wider audience and help in the location of more films for the collection.

The archive was set up in 1976 to safeguard Scotland's ever growing historic film collection.

Famous examples

A television appeal brought in hundreds of forgotten newsreels and ancient footage from film clubs, old cinemas and people's attics.

The 3,000 hours of footage in the archive would stretch for 1,300 miles if it was laid end-to-end.

Some of the most famous examples became available online for the first time on Tuesday.

They include the first X-ray, demonstrated by Dr John Macintyre in 1896, and footage of Queen Victoria strolling around the grounds of Balmoral in the same year.

Clips of footage will build up on a weekly basis

Detailed information about each particular film has been made available online and people can request access to the material from Scottish Screen.

About 40 films offer the chance to watch clips of a few minutes long, with more being made available on a weekly basis as material is catalogued.

Culture Minister Frank McAveety praised Scottish Screen for establishing the archive.

He said: "This continuing project reflects the social history of Scotland in the first century of film and will continue to preserve current work for the archive of the future."