Some of the early techniques for the preparation of carbon films and replicas for the electron microscope are compared with the method of vacuum evaporation developed by the author. The basic techniques for the production of replicas from evaporated carbon are described, and the high resolution obtainable is demonstrated and discussed. Some properties of evaporated carbon replicas are mentioned.Descriptions are given of the carbon replica methods used in metallurgy and some applications are illustrated. Applications of carbon replicas in the following fields of research are also described: microbiology, biology, botany, entomology, chemistry, and industrial applications including the study of fibers.It is concluded that evaporated carbon can be used as the final replica in any multistage replica process, and that it can be applied with advantage in almost every field of research in which the electron microscope is employed.