The effects of radiative and convective thermal losses on the thermal behavior of thin metal films, as described by the microscopic two-step heat conduction model, are investigated. It is found that radiative losses from the electron gas are significant in thin films having (L/T-e(3)) < 10(-22), while radiative losses from the solid lattice are significant when (L/T-e(3))(T-e(4)/T-l(4)) < 10(-22). Also, it is found that convective losses from the thin metal film are insignificant in most practical operating conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.