Film Processing Services - Overview

We specialize in clean, scratch-free film processing of traditional B&W films; and film proofing by either contact or CD. Our lab uses rotary technology film processors so that the only thing that touches your film is the chemistry. Push-process and pull-process developing are available for a small flat fee, not a per-stop fee like most labs. We process 35mm film, 120 and 220 roll films, and sheet films from 4x5 to 8x10. We offer scanning of 35mm films and output to either standard or archival CDs.

Film Processing Services - Technical Details

All roll films are loaded by hand onto stainless steel spiral processing reels, loaded into tanks with like-kind film and processed on automated rotary film processors. (For sheet films we use Jobo "Expert" drums for fabulous, consisitent edge-to-edge processing.) This approach combines the best of both worlds: we have all the advantages of hand processing combined with precision temperature and agitation control beyond any human ability. Additionally, we use all of our chemicals "one shot" for best quality. When you have us process your film you get precise, consistent results that you can count on time and time again. All films receive an archival wash.

After film processing, we offer a number of different proofing options. Of course, you may select process-only if you have access to a darkroom and want to make your own prints, or if you scan your negs into a digital imaging system. We also have the option of contacts; a tradational contact sheet, which provides you with a miniature print of every frame on the roll, all on an 8 x 10 sheet of real B&W photo paper. Another option, for 35mm film, is our most popular: scanning of film to CD's for "soft-proofs."

We searched for years for a scanner that would do a great job of scanning the "true" B&W films that our customers love. The technical problems are huge. Scanning beams bounce off the silver grains in B&W films, causing all kinds of weird effects. Any one who ever tried to scan B&W film processed by us on a consumer scanner knows what we are talking about. Even many scanners costing tens of thousands of dollars do B&W poorly. We are thrilled with our new machine, it is the perfect solution for "soft proofing." All scans include a high-res of each frame that is 16 base 2,000x 3,000 pixels and a folder of low res-thumbnails that you can use for email or web use. (Note: we can still need your negs for printing enlargements, scanning is just a proofing option, not a replacement for negs.)

We have two CD options: standard and archival. Both standard and archival CD's come with a printed label that has a miniature thumbnail of each image on the CD. Sort of a CD-sized contact sheet. If you've got a lot of CD's you are really going to appreciate this feature, it lets you quickly know what is on each CD. The label also cross-references the film's "twin check" number for easy filing. Our archival CD's are fully archival gold CD's (yes, they are made with real gold). These highly stable CD's have a rated life span of 300 years. Of course we doubt there will be any computers in even 100 years that can read today's CD's; but if you are using CD's to archive important images you really need to go for the gold. A standard CD has a life span of 3-5 years. Bargain basement CD's from big box stores could last as little as 18 months to two years before your data is corrupted. Our archival CD's come in a standard jewel case.

Sorry, no scanning for medium and large format shooters, contact sheet are our only proofing option for these films.

After processing and printing, your negatives are cut and sleeved in loose-fitting clear plastic sleeving. This allows you to view the entire roll without handling, and avoids the risk of shipping damage common with tight-fitting plastic sleeving. 35mm films are cut into five frame strips. 120mm/220mm films are cut into strips of three (645), two (6 x 6, 6x7, and 6 x 8), or one (6 x 9).

Films we can process include:

Agfa:

Agfapan APX 25
Agfapan APX 100
Agfapan APX 400

Arista:

Aristia 400
Arista.Edu Ultra 100
Arista.Edu Ultra 200

Berger:

BFR-200

EFKE/Adox:

KB 25

Foma:

Fomapan Action 400

Forte:

Fortepan 100
Fortepan 200
Fortepan 400

Fuji:

Neopan SS 100
Neopan 100 Acros
Neopan 400 Professional
Neopan 1600 Professional

Ilford:

Pan-F Plus
FP4 Plus
Delta 100 Professional
HP5 Plus
Delta 400 Professional
SFX 200
Delta 3200 Professional

Kodak:

Plus-X Pan (PX)
T-Max 100 Professional (TMX)
Tri-X Pan (TX)
Tri-X Pan Professional (TXP)
T-Max 400 Professional (TMY)
T-Max P-3200 Professional (TMZ)
High Speed Infrared film

Patterson:

Accupan 200

Rollei:

R3
Pan 25
Retro 100
Retro 400

Films we cannot process include:

All C-41 process color print films
All E-6 process color slide films
Agfa Scala B&W slide film
Kodak Technical Pan film
Kodak recording film

Our B&W film developer is Kodak X-Tol. It gives sharp, high-quality results with very low granularity. X-Tol is an ascorbic acid-based film developer that gives very high quality at full emulsion speed. Unlike most labs, we use this chemical one-shot, which means we dispose of it after processing only one round of film in it. This gives us an iron-clad guarantee that chemical strength will be identical from processing run to processing run. For fixing of B&W films we use a hardening fixer, also used one-shot like our film developers.

About Us . . . News & Notes . . . Film Processing, Proofing & Scanning . . . Hand-printed Enlargements

Ultra-custom Projects & Work . . . Order Forms and Shipping . . . Rates



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