FAQ About Film Processing & Scanning Listed Below

Film Processing & Scanning

Including questions about payment

How long does film Development take?
Our standard lead time for Color 35mm film is 3-7 days. For Medium format and B&W, our lead time is 7-11 days.

*We typically push the deadline back during weeks with holidays, or if the film processor is undergoing maintenance. You will receive an email as soon as your film is ready for pick up.

What If I received blank, clear film, no exposure or frames? The negative was never exposed to light. Your negatives will be see-through is the negative was never exposed to light. There will be no dark area in between the sprocket holes of the film. The most common cause of this problem is improper loading. If the film is not loaded properly, it will never be exposed because it will not be transported in front of the shutter. Check your camera's shutter to ensure it is opening. Check your camera's battery to ensure the light meter is functioning properly. Improperly setting the film's ASA, using too high of a shutter speed, or too small of an aperture can contribute to the film not receiving enough light for a properly exposed image. When using a disposable camera, this can be caused by not using a flash in dark conditions.

What if I see faint images, poor color, or grainy photos? The negative was underexposed--there was not enough light to expose the film properly. Your negatives will be very faint or see-through, and your scans will be dark/faded, grainy, and low contrast. Check your camera's battery to ensure the light meter is functioning properly. Improperly setting the film's ASA, using too high of a shutter speed, or too small of an aperture can contribute to the film not receiving enough light for a properly exposed image. When using a disposable camera, this can be caused by not using a flash in dark conditions.

What if there are pictures that overlap or are too far apart? Your camera is not moving film from the canister to the uptake reel uniformly. Your negatives will either be overlapping or too far apart. Make sure you are loading your film correctly. If the problem persists, your film camera needs to be evaluated by a repairman.

What if I see a vertical or horizontal reddish, yellow band? Light is getting into your camera body. Typically, this is caused by faulty seals around the camera back. Check your negatives for faded or discolored streaks or bursts in a scan. Often, they will extend outside of the frame. Check the seals on your camera are light tight. Try shooting another roll if the seals look good. If the problem persists, your film camera needs to be evaluated by a repairman.

Do I have to pay for scans or prints at the time of my film processing order? Yes.
Yes, it is more cost effective for you and time efficient for us. As part of our film processing packages, we require that all film scan and printing charges be paid in advance. This policy ensures a smooth and efficient process, allowing us to develop your film and promptly provide the final images without tracking additional conversations regarding your preferences or taking the order out of line while waiting for confirmation or the additional payment required for those preferences. We kindly request that you make the decision regarding prints or scans prior to us facilitating film processing.

Additionally, if less than five images from your roll turn out, we will refund you for any prints or scanning you had originally paid for.

Can I get my film developed and then decide if I want prints or scans? Yes, with limitations.
Yes, but it will take longer and may cost more. You have the option to order development only and once you pick-up your roll, you can create an entirely new order for scan and print services. However, ordering a la cart film services may cost more than opting for a processing package in the first place. A la carte orders typically involve more individualized attention and may be priced higher due to the additional time and handling. Our streamlined production process is designed to optimize efficiency, which is why bundling services within a package is the more economical and time efficient choice for the customer and for us.

What if my roll doesn’t turn out? We refund you the delivery method (prints/scans).
In the unfortunate event, less than five images from your roll turn out, we are committed to ensuring fairness and quality. In such cases, we will provide you with a refund for any prints or scanning services for which you had initially made payment, along with consultation notes on what may have been the problem i.e. light leaks, over exposure etc. We will also still provide you with the 5 or less images that did turn out as a courtesy.

Is film development refundable if my roll is blank? No.
Film development costs are non-refundable. As these costs encompass the valuable time, expertise, and materials invested in the film development process, regardless of the outcome. Even when a roll turns out to be blank, our skilled team dedicates time and resources to the development procedure.

Do I get my film back? Yes, if requested.
Yes, you have the option to receive your film back after development. We will hold your film for up to 60 days after the completion of the development process. This provides you with the flexibility to retrieve your film at your convenience, within that time frame.

What do you do with film that is blank? Whatever you’d like.
When it comes to blank film, our policy is straightforward. If you have specifically requested the return of your film, we will save it for you as part of our standard practice. However, if you have indicated a preference for us to dispose of your film, we will typically plan to dispose of it. Unless you request to see your blank film within one week of the completion of our processing services.

What type of film do you develop?
At our lab, we provide comprehensive film development services. We can process a wide range of color films, including C-41 films in formats like 110, 120, 126, 220, and 35mm. Just confirm that your film canister is marked with 'C-41,' and we're ready to develop it. Additionally, we offer development for black and white films in both 120 and 35mm formats, as well as APS and sheet film.

What if I didn’t get my scans on time?
We aim to send your scans on the due date, by 6pm weekdays and 5pm on weekends. If you do not receive your scans by the end of the day, on the due date, call us the following morning to check in and get it resolved.

If it is your first time processing with us, check your spam. Also search for WeTransfer in your email. It is very rare, but it is also possible that you may have encountered WeTransfer in the past and unsubscribed from it.

Can you cross process? No.
No, we do not offer cross-processing services for film in our photo lab.

 

What resolution do you scan film?
We offer a wide range of resolution options for our film scanning which can be found on our pricing brochure at the top of this page.

Can you push or pull film? Yes.
Black & white yes, color no. We offer the flexibility to push or pull film up to 2 stops, allowing you to achieve creative effects and adapt to different lighting conditions. However, it's essential to keep in mind that there are limitations to this process, depending on the type of film and the specific results you desire. We recommend discussing your specific needs with our knowledgeable team to ensure the best outcome for your project. We charge $5 per roll for push and pull processing.

We cannot develop altered film, as well as cinema, remjet or boiled films:
We regret to inform you that we cannot develop Cinema or altered film. Attempting to develop these types of film in our machines can lead to severe issues, including clogging our filters, detached and disintegrated emulsion, potential damage to the machinery, contamination of our chemistry, and the risk of ruining other customers' film within the same processing batch. The cost of draining and replacing chemistry, along with potential machine downtime, can amount to significant expenses. To maintain the quality and efficiency of our services for all our customers, we must adhere to this policy.

Can I mail in my film for processing? No.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in our services, but, unfortunately, we do not accept mail-in film orders for processing. The decision is rooted in concerns about the reliability of our regular incoming mail service. Our primary goal is to ensure the security and safe handling of your precious and irreplaceable film, and regrettably, our experiences with mail delivery have not met our standards for safeguarding these valuable memories. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and encourage you to visit our store in person to explore alternative ways to fulfill your film processing needs. Your trust and the preservation of your memories are our top priorities. If you’re in need of mail in services please visit another reliable local source www.WoodwardCamera.com

Can you scan the film with the borders on it? No.

Can you handle damaged or deteriorated film? No.

Do you offer color correction and retouching services? Yes.
Over time, stored images may undergo color shifts and fading. Older films may exhibit a green or purple tint. Our retouching services cater to these issues, providing options from automated digital filters to manual restoration. Automated services begin at 15 cents per image for slides and film, and $10 for photos. If your images require the precision of manual color painting using Photoshop, the starting rate is $39 per image. Please note that our automated color correction services have limitations, and the result is contingent on the initial quality of the provided images.

Why is photo color correction more expensive than slide and film correction?
Typically, batch orders of film and slides will exhibit a consistent color shift across all frames. However, individual printed photos are unique, demanding specialized attention to preserve the original integrity of each image. Slides and film will have an automated filter applied to them for 15 cents. This will help with extreme color casts but in many cases customers will still opt to have select images pulled into photoshop for further automated color correction, at $10 an image, and in some cases will require manual color correction, at $39 an image. Please note that our automated color correction services have limitations, and the result is contingent on the initial quality of the provided images.

Do I need to cut my film to get the least expensive scanning price? No.
For scanning a single image from a film strip, you'll be charged only for that particular image archived, regardless of the number of images on the strip. If you opt for 2-6 images from a roll, you'll be charged a film strip scanning price. For 7 or more images from a roll, we will charge you a full roll scanning price. Our scanning prices consider the time spent locating specific images, as organizing them during intake and locating them on the computer takes the same amount of time, if not more, as scanning an entire roll. Additional time is needed when we have to pause and locate specific images within a roll.