Frequently asked Questions
How long does colour film take?
Our C41 colour film is usually developed the same working day when it arrives before our daily cut off time. Orders received later in the day are normally processed on the next working day.
When is black and white film processed?
Black and white film is processed every Wednesday by our in house lab.
What film formats do you develop?
We professionally develop both 35mm and 120 medium format film.
Do you develop disposable cameras?
Yes. We develop all major disposable cameras, including Kodak FunSaver, Fujifilm QuickSnap and most other single use cameras.
What films do you process?
We process all standard C41 colour films, including Kodak Gold, UltraMax, ColorPlus, Portra, Ektar, Candido, Harman Phoenix, Cinestill 400D and Fujifilm colour films, together with traditional black and white films.
What scan sizes do you offer?
We offer five professional scan options to suit every requirement.
• Standard JPEG
• Medium JPEG
• Medium TIFF
• High JPEG
• High TIFF
Whether you're sharing images online, producing large prints or carrying out professional editing, we have a scan option to suit your needs.
Every roll is scanned using our professional Noritsu HS-1800 film scanner, renowned for its natural colour reproduction, exceptional sharpness and outstanding image quality.
How will I receive my scans?
Once your film has been scanned, your images are delivered by email using a secure download link. You can download them directly to your phone, tablet or computer.
Why do my scans show a low DPI?
This is completely normal and does not mean your scans are low quality.
Our Noritsu HS-1800 produces scans based on their pixel dimensions rather than a fixed DPI value. Because of this, some computers and image editing software may display a DPI value below 100 even though the file contains a very high level of detail.
For example, our Medium scans contain a level of detail broadly comparable to a traditional scan of around 2400 DPI, making them ideal for high quality printing and editing.
The most important measurement is the pixel dimensions and overall image quality, not the DPI figure shown within your computer.
Do you offer push or pull processing?
Yes. We offer push and pull processing for compatible black and white films.
Simply leave a note during checkout stating how many stops you would like your film pushed or pulled.
Can you develop expired film?
Yes.
We regularly process expired film. While we always take the greatest care during processing, the age and storage conditions of expired film can significantly affect the final results, so image quality cannot be guaranteed.
Can you scan negatives I already have?
Yes.
If you already have developed negatives, we can professionally scan them using our Noritsu HS-1800. We offer a range of scan sizes suitable for everything from social media to exhibition quality printing.
Do I automatically get my negatives back?
No.
To help keep postage costs as low as possible, negatives are securely stored after processing rather than automatically returned.
If you would like your negatives returned, simply let us know when placing your order. We also recommend purchasing a roll of film from us at the same time, allowing us to return your negatives in the same parcel and helping to reduce postage costs.
Can I request my negatives uncut?
Yes.
If you would like your negatives returned uncut, simply leave a note when placing your order and we'll be happy to do this where possible.
How long do you keep negatives?
We securely store customer negatives for up to four months after processing.
After this period, any uncollected negatives are confidentially destroyed due to limited storage space.
Can I order prints from my scans?
Yes.
We can produce high quality photographic prints from your scanned negatives at any time after processing.
Can I drop my film off in person?
Absolutely.
You're very welcome to visit our Newquay lab and hand your film to us during our opening hours.
Do you accept mail in orders?
Yes.
We accept mail in film orders from customers throughout the UK.
Simply place your order online, post your film to us and we'll take care of the rest.
How do I send my film?
Choose your film type together with your development and scanning options on our website.
Place your film in a securely sealed envelope or padded mailer and send it to us.
Once it arrives, we'll carefully process your film, complete any selected scans, email your images and safely return any requested negatives.
Should I send my film using tracked post?
We strongly recommend using a tracked postal service for complete peace of mind, particularly for important or irreplaceable rolls of film.
Do you process APS, 110 or 126 film?
Unfortunately, we do not currently process APS, 110 or 126 film in house.
If you have one of these formats, please get in touch and we'll happily recommend another specialist lab.
What happens if my film is blank?
Occasionally a roll may return completely blank.
This is usually caused by the film not being exposed in the camera, incorrect loading, a camera fault or severe airport hold luggage X ray damage.
If this happens, we'll provide you with a complimentary scan credit to use on a future order.
If we determine that the issue resulted from our processing, we'll always put things right.
Who develops my film?
Every roll is processed here at our independent Newquay lab using professional Noritsu processing equipment.
Your film is never sent away to another laboratory.
Do you sell film cameras?
Yes.
We stock a carefully selected range of tested and fully working film cameras, from affordable point and shoot cameras through to enthusiast and professional SLRs.
Every camera is thoroughly checked before being offered for sale.
What is your camera returns policy?
If you're not completely happy with your purchase, you may return your camera within 14 days, provided it is returned in the same condition in which it was sold.
Should a fault develop during this period that is not the result of misuse or accidental damage, we'll inspect the camera and, where appropriate, offer a repair, replacement or refund.
Unfortunately we cannot accept returns for cameras that have been misused, damaged or altered after purchase.
Can I collect my negatives later?
Yes.
If you've requested your negatives to be kept, you're welcome to collect them from our lab during opening hours.
Please remember that negatives are only stored for four months before being securely destroyed.
I haven't received my scan email.
Please check your spam or junk folder first, as scan emails can occasionally be filtered by your email provider.
If you still can't find your scans, contact us during our opening hours and we'll happily resend your download link.
To help us locate your order quickly, we'll ask for your name, the email address used when placing your order, whether your film was colour or black and white, and whether you requested your negatives or prints.
Can you remove dust and scratches?
Where compatible, our professional scanner uses Digital ICE technology to reduce the appearance of dust and minor scratches on colour film.
Traditional black and white films cannot use Digital ICE, so every scan is individually checked by hand to ensure the highest possible quality.