Film Processing Labs

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Guide to Film Processing Labs

Develop your own negatives or use film processing labs to save time, reduce overhead
By Lisa J. Jackson

Film photography is alive and well in the digital age, but film processing is not as simple as connecting your camera via USB cable to your computer or downloading images from a memory card. It does offer a lot of satisfaction to those who put in the time to learn about lighting, aperture, lenses and film speeds. Business owners who need fast developing without labor- and maintenance-intensive darkrooms can use professional photo labs, but finding a lab you can trust is quite a feat and requires some searching.

There are many resources available for you, at low cost, as you figure out how your business will incorporate the film photography world and its developing requirements:

1. Use professional photo labs for film processing convenience and have all your prints in hand in a relatively short time.

2. Tap community resources such as photography clubs and community classes for the adult learner which can give you hands-on experience in a dark room.

3. Send negatives out to be developed into slides, and buy a slide scanner to import digital images to your computer.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Minimize in-house cost and time with the convenience of film processing labs Find a local film lab to develop your black and white or color film to outsource and keep your resources focused on your business. In lieu of setting up your own dark room and developing negatives on your own, find a film processing lab that offers mail-in capability. Mailing rolls of film to a lab is as convenient as it can get. Many offer the choice of online digital photos or print and slide picture delivery with a reasonable turnaround time.

I recommend:  ABC Photolab is a full service photo shop in Connecticut which offers the convenience of mail-in color or black and white film processing. Request their free mailers. A&I is a full service film processing lab for photographers of all experience levels with walk-in locations in California as well as a mail-in option for film processing.

Offer film restoration using professional photo labs that specialize in old film types You and your customers needn't throw out film that has been inherited from a relative, found tucked away in an attic or otherwise damaged. Outsource to photography developing labs that specialize in obtaining images from old film of any size. Not for the faint of heart, restoration -- or just developing old film in general -- will be costly.

I recommend:  Film Rescue International processes all film in-house and will deliver prints to you within two to four weeks. Rocky Mountain Film can scan, develop, and process images off movie, still, slide, disc, cartridge or roll films.

Seek continuing education and technical information for running DIY photo labs Network with people who share an interest in film developing, slide film processing or other similar photography interests to explore the myriad possibilities that film offers. Locate community photography clubs by contacting a local school. Seek out online opportunities to interact with people worldwide who have a broad range of experience and who can make recommendations when you have questions.

I recommend:  Find workshops near you through Shutterbug.com to learn anything from slide film developing to color photo processing and aperture settings. Find specific photo developing formulas for your film lab using the formulas and data index at Digital Truth Photo.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Learn black and white or color film processing on your own through local colleges, books, or online tutorials to work in your own darkroom. The methodology is precise, all you need is the desire and the time to spend in the dark with your negatives.