FILM PROCESSING

** Please note film developing is currently on pause until the new year 2024.**

We process colour (C-41), black & white, slide (E-6), and cinematic film (ECN-2). From 35mm to 120 and 4x5, we've got you covered.

Our technicians develop and scan in small batches, treating your negative like it's our own. We specialise in rotary film processing using freshly mixed developers to get the most out of your film stock. Our JOBO rotary processors are preferred by many photographers worldwide for delivering beautifully balanced, scratch-free images with a personal touch.

We embrace new techniques in negative capture. Our scanning set-up uses high resolution digital cameras to capture your negative in the finest detail with maximum dynamic range. Our technicians make frame-by-frame adjustments to balance your images. 

Read more about our process or drop in to the lab for a chat.

SCAN TYPES

At LAB WEST all our scans are high resolution with a choice of file formats to suit your needs (JPEG / TIFF / RAW). Scans are emailed to you via dropbox link within five days of receiving your film. Negatives are carefully cut & sleeved in archival sleeves in strips of six and can be mailed to you. 

LAB SCANS : High Resolution (4900 x 3200*) JPEG files.

A vibrant yet natural looking scan that is ready to share. Our Lab Scans maintain enough detail for you to make slight adjustments to taste. If you are looking for more editing power, we recommend opting for the non-destructive TIFF format below.

PRO SCANS : High Resolution (4900 x 3200*) TIFF files + Digital Contact Sheet.

Exported with flat (neutral) colour profile ideal for professional editing. Our 16 Bit TIFF's preserve greater detail in the highlights and shadows for added versatility and creative control. Our Pro Scans also include a digital contact sheet for a snapshot of your exposures and to help organise your archive.

You can also add RAW (DNG) files to your order, or upsize your scans from High to MAMMOTH RESOLUTION (9500 x 6500*) (see details below.)

*All scan resolutions are approximate. Please expect slight variations depending on your format and frame ratio.

See full price list.

EXTRAS

We offer a variety of extras to help realise your vision. If you have a particular look in mind, feel free to contact us or drop in to the lab to discuss.

EXPRESS SERVICE  + $10 per roll 

Need a quicker turnaround time? We do our best to offer an express service with scans delivered by close of business the next day. Please contact us to arrange - you'll need to drop your rolls off at the lab.  

PUSH / PULL  + $5 per roll 

Our technicians can vary develop times and push or pull colour and b&w films to your liking. Please specify in your online order how many stops you wish to push / pull and clearly mark your roll.  

DIGITAL CONTACT SHEET  + $10 per roll 

Add a digital contact sheet to your order for a convenient snapshot of your roll. They're also a helpful tool to review the consistency of your exposures or select your top frames for prints. (Please note these are complimentary with Pro Scans.)

MAMMOTH RESOLUTION  + $15 per roll 

Upsize your scans from High Resolution (4900 x 3200 approx.) to Mammoth Resolution (9500 x 6500 approx.) Ideal for large-scale fine-art prints (A1 & beyond) and expert archival, capturing your negative with exceptional resolution down to the grain. Best suited to 120 and 4x5 formats.

ADD RAW (DNG) SCANS + $10 per roll

A unique option to add RAW (DNG) files to your order. This is your original negative in digital form for ultimate control and archival management. Convert your own negative from scratch using software like NegLab Pro, Film lab, Grain2Pixel or Photoshop. Unlock the power of editing in RAW without the hassle of setting up your own scanner. RAW files can be added to Develop Only orders, or alongside your JPEG or TIFF scans.

FULL FRAME SCANS + $5 per roll (35mm only)

We are able to capture beyond the film border to include 35mm sprocket holes and film details. Present your images with an original film edge or crop as you wish.  

PANORAMIC SCANS + $10 per roll 

Panoramic frames are digitally stitched to deliver a high resolution image. 

HALF FRAME SCANS + $10 per roll

We can scan negatives shot with half-frame cameras (please note you will receive double the images yet half the resolution.)

CUSTOM B&W DEVELOPER  + $4 per roll / 5 sheets

We generally pair b&w films with Kodak XTOL 1:1 developer, known for its lighter environmental impact. We also offer RODINAL, Ilford ID-11 or Kodak HC-110 developers upon request. You can specify a custom developer / dilution when ordering online, or visit us at the lab to discuss.

TURNAROUND TIMES

Scans will arrive in your email inbox within five working days of receiving your film. We can also provide a 24 hour express service for an additional fee. See details above.

FILE STORAGE  / NEGATIVES

DROPBOX LINKS AND DIGITAL FILES ARE DELETED TWO MONTHS AFTER SENDING. Please direct download  or save to your dropbox account to keep your files safe.

NEGS ARE CAREFULLY CUT, SLEEVED AND STORED AT THE LAB FOR TWO MONTHS. After that, they move to deep storage and there is a $50 fee to retrieve them. If it's been more than three months, please contact us before coming to collect your negs so we can ensure we have them ready. If you don't want your film cut / sleeved you can make a note in your online order. 

We can also send your negs back to you for a $15 flat shipping fee Australia wide. You can choose to have your negs mailed back straight away, or we can store them and mail in bulk after 3 months / when your file is full (whatever comes first.)