We are always working as fast as we can to get you your film scans. There will be banner on the website homepage with the current turnaround time.
If you have not received anything and it is more than the time that we have told you it would take, the best place to contact us would be at lab@safelightberlin.com
We need your order number and the date you dropped off the film.
Standard Scan - JPG
35mm - 2161 x 3224 Pixels
35mm Half Frame - 2161 x 1612 Pixels
Large Scan - TIFF
35mm - 3602 x 5397 Pixels
Standard Scan - JPG
645 - 3028 x 1859 Pixels
6x6 - 3028 x 3028 Pixels
6x7 - 3028 x 4298 Pixels
6x8 - 3028 x 5097 Pixels
6x9 - 3028 x 5507 Pixels
Large Scan - TIFF
645 - 5028 x 3859 Pixels
6x6 - 5028 x 5028 Pixels
6x7 - 5028 x 6298 Pixels
6x8 - 5028 x 7097 Pixels
6x9 - 5028 x 7507 Pixels
Not really. That's kind of the point.
We keep our scanners properly calibrated and well maintained so we can get the best possible file from your negative while letting the film do its thing. We're not big fans of taking someone else's scan and heavily editing it until every image looks perfectly neutral and “digital”.
When we scan, the main thing we adjust is density, making sure the image isn't too dark or too light. We don't sit there changing the colours of every frame or trying to make the film look like something it isn't.
The idea is simple. We give you a clean, good-looking scan that you can use straight away, but with enough information left in the file for you to make it your own.
You can leave it as it is, or throw it into Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, whatever you use and go wild.
We scan the film. You decide what to do with it.
Half-frame is no problem. We scan these as single images by default, but if you'd rather have them scanned as doubles / diptychs, just leave us a note with your order.
XPan and panoramic formats are also no problem, and there is no extra charge for these formats.
The only exception is over-the-sprocket scans. These need a little more work because we have to manually scan and frame each image individually, so there is a small additional fee for this service.
Yes. We develop over 200 rolls of film every day, making us one of the larger independent film labs in Germany. Because of the volume we process, our chemistry is constantly being used and replenished.
We mix fresh chemistry daily and closely monitor our processes to keep development consistent from roll to roll. Depending on the process, we work with professional chemistry from Bellini, Fujifilm and Calbe.
Fresh chemistry, accurate processing and a lot of film going through the lab every day means your negatives get the care they deserve...clean, consistent and ready to scan or print.
1. Please head over to Develop Your Film under the "Lab" menu in the website.
2. Choose what services you need done to your film.
3. After payment is complete you will receive an order number.
4. Please include the order number with your films and pack them up safely (the post man is not so careful with your films) and send them to us. We recommend using a service that can be tracked.
5. Once the film arrives in the lab, you will get a confirmation email that your films have arrived and are being processed.
Shipping Address:
Safelight Berlin
Schivelbeiner Str. 9
10439 Berlin, Germany
*Depending on which shipping option you chose at checkout, your negatives will be shipped back once finished, or waiting for you at the shop for pick up.
1. Please head over to Develop Your Film under the "Lab" menu in the website.
2. Choose what services you need done to your film.
3. After payment is complete you will receive an order number.
4. Please write the order number on any envelope, plastic bag, or directly on the films and you can then place the films in one of our dropboxes.
5. Once the film arrives in the lab, you will get a confirmation email that your films have arrived and are being processed.
*Depending on which shipping option you chose at checkout, your negatives will be shipped back once finished, or waiting for you at the shop for pick up.
Yes we do. It is free of charge. We do not recommend pushing color film though.
Please make sure to mark how many stops you pushed/pulled or the ISO you shot at on the canister.
A contact sheet is an overview of your full roll of film. It includes the film borders as well.
Example here.
We use Dropbox to send you your scans. Please remember to download them ASAP. The scan link will only be live for about 7 days.
*Please check your spam folder for your scans, many times they will end up there.
we store your negatives for 2 months after that time due to privacy issues and storage space issues, we dispose of them.
We use professional Noritsu HS-1800 and Fujifilm Frontier SP3000 scanners at Safelight Berlin. We don't offer a choice of scanner when placing an order. Instead, we select the scanner and settings that best suit the film, format and type of scan.
Different scanners have different characteristics, and the best result isn't always the same from one film to another. Our lab team makes that decision as part of the scanning process, taking into account the film stock, format, exposure and the final use of the images.
The goal is simple: get the best possible scan from your negative, rather than forcing every roll through the same machine.
For contact sheet and instant film scanning we use an Epson 10000XL scanner.
We ship negatives one time per week. Any orders placed with other products will be sent after the lab processing is finished.
Didn't Find Your Answer?
For any other lab related questions, please feel free to write us an email at: lab@safelightberlin.com
We are happy to help.
