FAQ

How do I send my film?

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MFL is currently operating exclusively as a mail-in lab. We have plans to introduce a dropoff collection box in downtown Santa Cruz, CA in the near future… stay posted!

For now, place your film in a padded envelope or small box, inside of a sealable plastic bag or other watertight container. Envelopes or packages can be shipped via your preferred carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc).

Mail your films to the following address:

Mountain Film Lab, PO Box 217, Brookdale, CA 95007

Please include a note inside your container that includes the following:

Your name

Your order number

If you prefer, feel free to print out your order confirmation e-mail and include it inside the package.

If we do not have the order number associated with the films you’re sending us, and you don’t put your return name and address, it is extremely difficult to determine whos film we’ve received, and this will delay your order.

What sets Mountain Film Lab apart from other film labs? Why should I choose you?

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At MFL, your film receives the “white glove” service. Nothing touches your film directly in this process. This is unlike many auto-processors at other labs which were intended for “one-hour” style quick-turn for consumer photos, where scratches can be introduced from the decades-old automated developing and scanning equipment. Our process ensures everything is hand-loaded, hand-processed, and hand-scanned before being hand-cut and inserted into archival pages (if purchased) or left uncut in sleeves.

What is your turnaround time?

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We aim to provide your scans back as soon as possible, but due to the nature of our business model and service structure of quality over quantity, it entirely depends on our current volume and cannot be guaranteed. Current turnaround times will be updated on the main home page if longer than 1 week. Otherwise, you can expect anywhere from 2 days to 1 week to get your scans.

If you need rush service, we can offer this at a 100% increase to the sales price for the rolls which need rushing. This service is limited to 15 rolls per order but will guarantee your turnaround time at 2-3 days from the date of receipt of your film depending on how many rolls are rushed.

How do you develop my film?

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We develop your film using a Jobo rotary system which regulates the chemical temperature and continuously agitates the film to ensure a controlled process. We use the chemicals in a “one-shot” fashion to ensure they’re never exhausted and are working at full strength (chemicals are used for one batch of development only and then disposed of ethically with local hazardous waste collection sites).

What developers do you use?

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C-41 Color: Kodak Flexicolor

Black & White: Kodak Xtol (or D-76 on request)

Can you push/pull my film?

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Absolutely, just select it at the time of order. Color film carries an additional charge because we’ll have to run a separate batch for your film as pushing requires modification to the developer bath timing. This can’t be done alongside other rolls in our usual color batch method.

If you have multiple rolls with different push/pull requirements, please use a rubber band or other attachment method to stick a small note to your film canisters with your requirements for each one.

Can you process expired film?

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Yes! Just let us know the expiration date and we can do our best to adjust developing times to ensure we get the best images we can for you. If you have multiple rolls with different expiration dates, please rubber band a small note to your film canisters with the expiration dates for each one.

Similar to push/pull processing, processing expired film comes with an added cost, as we have to adjust development time accordingly.

Please be aware that we will do everything within our power to get the best images from your expired film, but sometimes there’s no saving it. It’s best to just stick with fresh film if you’re concerned with image quality.

How do you scan my film?

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We use a DSLR scanning setup with a Sony 60mp full-frame sensor and dedicated macro lens. This setup allows for more dynamic range and finer detail in your scans than traditional auto-scanners like the Fuji Frontier or Noritsu. This provides larger file size JPEG and TIFF files which contain more data for post-processing techniques. DSLR scanning is also significantly more labor intensive, which is why it is not preferred by quick-turnaround labs, and why we may not be as quick as others you’ve worked with.

Once your film has been scanned, it goes into conversion software which converts the files to positive images. Every single image is passed through final review by our experienced technicians (and company owner).

What are your scan sizes?

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All of our scan options are sent in one base resolution, as our scanning equipment takes just as long to capture a smaller resolution file than it does for our camera’s native 9504 x 6336 resolution. We have no reason to reduce the image resolution or quality unless you request it specifically. The only reason we charge extra for the TIFF option over JPEG is the export time, storage space, and transfer time required to support the significantly larger file format.

For 120 and 35mm film, the long edges of the image will be as close to 9300 pixels as possible, and the short edges will follow accordingly depending on the native aspect ratio of the film format. This means that for film formats (120) that are not 3:2 aspect ratio, you will receive slightly smaller resolution files than 35mm. This is because our camera’s sensor was designed to imitate the size and aspect ratio of a 35mm film frame.

We hand-crop the images to make sure each image is capturing as much of the film frame as possible; we know your framing is very important.

What’s up with the 4-Shot Pixel Shift option?

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4-Shot Pixel Shift will capture four consecutive RAW images and combine them into one image. It does this by shifting the sensor exactly one pixel horizontally or vertically for each frame. In each of these photos, it captures full Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) data for every single pixel. Once we recombine the images in post, the resulting image is completely free of false (estimated) colors, color moiré, and represents a more accurate and robust set of color data to work with.

Added bonus, it also more accurately renders film grain as it effectively bypasses the Bayer demosaicing filter. This is our favorite method of scanning, and offers results that can only be beaten with traditional drum scanning at a much higher cost.

Why do you charge extra for dust removal?

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While we maintain an extremely clean working environment, dust is inevitable. After the final rinse stage of developing (which uses distilled water and surfactants to prevent drying marks and bacterial growth) and the drying period, every image receives pre-scan air dusting with a bulb blower and post-conversion digital dust removal by hand.

You can save on pricing if you want to do it yourself in post, it’s up to you.  Additionally, some clients prefer the unpredictable and raw “vintage” look that dust and artifacts provide, so we leave this as an option.

Do you process E-6 or ECN-2 films?

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This is in development and MFL will offer these processes in the near future.

Do you offer prints?

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No, whole-roll Inkjet prints are not something we can be competitive with in-house.

We are working to provide larger format single-image prints with custom mat and framing options, but don’t want to offer this until we finalize relationships with trusted suppliers.

We want to be able to control the quality of our product going out as opposed to just providing a drop-shipped option for our customers.

We also have a darkroom in-house, and we are working to provide options for black and white as well as RA4 color darkroom prints.

Can you process disposable cameras?

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Yes of course, at no extra charge. These are ordered using the same process you would if you were sending us a roll of film. Just give us a heads up in the order notes.

FYI, you can remove the film canister from the disposable to save on shipping as opposed to sending the whole camera. This is an easy process that can be done at home with a flat-head screwdriver or other prying device.

Can you process film from half-frame cameras?

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Absolutely, but due to the nature of half-frame, there is more time required for the scanning and inversion steps, which is why we need to charge more for these options. We’re effectively doubling our work in those areas as there are twice as many images per roll. We scan and invert these images individually to maintain our quality standards.

How do I receive my scans back?

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You’ll receive a Dropbox link from us to the email associated on your order as soon as they’re prepared and uploaded. Once your scans are completed, they’re stored on our Dropbox for 15 days. Once the 15-day download period expires, the files may be deleted. Be sure to save your files as we may not be able to get them back without rescanning your negatives!

How do I receive my negatives back?

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If you select “Uncut,” we will return your negatives uncut in a continuous sleeve inside of a tough 200lb test cardboard box.

If you choose “Cut and Archival Binder Page,” for 35mm film we’ll cut negatives into strips of 6 frames each and insert them info full-page PrintFile archival negative pages. 120 film is cut into strips of 3 or 4 depending on the format (frame length varies by format) and inserted into PrintFile archival storage pages. If you have a preferred storage or shipping method, please email us and we will try to accommodate.

MFL will hold negatives for up to 3 weeks after the order is completed to allow for any potential customer requests or re-scans. Once you’re satisfied with your order, or if it reaches ~3 weeks without hearing from you, we’ll ship your negatives back. We generally ship negatives twice a month, in batches. For dev-only orders we will ship as soon as the film is processed.

Limitation of Liability

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  1. Sending any films, individual slides, disposable cameras, or any other analogue or digital media to Mountain Film Lab for processing, developing, scanning, or any other specific handling constitutes your agreement that any damages or loss by our lab or staff, including due to our own negligence, will only entitle you to replacement with films and services of equal value as determined by Mountain Film Lab. Other than replacement of said items, there is no other liability or warranty offered, including for the recovery of any incidental or consequential damages which may come forth from said loss

  2. Please be sure to include your return address on your package. We are not responsible for film that is lost in transit. We’ve never had an issue with couriers losing mail that was properly addressed and packaged.

  3. Once your scans are completed, they’re stored on our Dropbox for 15 days. Once the 15-day download period expires, the files may be deleted.

  4. If a roll is developed and is blank due to a camera or user error, we will refund the scanning portion for those rolls, but still need to charge you for the development time and materials. If all your rolls on the order are blank, we will also refund your negative return shipping fee. If the roll is heavily light-leaked, we will reach out to you to see where you want to go from there. We will make sure every reasonable accommodation is made to ensure you are satisfied in the event of a blank roll or other film error.

  5. We cannot refund expired film processing, as the outcome is out of our control. If a roll is developed and is blank due to a camera or user error, we will refund the scanning portion for those rolls, but still need to charge you for the development time and materials.