Frequently Asked Questions

What is 35mm film or 135 film? 135 film and 35mm film are two names for the same type of negative film. 135 is its serial number, and 35mm is the film width (it has an image area of 24mm x 36mm). 35mm film is the standard negative film, and was most commonly used prior to the advent of digital cameras (other types of film include types 120, 116, 127, 110, 126i, APS, and disc film). We accept 35mm filmstrips that are 1-6 frames long. Film strips and/or rolls longer than 6 frames will be cut into multiple pieces that are 5-6 frames long in order to fit the film holder. If your negatives have a protective film on them it must be removed before we can scan your film. We will remove it for you but it will not be replaced or returned. Please be aware this.

What is a 35mm slide? A 35mm slide is a transparency with a mount of 2"x2". Its image area is 24mm x 36mm. There are different types of slides, but 35mm is the industry standard. We accept 35mm slides with a mount 1mm-3.2mm thick.

Why do I need to convert negative films and slides to digital files? The film and prints (especially with color film) will suffer quality degeneracy and color fading as time goes. This is regardless of what brand they are. With the emergence of digital imaging, old negatives or slides will soon be a thing of the past. As time passes, the memories captured on these mediums will be lost forever. Because digital images can be easily archived and will last forever without any loss of quality, digitizing negatives and slides is the best solution for saving and keeping these valuable memories.

Should I convert the film to digital images by developing pictures and then scanning pictures? Yes, this is one solution. But by doing this, the images are suffering two stages of quality degeneration. It is also more expensive and time consuming.

What is the difference between JPEG and TIFF formats? JPEG is a commonly used method of compression for photographic images to produce relatively small file sizes. During the compression some visual quality may get lost in the process but in most cases this does not detract noticeably from the image. TIFF files are not compressed and can be edited and resaved without suffering any compression loss. However, TIFF files are much bigger compared to JPEG files.

Here is a rough estimate of file sizes. For a resolution of 4000dpi the TIFF file size would be 60-70mb, compared to 3-5mb for the same image on a JPEG file. Therefore, a typical CD-R would hold about 10 TIFF images or 120 JPEG images.

What is image cropping? In most cases, scanned 35mm slides and negatives will contain a black or white border around the image due to the frame’s mount. An image cropping procedure will remove the border and some image pixels near that border. By default we do image cropping with no charge. But if you want perform this task with your own image editing software you can choose to skip this procedure.

What is Digital ICE, ROC, GEM, and GEE? Digital ICE (Image Correction & Enhancement) removes dust, scratches and fingerprints from scanned images), Digital ROC (Reconstruction Of Color) recreates and restores faded color values for vivid, faithfully rendered images and Digital GEM (Grain Equalization & Management) equalizes image grain for sharp, clear images with no clumping or graininess. Digital DEE (Dynamic Exposure Extender) helps reveal details lost in shadows and highlights.

Should I cut filmstrips to single frames in order to scan individual frames? No. Filmstrips of 2-5 frames in length are ideal for the scanning process. If you need to selectively scan individual frames from filmstrips then put them in a separate small envelope that is clearly marked.

How are my originals handled? We handle your originals very careful, only compressed air is used to remove dust. At every stage when the film is handled, we will wear specially decontaminated gloves, to avoid fingerprints. We will ship your originals and the final scanned CDs, through USPS Priority Mail with signature required (for US customers only).

What guidelines should I use when choosing optical resolution? Below is a table to convert scanner optical resolutions into the image megapixels of a digital camera resolution. Since 300dpi is a safe bet for top-quality photo prints 3000dpi on a 0.9"x1.4" film is sufficient for average household photography.

Do you ship my originals overseas? Our studio is located in the town of Westford, Massachusetts, USA. All digital services are performed here locally. We will never ship originals to other countries.

Do you use CD-R or DVD-/+R for image files? It depends on your order size. If all image files can be placed on a single CD (700MB) we will use a CD-R. Otherwise a DVD-R or DVD+R (4.7GB) will be used. If you have a special preference on one of the media types please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.