To watch a quick video on how to send in film click HERE (make sure to use our new address below though) otherwise you can follow the instructions below!

1) After creating your order you will receive an email with your order number. Just write down that order number and include it with your film. Feel free to include a note with your film with details that you think I should know.

2) You will want to put your film in a ziplock bag and pack it safely in a small box or padded envelope*.

3) I recommend using the free website www.pirateship.com to purchase and print your USPS First Class Package label. This shouldn’t be more than $4-$6. (ALWAYS remember to screenshot, take a picture of, or write down your tracking number – just in case.)

4) Then just mail the film to me!

Brooktree Film Lab
219 N Main St
Decatur, IL 62523

*I like these bubble mailers

Absolutely! Just place your order online first so you get an order number. Then put your rolls into a plastic bag and include that number either written on a note or printed out. You can bring your film by the lab Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Dropping by outside those hours? No problem! You can use our 24/7 dropbox slot right by the door. We’ll take it from there!

At Brooktree Film Lab we use a Fuji Frontier SP3000 or a Noritsu HS-1800 depending on your preference or what you shoot.

We offer three scan sizes for different needs:

Web (up to 6MP ideal for social sharing),
Large (up to 13MP, allows some cropping), and
Extra Large (up to 30MP, best for high-quality prints).

Our Noritsu scanner provides higher resolution and is ideal for black-and-white film, while the Frontier delivers rich, saturated colors, great for color film.

Here is a quick table for the different resolutions from the Noritsu:

For more information, resolution differences, and scan comparisons check out our full scanning info blog post: HERE

Your film is designed to be metered at box speed for best results. If you should need a faster shutter speed (e.g. in low light scenarios) than your film supports, you can deliberately underexpose it by 1 or 2 stops to help freeze motion. Tell this to the lab so that we can over-develop your film to compensate. This is called push processing and affects grain, contrast, and color balance!

For example shooting a 400 ISO speed film at 800 would be considered a 1 stop push (+1) therefor developing for longer than the ‘standard’ processing time.

Why push film?

Pushed film has increased contrast in the lighter areas with minimal effects on the shadows. To preserve the details in the shadows, make sure to meter for medium to darker areas of the image.

This unequal rise in exposure—in which bright areas become lighter, while shadows stay more or less the same—increases the contrast and grain of the film. This is why pushing film in processing isn’t a way to “save” underexposed film as much as an artistic tool in your bag of photog tricks.

Once you’re done with the roll, be sure to write the push amount (+1, +2, etc.) on the film cartridge with a sharpie so the lab knows that it needs to be pushed. Also, select and order the push amount on the order form. This will help ensure proper development in the lab.

Using a Noritsu V30 mini-lab for our film processing ensures that film is consistently developed with strict temperature and agitation control. Control steps are ran through the machine consistently to ensure everything is working properly!

We use Fuji Film chemistry for our C41 development, and Ilford ID-11 (D76) developer for our B&W films. 

If you select “normal shipping” from the checkout screen then your negatives will be carefully cut and put in archival Print File sleeves to protect them for you. These sleeves have binder holes in them to make your negative organization a breeze!

If you prefer your negatives uncut there is a checkbox below your shipping address that you can select. We will then sleeve your film in one strip instead!

Those will then be mailed back to you for the cost of shipping, which is normally $5-$8 (depending on how many rolls you sent in).

When you select the “Hold Negatives” shipping option I will keep your sleeved negatives at the lab and combine them with future orders. This option is great if you plan on sending in a few rolls over time and want to save on shipping.

Ready to get your held negatives returned?

Simply hit “Regular Shipping” for the last order (leaving us a note that you’d like held negatives returned) and they’ll all be sent back to you at once! (scans are delivered immediately and not delayed in any way)

I can hold your negatives for up a year. If they’re still here after a year then I will try to contact you to arrange for return shipping. If I am unable to contact you then they will go into storage and I can no longer guarantee their return.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about this service!

As the owner of a Fuji TX-1 and a Kodak Ektar H35 I am more than used to scanning everything from panoramic to half-frame negatives, and everything in between! Remember, we never charge extra for these funky frame types either!

Yes! We love Kodak VISION3 film and are happy to process it. Please make sure you select ECN-2 process while placing your development order. If you need to stock up we try to keep 250D and 500T in stock on our store page!

Turn around times on ECN-2 film are slightly longer, but it will be worth the wait!

I am one of those people who does not like to wait for things that I am excited about, so I strive to give you the fastest possible turn around times. Typical film development and scans are done within 2-4 business days of receiving your film.

Just a heads up that we process slide film (E6) in batches at the middle and end of each month. This means there may be a slight delay in getting your order to you.

If your order has a mix of slide film and color/black and white film, only the slide film processing will be delayed.

Proof prints serve as a cost-effective means of assessing how your photos will appear when printed. Given the significant variation in screen technologies available, the appearance of your photo may differ slightly depending on the device or screen it is displayed on.

At Brooktree Film Lab, we employ a dye-sublimation printing process that strikes a balance between affordability and quality for our 4×6 proof prints.

Additionally, your image gallery features a professional print lab that can produce prints in nearly any size. By referencing your proof prints, you can gain a better understanding of how your image will appear when printed larger!

At Brooktree Film Lab not only do we belong to the organization 1% for the Planet, we prioritize sustainability and are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact. That’s why we go the extra mile when it comes to packaging and shipping your ordered film and negatives.

Our recyclable packaging materials are carefully chosen to strike a balance between functionality and eco-friendliness. These padded mailers and boxes provide optimal cushioning and protection for your precious film and negatives while also being designed with the environment in mind. Once you receive your order, you can easily recycle the packaging materials!

We also employ a state-of-the-art silver recovery system to remove and recycle excess silver that is generated during the developing process.

By utilizing this advanced technology, we ensure that the silver is not wasted or released into our water treatment plants. This not only helps to protect the environment but also reduces the need for silver mining, which can have significant environmental impacts!

As someone who loves shooting just about any kind of format that I can find we absolutely are able to process and scan just about any size of film. 110, APS, 126, 620, disc, and more are fair game!

We may have longer turn around times for speciality films though! 

Reward points can only be redeemed toward film processing services. Because of how our system applies discounts, reward redemptions don’t work on mixed orders that include both film processing and fresh film products.

What should I do if I want to order both film and processing?

Simply place two separate orders:

• One for your film processing items (where you can apply your points)

• Another for your fresh film or other products

Can I still earn points when buying film?

Yes. You’ll earn points on eligible purchases, even if you can’t redeem them in the same order.