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Processing Film at Spectra

Groove out to mind numbing elevator tunes as you watch a brief video demonstration of film processing at Spectra!

We mix our chemicals fresh for each run to assure clean pictures and accurate color every time. Count on Spectra for the very best in film service!

Please include our order form when sending in film for services:

Download Spectra Process and Scan Order Form

Color E6 Specialists

Be sure to try our fabulous E-6 motion picture processing for the new Kodak 100D Ektachrome 7294 reversal stocks. Super 8 and 16 films accepted! Projects include Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" and Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods".

Enhanced Film Cleaning

Our Ultra Sonic Lipsner Smith cleaning system submerges film in a warm bath of solvent while gentle buffing and ultrasonic agitation is applied. This premium cleaning is applied after film assembly. See the demo video bellow!

Quality Assurance

Fuji Hunt chemical expert, Mike Cagle, drops into Spectra's lab to perform quality assurance tests.

Processing Policy Information

Please review our information at the bottom of this page before submitting film to us. We are here to serve you! Should you have any questions, no matter how minor, do not hesitate call!

35mm Film Processing Discounted (scan with Spectra) Retail (processing only) Push/Pull (surcharge – $30.00 min)
ECN-2 Color Negative (400′ min) .35/ft .40/ft .10/ft – per stop
Black & White Negative (400′ min) .35/ft .40/ft .10/ft – per stop

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16mm Film Processing Discounted (scan with Spectra) Retail (processing only) Push/Pull (surcharge – $30.00 min)
ECN-2 Color Negative (100′ min per roll) .24/ft .29/ft .10/ft – per stop
Ektachrome E6, VNF, 7244 (100′ min per roll) .29/ft .34/ft .10/ft – per stop
Cross Process Ektachrome (100′ min per roll) .45/ft .50/ft .10/ft – per stop
Black & White Reversal (100′ min per roll) .24/ft .29/ft .10/ft – per stop
Black & White Negative (400′ min) .35/ft .40/ft .30/ft – per stop
Cross Process Black & White Neg (100′ min) .24/ft .29/ft .10/ft – per stop

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Super 8 Film Processing Discounted (scan with Spectra) Retail (processing only) Push/Pull (surcharge – $30.00 min)
ECN-2 Color Negative 24.00/roll 29.00/roll $10.00/roll – per stop
Ektachrome E6, VNF, 7244 24.00/roll 29.00/roll $10.00/roll – per stop
B/W Reversal 24.00/roll 29.00/roll $10.00/roll – per stop
Cross Process E-6 Ektachrome 35.00/roll 40.00/roll $10.00/roll – per stop

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No Censorship:

We want our clients to shoot with total creative freedom without concern over outside vendor policies. You should be the only one to judge your project content! We therefore do not censor, restrict or edit any client content! All client projects are always kept confidential!

Regular 8 Film ProcessingSlitting Included Discounted (scan with Spectra) Retail (processing only) Push/Pull (surcharge – $30.00 min)
Ektachrome E6, VNF 29.00/ 25′ roll 34.00/ 25′ roll $10.00/roll – per stop
ECN-2 Color Negative 29.00/ 25′ roll 34.00/ 25′ roll $10.00/roll – per stop
B/W Reversal (TriX, PlusX, ORWO) 29.00/ 25′ roll 34.00/ 25′ roll $10.00/roll – per stop
B/W Reversal (Foma) 32.00/ 33′ roll 37.00/ 25′ roll $10.00/roll – per stop

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Double Super 8 Processing (DS8)Slitting Included Discounted (scan with Spectra) Retail (processing only) Push/Pull (surcharge – $30.00 min)
Ektachrome E6 (100′ min per container) .50/ft .65/ft .10/ft – per stop
ECN-2 Color Neg (100′ min per container) .50/ft .65/ft .10/ft – per stop
B/W Reversal (100′ min per container) .50/ft .65/ft .10/ft – per stop

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Kodachrome Processing:

Please note that all worldwide color Kodachrome processing was officially discontinued as of December 30th 2010 due to non-availability of color chemistry! However, we still offer custom processing of Kodachrome as black and white negative. See details below…

Old Movie Film Custom Processing (all custom processing services must be paid in advance) Processing Cost Avg Turn-around
Super 8/Reg 8 Kodachrome (K-II, 14, 11 or 12) as B/W neg 95.00/roll 120 Days
16mm Kodachrome (K-II, 14, 11 or 12) as B/W neg – (100′ min) 2.00/ft 120 Days
Super 8 Ektachrome 160 (Type EM-25 or EM-26 Type A or G) as color 95.00/roll 120 Days
16mm Ektachrome (EM-26, ME-4, ECO-3 ) as color – (100′ min) 2.00/ft 120 Days
Super 8 Ektachrome ES-8 7244 or VNF 7240 as E-6 color 29.00/roll 4 Days
16mm Ektachrome 7241, 7242 ME-4 OR 7252, 7255, 7257 ECO-3 (100′ min) 2.00/ft 120 Days
16mm VNF 2239, 2253, 7239, 7240, 7244, 7250, 7251 (100′ min) .29/ft 4 Days

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Special Lab Services

Products Price
35mm/16mm Color Neg Snip Test w/ Report (10′) $ 60.00
Darkroom Spool Down of 16mm to 100′ (spool/box included) $ 15.00
Darkroom Spool Down of 16mm to 200′ Aaton per spool (spool not included) $ 15.00
Darkroom Spool Down of 35mm to 400′ or less on core per spool (core/can included) $ 15.00
RUSH Weekday Processing Color Neg, Black & White or Ektachrome $ 200.00
Extended Weekdays Hours, Saturday or Sunday Opening $ 5000.00
Holiday Opening $ 8000.00

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Ultrasonic Film Cleaning

After any lab assembles film and adds leader, a proper cleaning should always applied to remove handling dirt. At Spectra, we now use the Lipsner-Smith CF7200 ultrasonic cleaning system with all telecine prep services to ensure professional results. The 7200 provides full immersion cleaning in a warm bath of solvent while ultrasonic agitation and gentle buffing is applied. This is known in the industry as the safest and most effective way to clean any motion picture film (acetate, nitrate or polyester)!

Film Prepping with Ultra-Sonic Cleaning

We use only professional grade materials when we assemble film projects! Includes inspection, tape splice assembly, 10′ heads/tails leader, mounting on new core or reel, premium ultrasonic cleaning and new trim box.

Products Price
Super 8 $ .06 per ft/$24.00 Minimum
Regular 8 $ .06 per ft/$24.00 Minimum
16mm $ .06 per ft/$24.00 Minimum
35mm $ .06 per ft/$24.00 Minimum

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Spectra Film Processing Policy

Processing Turn Around

Film developed on a given day will usually be ready for pick-up the following day (after 12PM). If counter pick-up is required, we will provide a courtesy phone call when film is ready. If we are shipping film, tracking information will be emailed from the selected shipper to indicate your film is on the way. Please check voice mail and email to determine if film has been developed!

We do not run all film types daily! We typically run just one film type per day based on when we have enough to run. Color negative is usually run on three random days weekly, black and white reversal is usually run once weekly (usually Thursdays) and E-6 is usually run once weekly (usually Fridays). To guarantee a specific film type is run on a specific date we do provide rush service for 200.00 (developing only, rush scanning not included).

Processing Cut Off

Film for processing must be delivered at our counter before 12PM to make it into a planed run on the same day. Deliveries after the deadline will be held back for the next developing cycle.

Processing and Payment Policy

Any films you submit to us for processing must be paid in advance and will not be refundable (whether the end result has a usable image or not). We still preform the service and use up chemistry to determine what is on your film. So, it is important that the potential images will be worth it to you!

16 and 35 Processing Minimums

Like most labs, we must charge minimums on some of our processing services to cover our minimum labor, chemical and utility costs. We charge an overall processing minimum of 100′ for 16mm color negative, black and white reversal and E-6 ektachrome. 16mm and 35mm black and white negative has a 400′ minimum. 35mm color negative has a 400′ minimum.

We also charge a per container 100′ minimum on 16mm and 35mm films that must be stapled into a run. For example, if one can of 16mm containing 40′ and another can containing 60′ are submitted together we would charge developing for 200′ (100′ per can). Considering this, we suggest you try not to cut or separate film in sections that are under 100′.

Old Film and Foma Policy

We do not provide refunds or guarantee results on Foma or old films that may have inconsistent results due to age, manufacturing quality or chemical compatibility. This policy includes Foma, all color VNF, 64T, 100D and 160 Ektachrome, all Kodachrome, old PlusX/TriX, old ECN-2 color negative. We can only provide you with our best effort for a good outcome!

Processing Limitation of Liability

We respectfully point out that our lab prices are never proportionate to the value of the film submitted to us. Any customer media, including but not limited to film or hard drives, shall be received, developed, scanned or stored by Spectra only at the customers own risk. Spectra does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to client media from any cause whatsoever including negligence. Media delivered to Spectra are accepted upon the express condition that same are insured by the owner thereof for the full amount of all risk, possible damage and loss, and said owner waives all rights of subrogation. Except for the replacement value of raw film stock, other media submitted, or developing cost acceptance of all said media is without other warranty or liability. We reserve the right to hold a lien thereon for general balance due to Spectra by customer whether in respect to processing, transferring, storage or otherwise.

Film Storage

Spectra will not be liable for orders, equipment, media (including but not limited to film, hard drives, or tape) or other materials unclaimed after 30 days. We have the right to dispose of or charge storage for said items at our own discretion after the 30 day expiration.

Mislabeled, Torn or Spliced Film for Development

Any client who submits undeveloped film to us that is improperly labeled as another film process type, badly damaged (tears, creases or perforation damage) or has splices will be held responsible for all damage that may result from contaminated chemistry or film breaks. This charge will accrue any resulting damage cost including but not limited to replacing film/processing for other clients, labor costs, replacement of contaminated chemistry, filter replacement, tank cleaning and rethreading. These costs may run in the thousands. With this in mind, Spectra asks that all film submitted for developing is properly labeled and in good physical condition with no splices or tears!

We are an official
distributor of Kodak motion
picture products