Liquid Light Lab — 35mm Film Development
Hand‑processed film, premium scans, simple choices. UK wide service, based in Leamington Spa.
At Liquid Light Lab, there’s no confusing tiers. Every scan is premium, every roll is handled with care. You get the best we can pull from your film — always.
What kind of scans will I receive?
Every order includes high-resolution TIFF scans, as well as our highest resolution JPEGs. You do not have to choose, as we supply both in every order. No confusing tiers — you always get our best quality by default. Your negatives will be scanned into 16-bit TIFF files at 60MP with 13-14 stops of dynamic range — far beyond typical lab scanners, which usually top out at around 24–30MP for 35mm film, and 8–9 stops of dynamic range.
How do I send you my film?
It’s simple, and our service is UK-wide. Package your film securely and include your order number inside the package. Send your film by post to:
Liquid Light Lab
Chandos Business Centre, Suite 17
87 Warwick Street
Leamington Spa
CV32 4RJ
If you are local to Leamington Spa, you can also deliver your film through the letterbox in a sealed, clearly labelled envelope. The studio operates as a working lab, and processed negatives are returned by post for all customers.
UK-wide service. Card or PayPal accepted at checkout.
Most orders are processed and scanned within 5 working days of receiving your film. Lab services are provided in accordance with the Liquid Light Lab Terms.
C-41 Colour Film Development
Colour negative film is developed using the standard C-41 process for consistent colour accuracy, controlled contrast, and clean shadow detail. Each roll is processed individually in fresh chemistry to ensure stable colour balance and negatives that scan and print reliably.
C-41 development is suited to a wide range of colour negative films and lighting conditions, producing flexible negatives with good exposure latitude and predictable results. Care is taken to preserve highlight detail and colour separation, avoiding the compressed or flat rendering often associated with exhausted or reused chemistry.
Choosing Liquid Light Lab means your colour negative film is processed with consistency and control, producing clean, well-balanced negatives that retain the full character of the C-41 process.
Black & White Film Developed in Pyrogallol (Pyro)
Black and white film is developed in pyrogallol for maximum edge sharpness, controlled grain, and extended tonal separation. Pyro development produces negatives with strong local contrast and exceptional highlight control, making it especially well suited to high-resolution scanning and fine printing.
Each roll is individually developed to preserve shadow detail while maintaining clean highlights, resulting in negatives with long-term stability and archival permanence.
Choosing Liquid Light Lab means your black and white film is developed using a specialist process designed for photographers who value tonal control, sharpness, and negatives that scan and print at the highest level.
ECN-2 Film Development
True cinematic results using the same process as motion picture labs. Perfect for Kodak Vision3 and other motion picture stocks like Fuji Eterna, with wide dynamic range and smooth tonal transitions. Choose development only or add premium high-resolution scans, delivered as both hi-res JPEG’s and 16bit TIFFs in one delivery for maximum flexibility.
Creative Options
Bleach Bypass – A bold, non-standard process for dramatic results. Expect stronger contrast, heavier grain, and muted colour with a cinematic edge. Best for experimental work or when you want striking, high-impact negatives.
C-41 Film Cross-Processed in ECN-2
Colour negative film can be cross-processed in the ECN-2 motion-picture process to produce extended exposure latitude, smoother tonal transitions, and colour behaviour distinct from standard C-41 development. This approach combines the flexibility of consumer colour negative film with the tonal structure and colour science of cinema-derived processing.
ECN-2 cross-processing tends to favour controlled highlights, open shadows, and more gradual colour roll-off, making it particularly suitable for scanning where tonal continuity and density separation are important. Results vary by film stock and exposure, and variation is an inherent part of the process.
Push and pull options are available. For first-time use, normal development is recommended to establish a baseline for how the film behaves in ECN-2.
At Liquid Light Lab, our Pyro chemistry comes directly from Zone Imaging, the UK manufacturer known worldwide for its precision photographic developers. Their flagship 510 Pyro formula, created by chemist Jay DeFehr, is a modern refinement of classic Pyrogallol design — safer, more stable, and capable of revealing every nuance within a film’s tonal range. By partnering directly with Zone Imaging, we ensure every roll you send is developed using fresh, laboratory-grade chemistry mixed to exact standards. This is not mass-lab convenience; it’s controlled craft. When you choose our 510 Pyro development, you’re investing in the same measured consistency trusted by fine-art darkrooms and archival printers — chemistry built for permanence, handled with precision. Read more here.
Why Choose Liquid Light Lab
Hand Processed, Every Roll
Your film isn’t run through machines. Each roll is mixed, developed, and checked by hand — the way traditional cinema labs once worked. There are plenty of high-volume labs to choose from; we’re here for those who value control, consistency, and craft. Every roll is handled with care so the results speak for themselves — clean, detailed, and true to the film.Premium Scans as Standard
No upsells, no tiers. Every order includes the best scans we can make, for true colour and detail. We’re one of the only labs to provide both JPEG and TIFF files in one delivery, at no extra cost.Rare Chemistry & Craft
From Pyrogallol developers to ECN-2 motion picture chemistry, we use processes few labs offer, chosen for permanence and image character.Trusted Experience
With decades of shooting and developing film on the team — from Hollywood names to local creatives — you get the same care whether you’re a professional or sending your first roll.
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After ordering, pack your 35mm roll securely (leave it in the canister for light-tightness and protection if you can). Include your order number inside the package.
If you’re posting your film, send it to:
Liquid Light Lab,
Chandos Business Centre,
Suite 17,
87 Warwick Street,
Leamington Spa, CV32 4RJIf you’re local to Leamington Spa, you can also drop your film through the letterbox at this address. Please use a sealed envelope, mark it for Liquid Light Lab, and write your name and order number clearly on the front.
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Most orders are developed, scanned, and ready within 5 days of arrival. You’ll get a download link for your scans as soon as they clear QC, and your negatives are returned by tracked post. Our turnaround can vary as we are dedicated to all orders receive the same high level of processing.
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Most commercial lab scanners are limited — typically around 8–9 stops of dynamic range and about 24-30 megapixels. Our scans reach 13–14 stops and up to 60 megapixels. This is the same professional system we use for our own work, now available to you — delivering the highest-quality film scans possible.
You will receive the highest quality 16bit TIFF files and JPEGs, all in one delivery - we don’t charge twice for different file types. -
Yes. Just add the push or pull option when you place your order. We can adjust development by up to two stops in either direction. Please remember to include your order number in your film package so that we can track your instructions.
For a technical explanation of push and pull film development and how it affects exposure and contrast, see our Cinematic Notebook article on push and pull processing.
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We develop black & white, colour C-41, and Kodak Vision3 cinema stocks (ECN-2). If you’re unsure what you have, just message us before sending.
We are currently a 35mm focused lab. Medium and Large Format options are not yet available, and will be coming soon. Sign up to our newsletter for announcements.We don’t offer E6 processing at this time, however we plan to in the future.
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Check the film canister or box: it will usually say “B&W,” “C-41,” or “ECN-2 / Vision3.” If it’s expired or the label isn’t clear, send us a photo before posting — we’ll confirm which process it needs.
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We do not scan half frame, but we will scan any 35mm film. We have plans to scan medium format (all sizes) and large format 4×5 in the future.
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Yes, absolutely. We’ll develop the film and give it the exact same care we give all photographs.
“I just got my films back from Liquid Light Lab and I’m genuinely amazed. The black and white scans are incredible — there’s so much detail and such a beautiful tonal range, far beyond anything I’ve had from other labs. You can see texture and depth in every frame.”
“Unbelievably great experience. I had made a mistake with the order I placed and the team flagged this for me and sorted everything out with no fuss, they went above and beyond and we are so delighted with the outcome of our pictures. Great team, great comms, great service, great price.”
