A step-by-step breakdown of what happens inside our NYC film lab.

Sending off your film off can be one of the most nerve wracking parts of being a film photographer. You’re trusting a lab with your memories, and it can feel unsettling when everything happens behind closed doors. That’s exactly why we’re writing this blog. At Nice Film Club, we believe you deserve more than just great scans, you deserve absolute peace of mind.

Over years, we've built a process that’s seamless, transparent, and designed with you in mind. From start to finish, your film is carefully tracked through a system of end to end traceability and strict quality control, so nothing gets overlooked. We want you to see how much work goes into handling your film because when you trust us with your memories, and we take that seriously.

So, let us take you behind the scenes. You’ll see how we handle your film every step of the way, making sure the experience is as stress free and smooth as possible. After all, you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s happening, you should just be excited to relive your precious moments.

Your Film Journey Starts Here

Again, a key aspect of the Nice Film Club process is establishing trackability at every stage. When you create an account, you are assigned a unique user ID—a series of numbers that serves as your personal identifier. This ID is linked to every order you place. When you submit a roll for processing, your user ID is clearly displayed next to each roll on the order sheet, making it easy to track your film throughout the process. The order number is visible to the lab technician developing the photos, scanning the photos, editing the photos, and is is used to mark the folder where your negatives will be archived.

Smooth, Simple, and Stress Free Film Drop-Off

Nice Film Club accepts film submissions both by mail and in person. Each time you place an order, you receive a unique order number via text. This number is different for every order you make and serves as the primary way to track your film.

For mailed in orders, the order number (the middle number in the series above) is used to locate your submission on the Nice Film Club website, so it is helpful to write that number clearly on your package. When dropping off film in person, providing this order number to the lab technician helps them quickly find and process your order. It is the most effective way to guarantee a smooth intake process.

Once an order is received the lab tech will print the dedicated order sheet along with the twin checks and pair them with the roll(s) inside a folder.

Order Sheets: The Backbone of Our Process

Order sheets are a crucial part of the Nice Film Club process, ensuring every roll of film is handled correctly from start to finish. They contain all the necessary details about your film, helping the in lab team process, track, and deliver each order efficiently. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the information included on an order sheet and why it matters:

Identification & Tracking

User ID, Order Number, Roll Number

Each order sheet includes three key identifiers to guarantee no roll is misplaced:

User ID: A unique number assigned to you to track your account and orders.
Order Number: A system generated number specific to each individual order. This is the primary identifier used to locate your orders in the system.
Roll Number: If an order contains multiple rolls, each roll is assigned a unique number to distinguish it within the order.

These identifiers make it easy to match film rolls to the correct order throughout every stage of processing.

Processing Prioritization

Tier

Your membership tier is listed on the order sheet to determine processing priority. For example, Very Nice members have their film placed in an expedited queue for faster turnaround. This makes certain high tier members receive priority service without any confusion.

Customer Information & Sorting

Customer Name

The order sheet displays your full name, allowing orders to be sorted by first name, last name, or order number in the Nice Film Club interface. This provides multiple ways to locate an order when needed.

Created By

This field indicates whether the order was:

Placed directly by you online, or
Created in house by a Nice Film Club team member.

This is essential in case an order contains incorrect details. If an issue arises, the team can trace it back to the source and quickly correct the error.

Film Details for Proper Handling

Film Stock, ISO, Process, and Format

Each roll’s specific details are included to guarantee that it’s developed and scanned correctly:

Film Stock (e.g., Portra 400) – Identifies the brand and type of film.
ISO (e.g., ISO 400) – Does not effect processing but can be valuable insight when you’re looking back at your uploaded photos.
Process (e.g., C-41, B&W, E-6, or ECN-2) – Determines the chemical process required.
Format (e.g., 35mm, 120) – Makes certain the film is handled in the appropriate scanning and development equipment.

Providing all of this information prevents processing errors and guarantees the best possible results.

Rush Processing

Rush

If you opt for rush processing, this will be clearly marked on the order sheet. These orders are moved to the front of the queue, so that they are developed, scanned, and returned within 1 business day.

Scan Quality

Scan Quality (2K or 4K)

The order sheet indicates whether the film should be scanned at 2K or 4K resolution, allowing the scanning technician to the film accordingly. Read more about our scan quality here

Special Film Processing Instructions

E6/ECN-2 Film Handling

Nice Film Club does not process E6 (slide film) or ECN-2 (motion picture film) in house. Instead, these films are sent to a specialized motion picture lab in Atlanta.

The order sheet ensures these films are separated from the in house batch. If an order contains multiple rolls, it will be split into:

A batch processed in house
A batch shipped to the external lab

This prevents delays and make sure film rolls are sent to the correct locations for processing.

Lab Worker Accountability

Sign Off Sections

To maintain accountability, each order sheet includes designated sections for lab workers to sign off as they complete each step:

Received by – Who checked in the order?
Developed by – Who developed the film?
Scanned by – Who handled the scanning process?
Sleeved by – Who prepared the negatives for storage or return?

If any issues arise during processing, management can refer to the sign off section to trace the problem back to the responsible technician and resolve it efficiently.

Negative Handling Instructions

Negatives Action

Once a roll has been developed and scanned, the order sheet specifies what should be done with the negatives:

Default Policy: If no special instructions are provided, negatives are stored on site for 14 days before being discarded.
Uncut Sleeving: If requested, negatives are placed in protective sleeves but left uncut and placed in a designated area.
Cut Sleeving: If requested, negatives are cut according to their format, put into professional print archival storage sleeves, and archived in your designated folder.

These instructions ensure that your preferences for negative handling are followed accurately and nothing gets misplaced.

Shipping Instructions

Shipping

The order sheet specifies whether the order needs to be shipped back to you after processing. If shipping is required, the lab team comfirms the order is packaged and sent to the correct address.

Twin Checks: Your Film’s Personal ID Tag

Twin checks are a fundamental part of Nice Film Club's workflow, guaranteeing that every roll of film is tracked and processed correctly from start to finish. These uniquely numbered labels allow the lab team to match each roll with its corresponding order sheet, preventing mix ups and establishing proper handling throughout the entire development process. These were first mentioned during the discussion on the intake process, but what exactly are twin checks?

Here’s a breakdown of the Nice twin check system and why it’s essential:

Identification & Tracking

Twin Check Number & Order Matching

Each roll of film receives a twin check number, which is applied in two places:

On the Emulsion of the Film – This label is placed directly onto the film when it is carded before development, guaranteeing it stays with the roll throughout processing. Don’t worry this comes nowhere near to the area of the film where the images appear.
On the Order Sheet – A matching twin check label is placed on the order sheet, linking the roll to its corresponding customer order.

By keeping this one to one connection, Nice ensures that each physical roll of film is matched to its exact listing on the order sheet. The twin check is placed next to the specific roll it belongs to, making it easy to track and process without mistakes.

Film Processing Information

Processing Type: C-41 vs. Black & White

The twin check indicates the required development process:

C-41 (color negative film)
B&W (black and white film)

For black and white film, the twin check also specifies which processing group the roll belongs to. Since B&W films require different development times, they are grouped based on processing time. (More details on B&W processing groups will be covered in the next section.)

Film Details for Proper Handling

Format & Film Type

To make certain the film is handled correctly throughout development and scanning, the twin check includes:

Film Format: Specifies whether the roll is 35mm or 120 format.
User Number, Order Number & Roll Number: Ensures that even within a single order, each roll remains uniquely identifiable.

These details help lab development technicians sort, process, and scan film correctly, avoiding potential errors.

Processing Prioritization

Rush Processing

If you select rush processing, the twin check will clearly indicate it, making sure the roll moves to the front of the queue.

Scanning Preferences

2K vs. 4K Scanning

The twin check specifies the desired scanning resolution, same as the order sheet allowing scanning technicians to sort the film accordingly

2K scans for standard quality
4K scans for high resolution results

This does not affect the way film is developed. Each film roll has all the information required to achieve both 2k and 4k resolution. Scan quality is determined by your preference when placing an order.

Why Twin Checks Matter

Prevents Mix-Ups – Guarantees that each roll is correctly matched to its order throughout the entire process.
Ensures Proper Processing – Provides lab technicians with all necessary details, including processing type, B&W group, and scanning resolution.
Industry Standard Practice – Twin checks are a professional lab standard, guaranteeing reliability, accuracy, and efficiency.

Film Development

Once the film is sorted, it moves to the development area of the film lab for processing. This stage involves carefully preparing each roll before it enters the processor, making certain that no frames are exposed to light or damaged.

Film Preparation

35mm Film: Leader Extraction & Carding

The leader of each 35mm roll is pulled out using film pickers to avoid exposing frames.
The tip of the film is trimmed using a film cutter and attached to a specialized leader card using industrial splicing tape to secure it in place.
All air bubbles are pressed out to make sure the film remains attached during processing.

120 Film: Handling & Canister Loading

120 film is handled inside a light sealed dark box to prevent exposure.
The backing paper and adhesive tape tethering the film are carefully removed by hand.
The film is placed into a light sealed canister and secured to a leader card in the same way as 35mm rolls.

Sorting for Development

Color Film (C-41) Processing

Color rolls are arranged in the order they were received and placed in a color designated area for processing.
Rolls that require push or pull processing are separated and processed in their own lanes accordingly.
Push/pull development is achieved by adjusting development time by manually speeding up or slowing down the machine to achieve the desired effect.
Since push/pull processing affects machine speed, these rolls are grouped and run at specific times during the day to optimize efficiency.

Black & White Film Processing

B&W rolls are sorted by film stock into time specific subsections based on their development needs. These are all determined by referencing the development guides for both the individual film stock and the T-Max developer guide.
Unlike color film, black & white stocks require precise development times calculated by factoring in:
- Film type
- Constant machine temperature
- T-Max developer settings
Example Development Times:
- HP5 and Tri-X → 4:45 minutes
- CineStill BWXX → 5:45 minutes
Each B&W subsection is developed separately to ensure the highest level of accuracy and quality control.

Film Processing: Noritsu V50 Roller Transfer Machines

Once prepared, the film is fed into one of two custom repurposed Noritsu V50 roller transfer processors:

One machine dedicated to black & white film
Two machines dedicated to color (C-41) film

How the Noritsu V50 Works

Automates the hand development process by guiding film through each chemical stage:
- Developer
- Fixer
- Bleach (or stop bath)
- Stabilizer
The foam roller transfer system minimizes the risk of scratches or marks on the film, guaranteeing a clean, professional result.

Why We Use a Roller Transport Machine

Consistency & Quality Control: Eliminates human error and provides trackable, repeatable results.
Optimized Development Times: Adjusted per film stock and customer preferences.
Faster Turnaround: Speeds up processing while maintaining professional quality results.

While traditional darkroom development might evoke a nostalgic aesthetic, this modernized system prioritizes precision, quality, and efficiency, allowing us to deliver exceptional results with faster turnaround times.

Film Scanning

We scan all film using six identical HS-1800 scanners, ensuring consistency and high quality results. Before scanning begins, each machine undergoes a thorough cleaning, calibration, and air blowing process to remove dust. The film is then carefully loaded into the scanner, starting at frame 1 and ending at frame 36.

You can choose between 2K or 4K resolution, depending on your preferences and the film will be scanned accordingly. The scanning resolutions are as follows:

35mm (4k): 4492 × 6775 px
35mm (2k): 2000 × 3000 px
6x4.5: 4700 × 3450 px
6x6: 4700 × 4700 px
6x7: 4700 × 5500 px

Once scanning begins, a preview window displays a grid layout of the images, allowing our technicians to assess the quality and make necessary color or level adjustments. However, our policy is to never make aesthetic judgments or radical alterations unless specifically instructed by you, the photographer. Any preferences or special requests such as "scan flat," "overscan my negatives," or "scan half frames as full frames" should be noted in the "roll notes" section of the order.

Our adjustments are focused on making certain that the final images accurately reflect the film stock and the original shooting conditions. We pay close attention to skin tones and potential color shifts, which can occur when scanners attempt to compensate for bold colors in an image. If an image is overexposed or underexposed, we adjust the density to maximize detail while staying true to the original image.

Once scanning is complete, the files are saved into specific folders corresponding to each scanner and labeled with our custom moniker. Our technicians then perform a final quality check, clicking through a selection of images to identify any unusual markings before transferring the roll to a separate editing folder on our dedicated computers.

Editing Your Photos: A Final Round of Quality Control

Our approach to editing aligns with our overall philosophy on scanning—our goal is to make sure that every image meets our high standards while preserving the integrity of your film. We do not make extensive changes but instead focus on refining each scan to eliminate distractions and maintain accuracy.

A technician specializing in editing will primarily spot heal any dust on the film, correct orientation, and conduct a final quality check to catch any overlooked irregularities or artifacts. If an anomaly appears on a scan, the editor will locate the original negative to determine whether the issue is inherent to the film or a scanning error. Marks imprinted on the negative itself indicate that the issue occurred during shooting, while uniform lines or inconsistencies across multiple frames usually signal a scanning related problem, which can typically be corrected with a rescan.

That said, the most common issues we encounter are things like camera scratches, hair or debris in the film gate, expired film, heat or water damage, x ray interference, or mechanical failures. These are all caused by external factors beyond our control. While we cannot always correct these problems in post processing, we make it a priority to provide detailed feedback in the "lab notes" section under your roll, allowing you to understand the likely cause and take preventative steps in the future.

Editing & Pro Scans: A More In Depth Process

While our standard editing process focuses on quality control, Pro Scans involve a more detailed and collaborative workflow that begins in the scanning phase and is further refined during editing.

Pro Scans are our premium scanning service, designed to provide maximum customization and precision. Unlike standard scans, which follow a consistent workflow, Pro Scans allow for tonal and color adjustments tailored to your unique creative vision.

How Editing Differs for Pro Scans:

Customization from the Start: With Pro Scans, adjustments begin in the scanning phase. You can provide specific instructions, reference images, and stylistic preferences, making certain that scans are aligned with your intended aesthetic.
Fine Tuned Tonal & Color Adjustments: Rather than relying on preset profiles, our technicians meticulously adjust color balance and tonal curves for each individual roll.
Collaboration & Feedback: You have the ability to review your scans and request refinements after the initial processing. This ensures that the final product matches your expectations.
High Resolution TIFFs for Maximum Flexibility: Pro Scans include 4K TIFF files, providing the highest level of detail and color depth for additional post processing flexibility.

Pro Scans are preferred by professionals who require precise control over their film scans. This process allows for a deeper level of refinement, making it the ideal choice for those seeking ultimate quality and customization.

Regardless of the type of scan you choose, our editing process always prioritizes clarity, accuracy, and preservation of the original film. Our goal is to make sure that your images maintain their authenticity while meeting the highest possible standards.

Archival: Making Sure Your Negatives Stand the Test of Time

Negative Handling & Storage

Once film scans are completed, they are carefully organized based on the next steps for the negatives. Each roll is placed into size specific boxes, paired with its corresponding order sheet, and sorted into designated storage areas based on your requested handling method. This structured system guarantees efficiency, keeps negatives organized, and provides you with multiple options for storing or receiving your film.

Here’s a breakdown of how negatives are categorized and stored after scanning:

Cut Negatives

If you request your negatives to be cut, rolls are cut into strips of six frames and inserted into hole punched plastic archival sleeves designed for long term preservation. These sleeves are then stored in a secure, customer specific, archive folder for 1 year. This method ensures that negatives remain protected and easily accessible should you request them before the storage period ends.

Uncut Negatives

Negatives requested to remain uncut are carefully placed into sized plastic long sleeves to protect the entire roll. These sleeved rolls are then returned to size-specific boxes and stored in our “uncut rolls” bins, where they will be held for 1 year before being discarded if no retrieval request is made. This storage option allows you to handle cutting and archiving according to your own preferences.

Shipping Orders

Negatives marked for shipping are immediately transferred to our shipping bins, which are cycled through weekly to create fast and efficient delivery. Our team make sure that all shipping orders are processed in a timely manner, reducing wait times and guaranteeing that your negatives are returned to you as quickly as possible.

4x6 Print Orders

For rolls that include 4x6 prints, negatives are placed in our printing area, where they are paired with their corresponding order and printed. Once prints are completed, you are notified via email with the option to pick up your order or have it shipped back to you. This ensures a seamless process from scanning to physical prints.

Vendor Orders (Partner Labs & Drop-Off Locations)

Negatives dropped off at partner locations, such as Brooklyn Film Camera, are sorted into vendor bins. These negatives are returned to their respective vendors three times a week, allowing you to pick up you film directly from the original drop off location. This system provides a convenient option if you use third party drop off locations but still want access to our lab's processing and scanning services.

Day Bins: Date Specific Storage

If a roll does not have a specific action requested (cut, uncut, ship, prints, or vendor return), it is placed into a date specific bin inside our lab. These bins are stored in order on our shelving system, allowing us to quickly locate negatives based on the date the scans were uploaded.

This system serves as a tracking method to monitor how long negatives have been held in storage. After 14 business days, if a roll has not been picked up, it is discarded and marked as such in our system.

However, we understand that you may not always be able to retrieve your negatives within the 14 day window. To accommodate this, we offer several automated options to extend storage:

Ship: Negatives can be mailed back to you for a shipping fee.
Cut & Sleeve: Negatives can be cut and archived for the standard cutting fee.
Uncut Sleeving: Negatives can be placed in a protective sleeve and stored in the uncut bin.

Why Our Storage & Handling System Matters

Establishing structured archival and return options from the front end of processing to the final stages guarantees that you have multiple opportunities to retrieve your negatives while also allowing us to manage limited storage space efficiently. This system minimizes errors, ensures timely handling, and helps prevent an overflow of unclaimed negatives, keeping our workflow streamlined and organized.

By providing clear storage policies, multiple retrieval options, and a structured archival system, we make sure that negatives remain accessible and protected while also maintaining a sustainable workflow within our lab.

Uploading and Accessing Your Film Scans

Once your film is uploaded, you will receive a text notification letting you know your photos are ready for viewing. To access them, log into your account and navigate to the "Rolls" section, where your scanned images are hosted.

Photo Hosting & Availability

Members: Your photos remain hosted as long as your membership is active.
Non Members: Your scans are available for 30 days from the upload date.

Viewing Options

In the "Rolls" section, you can explore your images in different formats:

List or Grid View: Choose between a list or grid layout for easier browsing.
Individual Photo View: Clicking on a specific image gives you access to additional features, including:
- Submitting Your Work: Submit your photo for a chance to be featured in our newsletters and social media. If selected, you’ll receive 1 free development and scan credit.
- Ordering Large Prints: Purchase high quality prints of your favorite images. Both these options are easily accessible by clicking the corresponding button on the bottom of each of your photos

Downloading & High-Resolution Unlocks

Standard Download: Clicking the "Download" button will download your entire roll as individual high resolution 2K images (2000px on the shortest side).
Unlocking 4K 16-Bit Scans (if applicable):
- If you paid for the 4K scan add on when submitting your film, you will have the option to unlock 4K 16-bit TIFF files (~100MB each).
- Click "Unlock Hi-Res Scans" to access and download these high quality versions, either individually or in bulk.
- If you did not purchase the 4K scan upgrade, this option will not be available.

Digital Contact Sheet

To enhance your workflow, we offer a digital contact sheet designed to replicate a traditional darkroom contact sheet. This tool allows you to:

View your entire roll in a customizable grid format.
Adjust settings such as resolution, number of frames per roll, and reverse the image order.

Tagging & Organization

To keep your scanned rolls organized, you can:

Add tags with details like location, camera, and lens.
Create custom tags for easier categorization.
Use the search function to quickly find specific rolls based on their tags.

Screenshot 2025-02-12 at 10.08.13 AM.png

End-to-End Tracking: Unmatched Transparency at Every Step

At Nice Film, we’ve built a fully traceable film processing system designed to give you complete visibility into your roll’s journey. Unlike traditional labs, where film processing happens behind closed doors, our system allows you to track your roll in real time from the moment it arrives until your scans are ready.

Most labs provide little to no insight into where your film is in the process. We’ve taken a different approach, creating a system that provides live updates, precise timestamps, and detailed notes at every stage. This means you never have to guess when your scans will be ready or wonder what’s happening with your film.

Internal Event Tracking & Live Updates

Our tracking system goes far beyond just marking a roll as received, developed, or scanned. Internally, we track every single step in the process, ensuring full traceability at every stage.

Each roll progresses through a series of events, all of which are logged in our system with an exact timestamp. These events provide insight not only into key milestones—such as when your roll is developed or scanned, but also into behind the scenes actions, like when twin checks are printed, when your film is sleeved and archived, or when scans expire.

When an event is logged, it exists in a dedicated section within the individual order, allowing us to:

Monitor the entire life cycle of a roll with detailed step by step records.
Identify the exact moment an action occurred using precise timestamps.
Quickly locate and resolve any errors or discrepancies that may arise.
Provide real time updates that are reflected in your "Rolls" section.

Because every step is documented, we can trace a roll’s journey down to the second, ensuring complete accuracy, accountability, and efficiency at all times.

What You See as a Customer

While our lab team has access to detailed event logs and timestamps, what you see is a streamlined version of the tracking system, designed to provide clear, useful updates without overwhelming you with excessive detail.

How to Track Your Roll:

Log into your account and navigate to the "Rolls" section.
There, you’ll see a status timeline that updates in real time as your roll moves through the lab.
Each time a technician logs an event—such as "Scanned", "Developed", or "Uploaded"—you will see the status update immediately.

What You Won’t See:

While you have full visibility into the status of your roll, the detailed backend logs, timestamps, and internal workflow notes remain visible only to our team. This allows us to manage rolls efficiently without cluttering your interface with excessive technical data.

The goal is to provide you with a clear, easy to follow timeline of your roll’s journey while ensuring that every detail is carefully tracked and documented on our end.

Pre Filled & Custom Notes for Detailed Information

One of the most valuable aspects of our event tracking system is the ability to attach detailed notes to each event. This allows us to provide more context when necessary, ensuring that you receive clear, useful information about your rolls.

When a technician logs an event, they have access to a set of pre filled notes, designed to address the most common questions and concerns related to each stage of the process. These notes provide quick and relevant explanations, helping to eliminate confusion.

For example:

If a roll is marked blank, a pre filled note might clarify whether the roll was completely unexposed, had rebate details but no frames, or had been pre exposed before development.

In addition to pre filled notes, technicians can also add custom notes for further clarification, guarantee that you get specific and detailed insights when needed.

These notes are visible to you within your order, so you’re never left wondering why something happened—you’ll always have a clear, detailed explanation.

Tracking Analog Stations with Barcode Scanning

Not every step of the film process happens in front of a computer, but that doesn’t mean those steps aren’t tracked. Even at stations like development, where a computer isn’t required, we’ve implemented a barcode based tracking system to ensure that every roll remains traceable.

Here’s how it works:

Every order sheet is equipped with a barcode linked to the customer’s order in our system.
At the development station, where no computer is present, a barcode scanner is used to log progress.
When a roll reaches development, a technician scans the barcode, instantly marking the roll as "Developed" in our system.
This update is reflected both internally for our team and in your account under the “Rolls” section.

Additionally, we have set up a live feedback screen at the development station that displays:

Your name and order details
Number of rolls in the order
Rolls broken down by development type (color, black & white, etc.)

This system ensures that even the most hands on, analog steps of film processing are fully documented, leaving no gaps in the tracking process.

Why This System is Completely Unique

Most film labs rely on manual tracking, vague processing timelines, and little to no customer visibility. Our end to end tracking system changes that entirely by offering:

Live status updates so you always know where your roll is.
Timestamps for every step, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
Detailed event notes to give you more information when needed.
Barcode based tracking to seamlessly integrate even analog stations into the system.

This level of transparency sets a new standard in film processing, giving you a level of insight, accuracy, and communication that no other lab offers.

Hopefully this blog gave you a detailed look into all aspects of our film photography lab. Sending in film can be nerve wracking, and you’re not always given specific information about what is happening to your rolls. We want to break down the barrier between our lab and our customers to put your mind at ease and show you that Nice Film Club is doing film processing and scanning like no other lab in the country.

Film Development & Scanning at Nice: A Complete Guide 2025