Liquid Light Lab — Film Processing & Scanning Terms

Liquid Light Lab — Film Processing & Scanning Terms

Last updated: 09/05/2026These Terms apply exclusively to film processing, scanning, file delivery, and negative-return services provided under the trading name Liquid Light Lab, a division of Liquid Light Whisperer Ltd.

By submitting film, placing an order, paying for a lab service, or sending film to us for processing or scanning, you agree to these Terms. Nothing in these Terms affects any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

1. Company details

Company name: Liquid Light Whisperer Limited
Company number: 16907364
Registered office: Chandos Business Centre, Suite 17, 87 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4RJ, United Kingdom
Website:www.liquidlightwhisperer.com
Telephone: 03305 201771Liquid Light Lab is a trading name of Liquid Light Whisperer Ltd.

2. Scope of these Terms

These Terms apply to lab services provided by Liquid Light Lab, including: 35mm film processing; C-41 colour negative processing; black & white film processing;ECN-2 motion-picture film processing; negative scanning; electronic file delivery; optional return of processed negatives; handling, storage, and disposal of unclaimed negatives.Photographic shoots, portraits, weddings, events, commissions, print sales, vouchers, and other Liquid Light Whisperer photographic services are governed by separate terms. Liquid Light Lab currently accepts 35mm film only unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing before an order is placed.

3. Customer responsibility and service selection

You are responsible for selecting the correct service for your film. You are also responsible for making sure that each roll of film is clearly identified, correctly labelled, safely packaged, and submitted under the correct process. Film that is incorrectly labelled, ambiguously labelled, submitted under the wrong service, sent without clear identification, sent without order details, or sent in damaged or unsafe packaging may be paused, returned unprocessed, or processed at your risk. We are not responsible for damage, image loss, poor results, delay, or additional cost arising from incorrect service selection, incorrect labelling, missing information, damaged canisters, contaminated film, previously opened film, incorrectly re-spoolled film, or film submitted under the wrong process. Where we identify an obvious discrepancy before processing, we may contact you for clarification. We are not obliged to investigate the true identity, age, storage condition, exposure history, or manufacturing origin of any film submitted to us.

4. Candido ECN-2 Development & Scanning Bundle

The Candido ECN-2 development and scanning bundle is strictly available for genuine Candido film only. If film is submitted under the Candido ECN-2 bundle and is not genuine Candido stock, processing will not begin. We will contact you to resolve the order. You must then either pay the difference for the correct processing service or request return of the unprocessed film. Return of unprocessed film under these circumstances incurs a £4.50 return fee, covering Royal Mail Small Parcel postage and protective packaging. Film will only be returned once the applicable return fee has been paid. If no response is received within 14 days of contact, Section 16 on unclaimed negatives and materials will apply.

5. Film handling and inherent material risk

All film is handled with reasonable professional care and skill. You acknowledge that photographic film is a fragile physical medium and that all processing and scanning carries inherent risk. These risks include, but are not limited to: latent defects; manufacturing variation; age fog; colour shift; base fog; heat damage; moisture damage; mould; reticulation; scratches; static marks; pressure marks; light leaks; camera transport faults; processing marks caused by pre-existing damage; contamination; expired-film behaviour; brittle film base; emulsion instability; adhesion; curl; base deformation; perforation damage; previous mishandling; exposure problems before receipt. We are not responsible for defects, image loss, physical instability, poor density, colour shift, uneven results, scanning limitations, or damage arising from the condition, age, manufacture, storage, exposure, transport, re-spooling, loading, unloading, or handling of the film before it is received by us.

6. ECN-2, remjet-backed film, motion-picture film, and older cinema stocks

ECN-2 and motion-picture films may include remjet or other backing layers that require chemical softening, washing, physical removal, wiping, or additional handling before, during, or after development.By submitting ECN-2 film, remjet-backed film, repackaged motion-picture film, hand-rolled film, expired motion-picture film, obsolete cinema stock, or older stocks including but not limited to Fuji Eterna and VISION2 & 3 lines, you acknowledge that these materials carry additional risk beyond standard C-41 or black & white photographic film. These risks include, but are not limited to: remjet, backing material, carbon residue, binder, or other deposits remaining on the film; remjet or backing material transferring to the emulsion side; softened, sticky, swollen, lifted, cracked, or unstable emulsion; brittle, curled, torn, or distorted film base; perforation damage; scratches, streaks, spotting, drying marks, pressure marks, adhesion marks, or wipe marks; reduced scan quality; partially un-scannable frames; complete loss of usable images. These issues may occur even where reasonable professional care and skill are used, particularly where the film is expired, badly stored, heat affected, moisture affected, frozen and thawed, hand-rolled, re-spoolled, cut down from motion-picture stock, incorrectly identified, previously processed, contaminated, or otherwise unstable. We do not guarantee complete remjet, backing, binder, or residue removal where the material has bonded to the film base or emulsion, where the backing behaves abnormally, or where further cleaning would create an unacceptable risk of further damage. If, in our judgement, a film appears unusually fragile, contaminated, incorrectly identified, unstable, or unsuitable for safe processing, we may refuse processing, pause processing, request further instructions, return the film unprocessed, or proceed only on the basis that the increased risk has been accepted by you. Where damage, residue, image loss, scan defects, or reduced usability arise from the inherent condition of the film, its age, storage history, manufacture, re-spooling, incorrect identification, remjet behaviour, binder instability, or unavoidable characteristics of the material, we are not responsible for those defects.

7. Expired, unknown, experimental, respoolled, and customer-loaded film

Expired, unknown, experimental, re-spoolled, bulk-loaded, cinema-derived, or customer-loaded film is accepted only on the basis that the customer accepts the additional risk. Such film may not behave according to normal technical expectations. Results may be affected by age, storage, fogging, incorrect cassette loading, incorrect DX coding, poor re-spooling, edge damage, light leaks, unknown exposure history, remjet residue, unusual backing layers, chemical incompatibility, or emulsion instability. We are not responsible for poor results, physical damage, image loss, scan limitations, or processing issues caused by these factors. Where film is submitted without reliable process information, we may process it according to the service selected by the customer, return it unprocessed, or contact the customer for clarification. Any processing carried out on incorrectly identified or uncertain film is at the customer’s risk unless the issue arises from our failure to use reasonable care and skill.

8. Processing judgement and technical variation

Film processing involves technical judgement. Development method, agitation, timing, temperature control, drying method, cleaning, inspection, and scanning approach may be adjusted where we consider this appropriate for the material submitted. Published processes, development times, turnaround times, examples, articles, and technical notes are provided for general guidance and do not guarantee identical results from every roll. Different stocks, exposures, cameras, lenses, storage histories, chemistry batches, film age, and film condition can produce different results. We do not guarantee a particular density, colour balance, contrast level, grain appearance, shadow detail, highlight detail, or visual interpretation unless this has been expressly agreed in writing before processing.

9. Turnaround times

Turnaround times published on the website, order pages, emails, social media, or customer communications are estimates only. Delays may occur due to workload, equipment maintenance, drying requirements, chemical supply, postal delay, technical inspection, remjet handling, rewash requirements, file preparation, scanner maintenance, or other factors inherent in controlled analogue processing. Turnaround times are not guaranteed unless expressly agreed in writing before the order is placed. A delay does not entitle the customer to a refund where the service has been carried out with reasonable care and skill.

10. Scanning, resolution, and file delivery

Scanning specifications are published on the website and form part of the service description at the time of ordering.

Liquid Light Lab scans using the Liquid Light Chamber. The Liquid Light Chamber is capable of producing very high-resolution scans, up to approximately 240MP where the film format, negative area, image content, and service selected justify that level of output.

Maximum scanning capacity does not mean that every film, roll, frame, or order will be scanned at the highest possible resolution.

We scan film according to the useful image information present in the negative. Scan resolution, file size, and output format are selected by us using professional judgement, taking into account the film stock, negative density, exposure quality, grain structure, sharpness, image detail, emulsion behaviour, and the practical value of additional resolution.

Some films will not benefit from the largest available file output. Increasing scan size beyond the information held in the negative may increase file size without improving usable detail, tonal quality, or practical image value.

For example, high-speed motion-picture stocks such as Kodak VISION3 500T may be scanned at a resolution appropriate to the information available in the negative, rather than at the maximum resolution the Liquid Light Chamber can technically produce.

Unless a specific maximum-resolution or specialist scanning service has been expressly agreed in writing before the order is placed, scans are supplied at the resolution and file specification we consider appropriate for the submitted film and selected service.

A customer is not entitled to a refund, re-scan, larger file, or alternative output solely because a scan has not been supplied at the maximum resolution the Liquid Light Chamber is capable of producing, provided the service has been carried out with reasonable care and skill.

Scans are delivered electronically via WeTransfer or an equivalent file-transfer service.

Download links remain active for 60 days, unless otherwise stated by the file-transfer provider.

We retain delivered files for up to 30 days after delivery solely to facilitate re-delivery if required.

After this period, files may be permanently deleted without further notice.

You are responsible for downloading, checking, backing up, and archiving your files promptly.

We are not responsible for lost files, expired download links, failed customer downloads, deleted customer copies, storage failure, device failure, or failure to back up files after delivery.

11. Colour, density, baseline rendering, and re-scans

Scanning involves professional judgement. Liquid Light Lab provides a controlled technical baseline render. This is not a guarantee that the files will match a customer’s personal preference, third-party lab output, camera preview, previous scan, social media example, print reference, or expected creative interpretation. One reasonable re-scan per roll may be provided where a clear technical error has occurred in scanning or file preparation. Examples of technical error may include incorrect file export, obvious scanner artefact caused by our equipment, missed frames where the negatives are otherwise scannable, or a clear failure in the delivery process. Re-scan requests based on creative preference, colour taste, contrast preference, density interpretation, customer editing workflow, third-party software behaviour, or disagreement with the baseline render may incur an additional fee. Where scan quality is limited by the negative itself, including underexposure, overexposure, fogging, motion blur, camera shake, focus error, remjet residue, scratches, dirt, damaged emulsion, uneven development caused by film condition, or unstable material, this is not treated as scanning error.

12. Dust, marks, residue, and cleaning limits

Film is handled and scanned with reasonable care. No film-processing or scanning workflow can guarantee completely dust-free, mark-free, residue-free, or scratch-free output. Remjet-backed, expired, damaged, contaminated, or unstable film may require additional cleaning, washing, wiping, or inspection. These steps carry inherent risk. We will not carry out excessive cleaning where, in our judgement, further intervention may scratch, soften, tear, lift, mark, or otherwise damage the film. Remaining dust, residue, remjet, binder, water marks, drying marks, chemical marks, or other visible artefacts may be unavoidable where the film condition, backing behaviour, or material instability prevents safe further cleaning.

13. Negative return, non-return, and destruction of negatives

Processed negatives are only returned where negative return has been selected and paid for as part of the order, or where a separate return arrangement has been agreed in writing.

If negative return is not selected and paid for, the customer agrees that the physical negatives will not be returned.

Where negative return has not been purchased, the order is completed by carrying out the selected processing and/or scanning service and delivering any applicable image files electronically.

For data-protection, privacy, storage, and operational reasons, negatives that have not been paid to be returned are securely shredded within 3 calendar days of order completion.

For these purposes, order completion means:

where scanning is included, the date on which the scan files are delivered electronically;

where development only is ordered, the date on which processing is completed and the order is marked complete;

where an order cannot proceed because the customer has selected the wrong service, failed to respond, or failed to pay an applicable return or correction fee, the date on which we notify the customer that the order cannot proceed or is ready for resolution.

Once negatives have been shredded, they cannot be recovered, returned, rescanned, inspected, reprocessed, or used for any further purpose.

It is the customer’s responsibility to select negative return at the time of ordering if they wish to keep their negatives.

We are not responsible for loss of negatives, inability to rescan, inability to inspect, or inability to return physical film where the customer did not select and pay for negative return before order completion.

Nothing in this section affects any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

14. Paid negative return and shipping

Where a service includes or is upgraded to include the return of processed negatives, a £3 negative return fee is charged unless a different return option has been agreed.

This fee covers:

Royal Mail Second Class postage;

archival negative sleeves;

protective outer mailing sleeve;

handling and preparation for return.

Royal Mail Second Class is an untracked postal service.

We are responsible for packaging returned negatives with reasonable care and handing them to Royal Mail or another agreed postal carrier.

Once negatives have been handed to Royal Mail or another agreed postal carrier, delivery is subject to that carrier’s own systems, handling, delays, and loss procedures.

We are not responsible for delay, loss, misdelivery, non-delivery, damage in transit, or failure by Royal Mail or any other postal service except where required by law or where the issue arises from our failure to package or dispatch the negatives with reasonable care.

The standard negative return fee does not include tracked delivery, guaranteed delivery, or insurance.

If you require a tracked, insured, signed-for, or guaranteed return method, you must contact us before ordering to discuss whether an alternative arrangement is possible. Availability of alternative arrangements is not guaranteed.

16. Unresolved, paused, or unpaid-return orders

Where an order cannot proceed because the customer has submitted film under the wrong service, failed to provide necessary information, failed to pay an applicable correction fee, failed to pay return postage, or failed to respond to a query, we will make reasonable efforts to contact the customer using the contact details provided.

If the customer does not respond within 14 days, we may treat the order as unresolved.

Where physical negatives or unprocessed film remain in our possession after an unresolved order and no return fee has been paid, we reserve the right to securely shred or otherwise securely dispose of the material after a further 3 calendar days, unless we have agreed a different arrangement in writing.

This policy exists to avoid unnecessary retention of image-bearing film materials and customer data.

We are not responsible for customer failure to provide accurate contact details, monitor email, check spam folders, respond to queries, pay applicable fees, or make return arrangements within the stated period.

17. Refunds and cancellations

Once film has been received and processing has begun, refunds are not available except where required by law. Where an order is cancelled before processing begins, any refund may exclude postage, payment processing fees, inspection work, administrative work, file-transfer fees, materials already used, or other costs already incurred. Where film is submitted under the wrong service, incorrectly labelled, unsuitable for the selected process, or cannot be safely processed, we may offer return of the unprocessed film subject to payment of any applicable return fee. Refunds do not include postage already incurred or third-party payment processing fees unless required by law.

18. Limitation of liability

If film is lost or damaged while in our care due to our failure to use reasonable care and skill, our liability is limited, so far as the law allows, to the amount paid for the relevant processing or scanning service. Where unprocessed film itself is lost while in our care due to our failure to use reasonable care and skill, we may, at our discretion, also offer the current retail cost of an equivalent roll of unexposed film where a directly equivalent film remains commercially available.We do not accept liability for: loss of images or content; loss of income; loss of business; loss of opportunity; loss of reputation; loss of goodwill; loss of data after file delivery; third-party editing costs; third-party scanning costs; third-party printing costs; travel costs; reshoot costs; creative, personal, commercial, documentary, or evidential value attached to the images; consequential or indirect loss of any kind. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

19. Business customers

Where services are supplied to a business customer, trader, professional photographer, production company, institution, organisation, reseller, agency, or other commercial client, liability is limited to the amount paid for the relevant order unless otherwise agreed in writing before the order is placed. We do not accept liability to business customers for loss of profit, loss of contract, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of reputation, loss of goodwill, loss of client relationship, reshoot costs, production delay, publication delay, campaign delay, or consequential or indirect loss of any kind.Nothing in this section excludes liability where doing so would be unlawful.

20. Customer communication

We will use the email address, telephone number, postal address, and order information supplied by you. You are responsible for ensuring that your contact details are accurate and monitored. We are not responsible for delay, non-delivery, missed queries, expired download links, unprocessed orders, or unreturned negatives caused by incorrect customer details, full inboxes, spam filtering, email blocking, unanswered calls, or failure to respond.

21. Website information, examples, and technical articles

Website pages, service descriptions, technical articles, example scans, social media posts, and educational content are provided to explain our workflow, process, and general technical approach. They do not guarantee identical results from every roll of film. Examples may differ from customer results due to film stock, exposure, lighting, processing route, lens behaviour, negative density, age, storage, scanning requirements, and customer editing choices.Where there is a conflict between general website content and these Terms, these Terms apply unless a specific written agreement has been made before the order is placed.

22. Data protection

We process personal data only as necessary to fulfil lab services, communicate with customers, process orders, deliver files, return negatives, maintain records, and comply with legal obligations. Full details are set out in our Privacy Policy.

23. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The Terms that apply to your order are the Terms published at the time the order is placed, unless a change is required by law or agreed with you in writing.

24. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except where consumer law gives you the right to bring proceedings elsewhere in the United Kingdom.