Photo Digitizing · Chicago

Film Negative Scanning & Digitizing in Chicago

Film negatives hold extraordinary detail, often far more than the prints made from them. Scan5 unlocks that detail with high-resolution negative scanning, producing digital images that can be enlarged, shared, and preserved for generations.

Our Equipment

Professional Negative Scanning Technology

Scanning film negatives requires specialized film scanners with dedicated negative holders, backlighting systems, and high-resolution optics. At Scan5, we use professional-grade film scanners calibrated for accurate color inversion and dust/scratch reduction, ensuring your negatives are scanned to the highest possible quality.

We digitize 35mm, 120 (up to 6x7), 110, 126, 127, APS film, plus medium format and large format.

Formats We Scan

Negative Formats We Digitize

We scan a wide range of film negative formats, including 35mm color and black-and-white negatives (in strips or mounted slides), 110 and 126 cartridge film, 120/medium format negatives, and large format sheet film. Both color and black-and-white negatives are supported.

All scans are delivered as high-quality JPEG files, with TIFF available for archival needs.

Careful Handling

Dust, Scratch & Damage Correction

Film negatives are delicate — dust, scratches, and age can all affect the quality of your scan. We take precautions at every step.

Dust & Scratch Correction

We use software and careful handling to minimize the impact of dust and minor scratches on your final scans.

Color & Tone

Each negative is individually processed for accurate color inversion, exposure, and tonal balance.

Choose the Best Way to Preserve Your Images

Once your negatives are scanned, choose how you'd like to store and access your digital images.

Cloud Hosting

(FREE Downloads!)

Access your content anytime, anywhere
Automatically backed up and protected from loss
Easy to share with colleagues and clients
No physical devices required
Secure, encrypted storage

USB or HDD

(Physical Storage Option)

Keep your files on a device you own
USB thumb drive or portable hard drive
Store thousands of images in the palm of your hand
Easy to use with photo editing software
Who We Serve

Trusted by Families and Institutions

We've scanned film negatives for families, photographers, and archival institutions throughout the Chicago area.

Family Photo Archives

Grandma's 35mm negatives from the 60s. Dad's slides from the 70s. We scan them all and put your family's history at your fingertips.

Photographic Archives

We provide consistent, high-quality results at volume.

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Your Privacy, Guaranteed

We understand how personal your memories are, and we treat them with the utmost care. Your photos, tapes, and videos are always secure with us, and we never share them with third parties. Your physical items are kept safe in our climate controlled inventory room at our office building with 24/7 monitoring.

Film Negative Scanning FAQ

What types of film negatives can you scan?

We scan 35mm color and black-and-white negatives (in strips or mounted), 110 format, 126 format, 120/medium format, and large format sheet film. Both color and black-and-white negatives are supported.

Why scan negatives instead of just reprinting from them?

Negatives hold significantly more detail than the prints made from them. Scanning at high resolution captures all of that original information in a digital file that can be enlarged, shared, and reprinted without any generational quality loss.

Can you scan negatives that are dusty, scratched, or deteriorating?

Yes. We use dust and scratch reduction technology during scanning and handle fragile negatives with great care. Severely deteriorated film (vinegar syndrome, heavy silver mirroring) may have limitations — contact us to discuss your specific situation.

What file format will my scanned negatives be in?

Standard delivery is high-quality JPEG. TIFF (uncompressed) is available for archival or professional use — contact us for pricing.

How do I get my negatives to Scan5?

Most projects are completed in 1–2 weeks. Rush service may be available. Drop-off at our Chicago studio (4001 N Ravenswood Ave Suite 502-B), schedule a courier pickup, or ship your negatives to us with a prepaid UPS label.

How long does negative scanning take?

Most projects are completed within a few days to two weeks depending on volume and format. Contact us for an estimate based on your collection.

Do you offer bulk pricing for large negative collections?

Yes. Volume discounts are available. Contact u for a custom quote.

Ready to Digitize Your Film Negatives?

Unlock the full detail hidden in your negatives. Let Scan5 bring them to life in digital format.

Illustration showing Scan5's available digitized services and the benefits of Hollywood-grade technology, high resolution scanning, and safety for fragile films