35mm Negatives Scanning
Slide Scanning Services
APS Film Scanning
Photo Scanning
Medium Format 120
Instamatic Scanning
Disc Film Scanning
Ai Image Restore
Video Conversions
Camcorder Tapes
8mm and Super 8 Cinefilm
Audio to Digital MP3
DVD/Mini-DVD to USB
Tape Repair Service
A4 Doc Scanning
Photo Printing
Everything Else
Instamatic Film Scanning Services
110/126 Instamatic Film
(28mm x 28mm)
(13mm x 17mm)
Instamatic Film Scanning
Preserve your old Instamatic negatives by having them professionally scanned to high-quality digital images.
Instamatic film was a popular and convenient format during the 1960s and 1970s, but the smaller negatives and materials used mean they can be more prone to fading, scratches, dust and deterioration than traditional 35mm film. Because of this, the final scan quality will always depend heavily on the condition of the original film.
At Mr Scan, we use high-resolution professional scanning equipment together with Digital ICE, colour correction and dust-reduction technology to achieve the best possible results from your Instamatic negatives.
We scan your film at 3200–4800 DPI, depending on the film type, with images available in JPEG or TIFF format.
Please remember that Instamatic negatives cannot normally produce the same level of detail as 35mm film, but our aim is always to recover as much detail, colour and clarity as possible from every usable image.
If you are unsure what results to expect from your film, we recommend using our free trial scanning service before placing a larger order.
This is the service that around 90% of our customers use. Great for home and family photographs.
All images are scanned in JPEG format at 3200–4800 DPI, depending on film type.
Images are corrected using ICE technology.
Uses multi-pass scanning technology for up to 16 scan passes where required for faithful reproduction and smoother gradation.
DIGITAL ICE – Removes surface defects
DIGITAL ROC – Restores and corrects colour
FULL DIGITAL GEM – Reduces film grain noise
DIGITAL SHO – Optimises contrast and exposure
All images are scanned in TIFF format at 3200–4800 DPI, depending on film type.
TIFF provides lossless image storage and is ideal when maximum quality is required for editing, archiving or larger prints.
Uses multi-pass scanning technology for up to 16 scan passes where required for faithful reproduction and smoother gradation.
Images are corrected using ICE technology.
DIGITAL ICE – Removes surface defects
DIGITAL ROC – Restores and corrects colour
FULL DIGITAL GEM – Reduces film grain noise
DIGITAL SHO – Optimises contrast and exposure
This is the service that around 90% of our customers use. Great for home and family photographs.
All images are scanned in JPEG format at 3200–4800 DPI, depending on film type.
Images are corrected using ICE technology.
Uses multi-pass scanning technology for up to 16 scan passes where required.
DIGITAL ICE – Removes surface defects
DIGITAL ROC – Restores and corrects colour
FULL DIGITAL GEM – Reduces film grain noise
DIGITAL SHO – Optimises contrast and exposure
All images are scanned in TIFF format at 3200–4800 DPI, depending on film type.
TIFF provides lossless image storage and is ideal when maximum quality is required for editing, archiving or larger prints.
Uses multi-pass scanning technology for up to 16 scan passes where required.
Images are corrected using ICE technology.
DIGITAL ICE – Removes surface defects
DIGITAL ROC – Restores and corrects colour
FULL DIGITAL GEM – Reduces film grain noise
DIGITAL SHO – Optimises contrast and exposure
Visit our film guide for more information about the different film types we can scan.
Instamatic Film Scanning FAQs
How good will my Instamatic scans be?
The quality depends heavily on the condition and quality of the original film. Instamatic film was generally a smaller and more economical format than 35mm, so it cannot normally produce the same level of detail as a good 35mm negative. We scan at high resolution and use professional equipment to obtain the best possible result from the film supplied.
Will Instamatic negatives scan as well as 35mm film?
Usually no. Instamatic negatives are smaller than traditional 35mm negatives and the film materials can be more susceptible to ageing, scratches, dust and colour fading. A well-preserved Instamatic negative can still produce a very pleasing digital image, but it should not be expected to have the same detail as a good quality 35mm negative.
Why do some Instamatic scans look slightly soft?
Older Instamatic film frequently contains scratches, dust and other surface marks. We normally apply light dust and scratch reduction to improve the appearance of the image. This can occasionally result in a slightly softer-looking image, but usually produces a cleaner and more pleasant overall result.
Can you remove all dust and scratches?
No scanning process can guarantee complete removal of every mark. We use professional cleaning, compressed air and digital correction techniques where appropriate, but deep scratches, damage within the film emulsion and heavy deterioration may still remain visible in the final image.
Can faded colours be improved?
Yes. We use colour correction technology to improve faded or shifted colours where possible. However, the amount of colour that can be recovered depends on how much information remains within the original negative.
Why might part of my image be cropped?
Instamatic film does not have the same range of dedicated modern scanning equipment as 35mm film. Depending on the film type, positioning and original exposure, a small amount of the edge of an image may occasionally be cropped during scanning.
What resolution do you scan Instamatic film at?
Instamatic film is normally scanned at between 3200 and 4800 DPI depending on the exact film type and scanning method used. The aim is to capture as much usable information as possible from the original negative.
Can I have my scans as JPEG or TIFF files?
Yes. JPEG is suitable for the vast majority of customers and is ideal for viewing, sharing and normal printing. TIFF is available for customers who want a larger lossless file for archiving or further image editing.
Can you scan just selected images from a strip?
No. We scan complete film strips rather than individual selected frames. If there are images on a strip that you do not want scanned, the strip should be cut beforehand, leaving a minimum of two images on each strip.
Will my films and digital images remain in the same order?
We cannot guarantee a specific image or strip order. Instamatic films are grouped and processed using our studio scanning workflow, so they cannot always be scanned in a predetermined sequence. Where possible we keep films organised and use numbering to help with cross-referencing.
Do my Instamatic negatives need to be processed first?
Yes. We provide digital scanning of processed film only. We do not carry out photographic darkroom processing of undeveloped Instamatic film.
Can I try a sample before sending a large collection?
Yes. If you are unsure about the likely quality of your Instamatic negatives, we strongly recommend using our free trial scanning service first. This allows you to see the results from your own film before committing to a larger order.
Important notes:
Instamatic film will never scan as well as traditional 35mm film, the materials used makes the film easier to scratch, attract more dust particles and colours fade quicker over time. Also due to the small size of 110 negatives the results can never as good as scanning 35mm negatives.
We scan at high DPI levels and only use top of the range scanners to give the best results possible however we can only scan as good as the original material provided. Instamatic film is the most difficult film to scan and results are never outstanding. We strongly recommend using our free trial service with instamatic negative scanning if you have any doubts.
Instamatic film will NEVER be as good as 35mm film and some images will fail a scan, it was a cheaper alternative dating back to the 60/70s, we of course will do the best we can with the material provided but sometimes there may be dust, focusing or cropping issues. If an image is not viable then the image will be deleted and not charged for.
Due to the age and condition of most Instamatic film, scratches, dust and marks are often present. As standard, we apply a light dust and scratch reduction filter to minimise the majority of these imperfections. This process produces a cleaner-looking image, although it may result in a slightly softer appearance.
If you would prefer us not to apply this filter, please let us know in writing on your order form before work begins.
Please note due to the way we scan instamatic film we can not guarantee any pre-set number order of images. Film strips are grouped together in our studio and scanned therefore we can not scan in preset groups or image order.
-
We do not scan parts of film strips, each strip must be scanned in full.
-
Each strip must have a minimum of 2 images on the strip.
-
We scan everything we receive, if you do not wish for images on a strip to be scanned then please cut strips down to a minimum of two images. Sending us a list of images numbers to be scanned is not excepted, we scan everything.
-
Any additional images scanned will be charged for and any over payments will be refunded.
-
Incorrect film – It is your responsibility to check that the films you send in to us are the ones you have ordered for scanning, variations with film will be charged/refunded according to our website prices for the correct film type. If in doubt please check our film guide page.
-
Image cropping – Due to instamatic not having dedicated scanners there maybe a noticeable area of cropped image.
-
Processed Film- Your film must have been processed before we can scan it, we do not carry out dark room processing.
-
We do not pre-count images, we scan all images sent to us, our charges are per image and not per strip.
-
Returned order of originals – As noted above we use bulk process scanners so cannot guarantee that we can keep your films is any particular order for their return, we will of course do the best we can to keep to any particular requests however with the way our scanners operate it may not always be possible.
-
Any variations on quantities sent in for scanning will be either invoiced or refunded before shipping.
-
Please remove any stickers or mounts attached to the negatives – additional fees may be charged to remove these. Films should be in sleeves or loose.
-
Images and folders are automatically numbered using our scanner system. If you wish for images or folders to be renamed we advise that you carry out this yourself once you receive your images back as you know the images better than anybody so can correctly name them, we can do this for you but due to the additional time it takes and the possibility of errors we do not like to take on this task, if we are requested to change folder names there will be a surcharge per folder or image and it must be pre-arranged and paid for prior to any orders. Simplest thing to do is to leave the numbering to our system. We will label envelopes with numbers which correspond with folder numbers on the disc so you can cross reference any titles.
-
If you have any specific requirements for your images, i.e. they need to be a certain file size or dedicated colours then we always recommend you use our free trial service before sending any orders. This way we know exactly how you want your scans and you know exactly what you are getting as making changes after an order has been processed is not possible.
Looking for disc film scanning – Click below:
