Your Precious Medium Format Film, Safely Digitised & Restored by Hand in the UK

Medium format film holds astonishing, lifelike detail and dynamic range. Whether you have 6 x 4.5 through to 10 x 8 negatives or colour transparency slides, we personally inspect, air-clean, and digitise every frame using dedicated professional optical scanners. Your original medium format films are returned 100% safely via tracked Royal Mail delivery.

🔒 Zero payment taken today • Free friendly advice • all medium format film sizes scanned

5.0 on Google

1M+ Items Digitised

Royal Mail Tracked Return

Wirral Based Family Studio

18+ Years Experience

See the Difference

Our professional process restores colour, removes dust and scratches, and brings your old memories back to life.

How It Works

1

Request Quote

Tell us how much medium format film you have and any specific requirements.

2

Send Items Securely

Box up your originals & send them to our UK studio using tracked delivery.

3

We Digitise & Restore

We scan at 5300 DPI, remove dust, colour correct & enhance every image.

4

Receive Digital Files

Your digital files are available via download / USB – your original material is returned to you

Instant Estimate Calculator

Number of Images (Approximate)

Estimated Total

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*Minimum order charge of £30.00 applies

Start Your Order

Why Digitise Your Medium Format Film Now? The Dangers of Waiting

Act today to save your precious memories before they are lost forever

Fading & Colour Shifts

Over the decades, the colour dyes in large medium format negatives gradually fade, and they don’t all deteriorate at the same rate.

As this happens, these larger negatives lose their contrast and develop severe colour shifts that only become obvious once they are inverted into positive images. Our manual colour restoration can often recover these colours while the original dye information is still present.

However, once those dyes have faded beyond recovery, some colour information is permanently lost and the scan will require AI restoration to bring back realistic, though not necessarily correct, colours.

Mould & Mildew Damage

Medium format negatives stored in lofts, garages, or tight paper sleeves are particularly vulnerable to high humidity and damp conditions.

Over time, this can encourage mould and fungal growth, which attacks the delicate gelatin emulsion that holds the high-resolution image on the large film strip.

The result is permanent damage, often appearing as white spotting, cloudy patches, or spiderweb-like patterns etched directly into the photograph. Areas where the emulsion has been physically destroyed cannot be fully recovered and would need AI reconstruction to look their best.

Physical Deterioration

Due to their larger physical surface area, medium format strips and single frames are incredibly susceptible to surface damage from severe scratches, dust, and embedded grit over the years.

Temperature and humidity fluctuations can also cause the wider 120 film to severely warp, curl into tight tubes, or cup. In damp conditions, negatives stored tightly together may even fuse or stick to one another.

These issues make the large negatives much more difficult to handle safely, clean, and digitise without risking further damage. In some very serious cases, we have not been able to recover the images.

SERVICE : MEDIUM FORMAT SCANNING SERVICE

Formats & Mounts We Accept

We can handle most types of loose and mounted medium format film. Including positives, negatives, and large format. The only thing we can not do is very old negatives printed on glass.

Our Complete Scanning Process

1

Physical Preparation & Cleaning

Before any film touches our scanners, it is manually inspected. We use compressed air to remove surface dust, lint, and loose debris from the film.

We make sure every piece of film is the correct way round.

2

5300 DPI High-Resolution Scanning

We capture your film at the highest resolution we can. Everything is scanned at an optical resolution of 5300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) using professional-grade film scanners, resulting in an image that will be much larger than you need.

It is however easy to generate any sized image you need from these files. Its not easy to up-sample a low resolution scan.

3

Digital ICE™ Dust & Scratch Removal

Physical cleaning can’t remove everything. During the scan, we utilize advanced Digital ICE technology. This process uses an infrared light pass to map the exact physical contours of the film, allowing our software to perfectly detect and erase embedded dust and deep scratches without blurring the underlying image.

4

Cropping, Colour & Contrast

Every image is manually cropped using our own in-house software, ensuring we capture every pixel of the original image. Unlike automatic cropping, which can accidentally cut off parts of the photograph, every scan is carefully checked by hand to preserve as much of the original image as possible.

Once scanned, every image is individually colour corrected in Photoshop. We manually restore colour balance, adjust shadows and highlights, and fine-tune the contrast to bring out the maximum detail while staying true to the original photograph.

5

Delivery & Media Formats

By default, your scanned images are supplied as high-quality JPEG files. JPEG offers an excellent balance between image quality and file size, making your photos easy to view, share with family, print, and back up without taking up unnecessary storage space.

For photographers, archivists, or anyone planning extensive photo restoration or editing in Photoshop, we can also supply your scans as uncompressed TIFF files on request. TIFF files preserve every bit of image data captured during scanning, making them ideal for professional editing and long-term archiving.

As soon as your scanning project is complete, your JPG images are available to download immediately. If you prefer, we can also return your scans on a USB drive, or for larger collections, on an SSD for faster transfer and greater storage capacity.

How to Prepare Your Medium Format for Sending

1 - Sort and Organise Your Film

Keep your negatives in their original envelopes, photo wallets, or clear archival sleeves if you prefer. If they are loose strips, simply group them into logical batches and place them securely inside a paper envelope or ziplock bags. Clearly write a title on the envelope or a sticky note for each batch (e.g., “Summer Holiday 1982”).

We will name your digital files and folders using your exact labels!

2. Pack Securely with Bubble Wrap

Place your packaged negatives into a sturdy, rigid cardboard box. It is vital to fill any empty gaps with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or packing paper. When you shake the sealed box, nothing inside should move or rattle. Ensure your negatives are packed flat so they cannot bend, crease, or fold during transit.

3. Use Royal Mail Special/Tracked Delivery

Because these are one-of-a-kind memories, we highly recommend sending your package via Royal Mail Tracked 24 or Special Delivery (or a premium courier service). This ensures your parcel is fully tracked, and delivered directly to our hands the very next day.

Or check the collection box when ordering and we will arrange for Royal Mail to come to your house to collect.

Please do not use budget couriers to send your items.

About US

Hi, I’m Paul.

I started Silver Dog Studios because I’ve always loved bringing old photographs back to life. There’s something special about seeing a faded slide reveal details and memories that haven’t been properly seen in decades.

With over 26 years of experience in digital imaging and restoration, I personally oversee every project that comes through the studio. Whether you’re sending a few family slides or thousands of images, they’ll be treated with the same care and attention I’d give my own collection.

If you’d like to know more about the process, or want to chat before sending anything in, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

Paul Spencer

Owner

Why Choose Silver Dog Studios

Quality

Experience

Value

See what previous customers are saying about us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 141 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Cathy Graham 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul at Silver Dog Studios has recently had the epic task of digitising our 60-70 hard copy photo albums literally 3000 photos. Paul was so well organised and the quality of the digital prints is great. The task involved him removing all the photos from the albums, in some cases the photos were so well stuck down he had to cut them out and scan these by hand. The scanned photos were labelled in file folders by the year on the photo album and Paul also returned all the photos in envelopes labelled with the album year. We now how cloud copies and memory stick backup. So we won’t be leaving a load of albums for our children to sort and no doubt throw out. Though I still can’t bring myself to throw out the actual photos 😂. A brilliant job by Paul who is also very quick to respond to emails and questions. Well done and thank you.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul was amazing, so lovely and communicative throughout. Our digitised photos came through so much quicker than we expected, so so happy with them. Would recommend in a heartbeat!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Chris 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service from Silver Dog. The service was good & the quality was good. Send an email to Silver Dog and guess what? You get a reply. Have already sent some more pics in for digitising.

Thanks again
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jim McCrae 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very fast affordable service. Good communication regarding progress on order. Great quality.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Blaise Bullimore 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service with rapid turn around; first class 35mm slide scans.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Charlie Cutler 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Have used Silver Dog Studios on 3 occasions to scan almost 2,000 slides. They've always been excellent both in terms of the quality of the scanning and the communications around it. Thanks so much.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Wright 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Super efficient and friendly, and how amazing that they produce the goods for you to check before you pay - that trust is hugely appreciated and says a lot about their passion to do a great job. Bravo.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Hampton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A very professional service through the whole process from placing the order to receiving the finished digitalised slides.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Emily Wood 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brilliant and speedy service! The only place I found that offers slide to slide duplication. Would highly recommend using them !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Dan Beighton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul and Silver Dog provide an excellent service, always happy to help, prompt, great communication and quality work. Highly recommend.

Still need convincing? Use our free trial service

PRESERVE YOUR PRECIOUS MEMORIES

Ready to digitize your Collection

Transform your 35mm slides into stunning, print-ready digital images, professionally enhanced by hand for the best possible results.

Only £1.62 per image

(minimum order charge of £30)

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get my original film back?

Yes, absolutely. We securely return all of your original slides, negatives, and media alongside your new digital files.

How do you clean the film before scanning?

Every film is individually prepped by hand. We use air blowers to gently remove loose dust and debris before scanning. We never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cloths.

What file format will my digital photos be in?

By default, we provide high-quality JPEG files, which are perfect for viewing on TVs, sharing with family, and printing. If you require uncompressed files for professional editing, we also offer TIFF formats as an optional upgrade.

How long does the scanning take?

Our standard turnaround time is synced to our systems and can be seen when using the ‘get a quote’ form.

What scanners do you use?

We use professional-grade, dedicated film scanners that capture the maximum dynamic range, colour accuracy, and sharpness from your original film. For Medium Format film we use a Plustek Optic Film 120

What type of slides can you scan?

We scan all mounted slides from standard 35mm, 126 and 127 format through to medium format slides.

Can you remove dust and scratches?

Yes. For colour film, we utilize highly advanced infrared scanning technology (Digital ICE). This physically maps dust and scratches on the film surface and seamlessly removes them during the scan without blurring the image.

Do you offer express / fast track service?

Yes, we do. If you need your images digitized urgently for a funeral, anniversary, or special event, we offer a Fast Track Priority service at checkout which reduces the turnaround to just 1-3 working days.

Other Scanning Services We Offer

Slide Scanning Service

Have carousels/boxes full of vintage slides? We offer high-resolution professional scanning for all slide formats, including 35mm, 126, and 110, complete with manual colour restoration and dust removal.

Photo Scanning Service

Have shoeboxes full of old printed family photos? We offer professional flatbed scanning for loose photographs, polaroids, and delicate photo albums, complete with our signature manual colour restoration.