E-6 Slide Film Development - The Only Place in the Baltics!

E-6 is the standard colour slide (transparency) film developing process. It is designed for all slide films, for example:

• Kodak Ektachrome (E100, E200, E320T)
• Fujifilm Fujichrome (Provia 100F, Velvia 50/100, Astia 100F)
• Agfa CT Precisa
• All other E-6 process films

E-6 films produce a positive image that can be viewed directly or projected.

The E-6 process is significantly more complex than C-41:

• More precise temperature control (±0.1°C)
• More developing steps (6 main stages)
• Significantly smaller exposure tolerance (±1/3 stop)
• Colour balance is critical
• The process takes longer

BFS is the only place in the Baltics offering this specialised service.

We develop E-6 films on Fridays and send scans on Mondays. Films must arrive at the lab by Friday at 11:00 for that Friday's processing. We use this schedule because of:

• The requirements of E-6 chemistry
• The need to collect enough film for a batch
• The time and complexity of the process

Turnaround depends on when the film arrives at the lab. Please contact us about urgent orders.

We are the only E-6 lab in the Baltics and accept mail-in orders from all over Europe, including Lithuania, Estonia, Finland and Poland. Order E-6 developing online (no need to call first) and send the film to P. Brieža iela 3, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia. Your film is developed on the first Friday after it arrives (if it is at the lab by 11:00) and scans are sent on the Monday. How to send film by mail

If the light is too low or too bright for the film you have with you, you can expose it at a different speed: higher (push) or lower (pull). The developing time is then extended or shortened accordingly to compensate for the exposure difference. This also helps if you forgot to change the ISO setting on the camera.

Push: the film is developed for longer to compensate for underexposure. For example, an ISO 400 film exposed as ISO 800 or 1600 lets you shoot in lower light. The result will have more contrast and grain, with deeper shadows.

Pull: the film is developed for a shorter time to compensate for overexposure. For example, an ISO 400 film exposed as ISO 100 is useful in bright light. The image will be softer, with less contrast and finer grain.

Available for all film types with limitations:

• C-41 and black and white films: up to 3 EV. Negatives have a wide exposure latitude, so larger corrections still give usable results.
• E-6 (slides): up to ±2 EV recommended. Slides are very sensitive to changes in exposure. ±3 EV is also possible on request, but the blacks turn greyish, colours shift and shadow detail is lost.
• ECN-2 (cinema films): up to 2 EV. Larger corrections noticeably increase fog and grain and also cause colour balance problems.

Push or pull over a wider range is also possible by agreement, but without a quality guarantee.

Surcharge: €2.50

Cross processing means developing a film in a process not meant for that type of film, for example E-6 film in the C-41 process. The result is unpredictable and very distinctive. The images have strong contrast, with vivid and completely 'wrong' colours. Although technically a mistake, this experimental look appeals to many photographers.

If you want cross processing, tell us when you hand in the film.

Yes, for E-6 film within these limits:

• Push: recommended up to +2 EV
• Pull: recommended up to -2 EV
• ±3 EV is possible on request, but the blacks turn greyish
• A colour shift is unavoidable
• The contrast changes considerably

E-6 films are much more sensitive to exposure errors than C-41, so push/pull is mainly used for creative purposes.

We develop all E-6 film by hand on Jobo equipment: precise temperature control ±0.1°C, processing tailored to each film, the ability to adjust the process, special attention to valuable projects, better control over results. 4x5 inch and 9x12cm sheets are developed by hand too.

We develop all common E-6 film formats:

• 135 (35mm) - standard photo films and professional films
• 120 - medium format films (6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, 6x12)
• 4x5" (10.1x12.7cm) and 9x12cm - large format sheet film, hand developed

We do not develop: 110 small films (too rarely requested), Super 8 cinema films (no appropriate equipment).

No, the base price €7.90 (135/120) or €4.50 (4x5) is for developing only. We offer packages:

• Standard package (135): - developing + scanning + contact sheet
• High quality package: - developing + HQ scanning + contact sheet
• Maximum quality package: - developing + MAX scanning + contact sheet

For detailed information see slide scanning.

E-6 costs more than C-41 because of the processing costs and time involved:

• E-6 chemistry is 3-4 times more expensive
• The process is more complex and takes approximately 2x more time
• The need for more precise control and greater experience
• Lower demand, making processing less efficient
• Specialised equipment and maintenance

The process produces colour reproduction and contrast that are very difficult to achieve with other processes.

E-6 films are very sensitive to storage conditions:

• Developing old films: possible but with a colour shift
• Water-damaged films: rarely salvageable but we try
• Heat-exposed films: usually with significant colour degradation

We always discuss the possible results with you before developing. Additional charge for problem cases: +€2.00.

The developed E-6 films are:

• Carefully dried in a special dust-free environment
• On request - placed in transparent sleeves
• Stored in a temperature-controlled environment

Films can be collected at our store or delivered (courier or parcel locker from €3.00 in Latvia). Store the slides in a dark, cool place (ideally, a refrigerator) for optimal colour preservation.