PPP Film Lab — Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 20 October 2026

Thank you for choosing PPP Film Lab.

We are an independent photographic film laboratory based in Birmingham, specialising in analogue film processing, professional scanning and photographic services.

These Terms & Conditions explain how we handle your film, process orders, deliver digital files and care for your original materials.

By placing an order, you agree to these terms, subject to your statutory consumer rights.

1. Our Services

PPP Film Lab offers photographic services including:

• C-41 colour film processing

• Black & white film processing

• Film scanning and scan-only services

• Specialist film format scanning

• Photographic prints available with selected developing services

• Other photographic services advertised on our website

Available services, prices and specifications are displayed when ordering.

We reserve the right to update our service offerings and prices. Changes will not affect orders already accepted without the customer's agreement.

2. Placing an Order

Orders should be placed and paid for through our website before submitting film, unless we have agreed an alternative arrangement.

Customers are responsible for selecting the correct film format, processing type, scanning resolution and any additional options.

If you are unsure which service you require, please contact us before ordering.

Where an incorrect service has been selected, we will try to contact you before processing. Additional charges or a revised order may be necessary.

We will not knowingly process film using an unsuitable chemistry or method without first seeking clarification.

3. Sending & Dropping Off Film

Film can be submitted by post or delivered to our Birmingham location.

Public Opening Hours
Thursday & Friday, 10am–3pm

Film Drop-Offs
Available seven days a week via reception.

Please ensure that all submitted film is clearly identified with your name and order details.

For postal orders, we recommend using secure packaging and a tracked service. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for delivery to PPP Film Lab unless otherwise agreed.

PPP Film Lab cannot be responsible for film that has not arrived in our possession. Where there is a delivery dispute, we may request tracking details or proof of delivery to assist with an investigation.

Once materials have been received, we will handle them with reasonable care and skill.

4. Film Processing & Associated Risks

Photographic film is a sensitive material, and its final appearance depends on several factors beyond the processing laboratory's control.

These include:

• The age and storage history of the film

• Incorrect exposure or camera malfunction

• Light leaks and accidental exposure

• Previous handling or environmental damage

• Manufacturing defects or deterioration

• Pre-existing chemical contamination

Expired or poorly stored film may produce unexpected colours, reduced contrast, fogging or other image defects.

We use appropriate processing procedures and take reasonable precautions when handling film.

However, successful image formation cannot be guaranteed where problems arise from the film itself, exposure conditions or other factors outside our reasonable control.

If film is damaged, lost or incorrectly processed due to a failure on our part to exercise reasonable care and skill, we will assess the matter in accordance with applicable consumer law.

5. Scanning & Image Quality

We offer different scanning resolutions and file formats to suit a range of photographic requirements.

Customers should select the appropriate scanning option when ordering.

Image quality will depend on the original negative or transparency, including exposure, sharpness, grain, film condition and the characteristics of the photographic format.

We aim to produce consistent, high-quality scans using our professional equipment and established scanning workflow.

Colour, contrast and tonal appearance may vary according to the original film, scanner interpretation and customer display settings.

Unless otherwise agreed, scanning includes our standard image adjustments rather than individually commissioned photographic editing.

Additional editing, restoration or specialist scanning requests may require a separate quotation.

6. Turnaround Times

Estimated turnaround times are displayed on our website or communicated during ordering.

These are estimates rather than guaranteed completion dates unless a specific deadline has been expressly agreed.

Processing times may vary depending on workload, film type, equipment availability and the condition of submitted materials.

Black & white film is processed according to our scheduled processing workflow.

We will take reasonable steps to complete services within the agreed timeframe or, where no timeframe has been agreed, within a reasonable period.

If you require an order for a particular deadline, please contact us before submitting your film.

Your statutory rights concerning delayed or incomplete services remain unaffected.

7. Digital Scans & File Delivery

Digital scans are normally supplied electronically using the delivery method specified in your order confirmation or subsequent communication.

Once your files have been delivered, we recommend downloading them promptly and maintaining independent backups.

PPP Film Lab does not provide a permanent digital archive of customer photographs unless this has been expressly agreed.

Download links and temporary file storage may expire.

If you have difficulty accessing your files, please contact us as soon as possible so we can investigate whether they remain available.

We take reasonable precautions to protect digital files while they are in our systems. However, customers should retain their own copies once files have been successfully supplied.

Nothing in this section excludes liability for a failure to provide services or digital content in accordance with applicable consumer law.

8. Negatives & Original Materials

We understand that original photographic negatives and transparencies may have significant personal or sentimental value.

We take reasonable care when handling and storing customer materials.

Negatives are normally retained for 30 days after we notify you that your order is complete and the originals are ready for collection or return arrangements.

Customers wishing to collect their negatives should contact us within this period.

Where materials remain uncollected, we may contact the customer to arrange collection or return.

We reserve the right to take appropriate steps in relation to uncollected materials after providing any notice required by law, including eventual disposal where legally permitted.

Customers should not assume that their originals will remain available indefinitely.

If you require longer storage, please contact us in advance to discuss whether an arrangement is possible.

9. Returning Negatives & Physical Materials

Where return postage has been purchased or otherwise agreed, we will package original materials appropriately and arrange dispatch using the selected service.

Delivery times are estimates unless expressly guaranteed.

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address and should notify us promptly if any details need correcting before dispatch.

If an item is delayed, lost or damaged during a return shipment arranged by PPP Film Lab, please contact us so that we can investigate and determine an appropriate resolution.

Responsibility for loss or damage will be assessed according to the circumstances, the delivery arrangements and applicable law.

We cannot guarantee that postal or courier providers will offer compensation reflecting the sentimental or photographic value of original materials.

Customers with especially valuable or irreplaceable originals are encouraged to discuss suitable return arrangements with us in advance.

10. Loss, Damage & Liability

We recognise that photographic originals can be irreplaceable and that their significance may extend beyond the cost of the film itself.

PPP Film Lab undertakes to provide its services with reasonable care and skill.

Some risks are inherent in handling photographic materials, and certain losses may arise from pre-existing film defects, camera problems or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

Where loss, damage or processing failure occurs, we will investigate the circumstances and assess responsibility fairly.

We do not accept responsibility for defects or failures that were not caused by a breach of our legal or contractual obligations.

Any compensation or other remedy will be determined according to the circumstances, any applicable legal limitations and the customer's statutory rights.

Customers are welcome to arrange their own insurance for unusually valuable or irreplaceable materials, including cover during transit.

Nothing in these terms excludes or restricts liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability arising from a failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.

11. Order Changes & Cancellations

If you need to change or cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible.

For eligible online service contracts, customers generally have a statutory 14-day cancellation period beginning the day after the contract is entered into.

If you expressly request that we begin providing the service during this period, and then cancel before completion, a proportionate charge for work already supplied may apply where permitted by law.

Where a service has been fully completed during the cancellation period, the statutory cancellation right may be lost if the legally required express request, acknowledgement and confirmation requirements have been satisfied.

If film has already undergone irreversible processing, we may be unable to return it to its original unprocessed condition.

However, processing beginning does not automatically remove all statutory cancellation rights.

Any applicable cancellation charges or refunds will be handled in accordance with consumer law.

12. Refunds & Service Problems

If we are unable to complete a service, we will contact you and arrange an appropriate refund or alternative resolution.

Where only part of an order can be fulfilled, any refund will take account of the services successfully provided and your applicable legal rights.

If you believe your film has been incorrectly processed, your scans are defective or a service has not been supplied as agreed, please contact us with your order details.

We will review your concerns and, where appropriate, offer repeat performance, a price reduction, a refund or another remedy consistent with applicable law.

An unexpected photographic result does not necessarily indicate a processing fault, particularly where the issue originates from exposure, film condition or camera operation.

Refunds due will normally be issued to the original payment method.

Nothing in these terms limits your statutory rights concerning services that have not been performed with reasonable care and skill.

13. Customer Photographs & Privacy

Photographic negatives, transparencies and digital images submitted by customers remain their property, subject to any applicable third-party rights.

We will not use customer photographs for advertising, social media, promotional materials or portfolio purposes without appropriate permission.

Customer information and photographic files will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

We may access images where reasonably necessary to fulfil an order, assess image quality, investigate a service issue or provide customer support.

14. Exceptional Circumstances

Occasionally, circumstances outside our reasonable control may affect processing or delivery.

These may include equipment failure, supply disruption, postal delays or other unforeseen events.

Where such circumstances arise, we will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and communicate significant delays.

Your statutory rights remain unaffected.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms & Conditions to reflect changes to our services, operating procedures or applicable law.

The terms applying to an order will normally be those in effect when it was placed, unless otherwise agreed.

16. Contact

For enquiries regarding film processing, scanning, returns or these terms, please contact:

PPP Film Lab / PPP Cameras
Stirchley, Birmingham
Email: info@pppcameras.co.uk
Website: www.pppcameras.co.uk

For orders involving photographic equipment or other products purchased through our store, please refer to our separate Store Terms & Conditions and Returns & Refunds Policy.

These terms do not affect your statutory consumer rights.