Half Frame, XPAN, and Special Scanning FAQ

What is special scanning?

Special scanning refers to any scanning request that falls outside our normal high-volume film scanning workflow.

This can include:

Half-frame 35mm
XPAN / panoramic 35mm
High-resolution scanning
Ultra-high-resolution scanning
DSLR scanning
TIFF, RAW, or alternate file-format delivery
Odd frame sizes
Toy camera formats
Poorly spaced frames
Film with unusual exposure, damage, or frame alignment

These services can produce better or more specialized results, but they usually take longer because they require more manual handling.

Is high-resolution scanning the same as high-quality scanning?

No. High resolution and high quality are not the same thing.

Resolution refers to the size of the digital file and how many pixels are in the scan. Quality depends on the condition of the film, exposure, sharpness, camera focus, lens quality, film age, development quality, scanner type, and how much usable detail is actually present on the negative.

This is especially important for expired film. Very old, fogged, faded, blurry, underexposed, or damaged film may not benefit from extremely high-resolution scanning. In some cases, higher resolution simply makes grain, fog, scratches, blur, dust, and age damage more visible.

For expired film, we usually recommend our current high-resolution option, which is 5.7 megapixels for 35mm. For non-35mm expired film that requires camera scanning, we usually scan at the lowest camera resolution, which is about 12 megapixels.

For most expired film, the 6–12 megapixel range is the practical sweet spot. Going much higher or much lower can be more harmful than helpful, especially when PhotoFlux restoration is involved. PhotoFlux output is around 2K, roughly 6 megapixels, so extremely large scans are not always useful for restoration work.

High-resolution scanning is best when the film itself contains enough sharp, clean detail to justify the larger file.

Can you scan half-frame film?

Yes. We can scan half-frame film.

Half-frame cameras expose smaller images on standard 35mm film, usually giving about twice as many photos on a roll. A 36-exposure roll may produce around 72 images, which means more frames to scan, crop, inspect, process, and upload.

Because of the extra work, half-frame scanning may cost more and may add turnaround time.

How do you scan half-frame film?

By default, half-frame 35mm film is scanned on our Pakon, which is our primary scanner for 35mm color negative film.

Our default half-frame workflow scans two half-frame images per file. This gives the best balance of quality, speed, cost, and overall workflow for most customers.

If you want one half-frame image per file, the film is scanned on our Noritsu LS-600. The Noritsu can scan single half frames, but some customers describe this scanner as having a softer look, especially with thinner film stocks such as Kodak Gold and Portra 800.

For the best all-around half-frame results, we recommend our UHR scanning option, but it costs more and requires the film to be cut into strips before scanning.

Can you scan single half frames?

Yes. We can scan single half frames when needed.

This may be useful if you only need a few frames rescanned, restored, or delivered at a higher quality. Single-frame scanning is more hands-on than normal roll scanning, so pricing depends on the number of frames and the scanning method requested.

Can half-frame film be DSLR scanned?

Half-frame DSLR scanning is avoided whenever possible.

DSLR scanning already requires manual alignment, focusing, checking, cropping, and correction. With half-frame, that work can nearly double because there are many more frames on the roll.

If half-frame DSLR scanning is requested or required, it may be billed as two rolls of scanning or priced higher than normal DSLR scanning.

What if my camera switches between half-frame and full-frame?

Some cameras can shoot both half-frame and full-frame images on the same roll. This creates extra scanning work because the roll may need to be scanned more than once or handled manually.

If your roll contains both half-frame and full-frame images, additional scanning charges may apply.

Can you scan XPAN or panoramic frames?

Yes. We can scan XPAN and panoramic 35mm frames.

XPAN film is scanned on our Noritsu LS-600, which can perform true XPAN scanning. This allows us to scan the wider frame shape correctly instead of cropping it like a standard 35mm frame.

As with single-frame half-frame scanning, some customers may find the Noritsu LS-600 slightly softer than other scanning methods. For the best possible XPAN scan, our UHR scanning option is recommended. UHR costs more, but it can handle unusual frame shapes and sizes with better detail.

UHR scanning requires the film to be cut into strips before scanning.

Can you scan outside the sprocket holes?

We do not currently offer sprocket-hole scanning or scanning outside the normal frame area.

This is due to equipment limitations, time constraints, and the amount of manual work required. Our scanning is focused on producing clean, usable images from the photographed frame area.

What is UHR scanning?

UHR stands for Ultra High Resolution.

Our UHR scanner can accommodate many frame shapes and sizes, including standard 35mm, half-frame, XPAN, panoramic frames, and other unusual frame shapes. It is generally our best all-around option when maximum detail and flexibility are more important than speed or cost.

Our UHR scanner is technically capable of scanning a 35mm frame up to approximately 195 megapixels. However, the highest UHR option currently listed on the website is 55 megapixels, which is already more resolution than most 35mm film realistically needs for normal use.

UHR scanning requires the film to be cut into strips before scanning. If you want your film left uncut, UHR scanning may not be the right option.

What causes the most problems when scanning?

The biggest scanning problems usually come from cameras that do not produce standard frame sizes or standard frame spacing.

This includes:

Toy cameras
Half-frame cameras
XPAN / panoramic cameras
Sprocket-style cameras
Cameras with inconsistent frame spacing
Cameras with overlapping frames
Cameras that expose past the normal frame area
Damaged or malfunctioning cameras

Automated scanners are designed around standard frame sizes and predictable spacing. When the frames are irregular, too close together, overlapping, faint, dense, or poorly defined, scanning may require extra time, manual correction, or a different scanning method.

Why does special scanning take longer?

Special scanning usually takes longer because it does not move through the same workflow as standard film scanning.

Special scans may require:

Manual frame alignment
Manual cropping
Extra focus checks
Multiple scanner passes
Different film holders
Special scanner setup
TIFF, RAW, or higher-resolution file handling
More quality-control time

If the film is damaged, underexposed, badly spaced, curled, unusually dense, very thin, or difficult to identify frame-by-frame, scanning may take even longer.

Why can’t every roll be scanned with every option?

Some scanning methods require clearly defined frames, flat film, usable density, and predictable spacing.

If the frames are too faint, too dense, badly damaged, poorly spaced, or not well defined, certain scanning methods may not work properly. In those cases, we may need to use a different scanner or a different workflow to get the best practical result.

For example, if a requested DSLR scan cannot be done properly because of the condition of the film, we may use another scanner at the highest practical setting instead. If the issue is caused by the condition of the film, no refund is given for the difference in scanning method.

What file formats are available?

Our default scan format is JPEG.

Other formats are available depending on the scanning method:

Standard scans: JPEG by default; TIFF available by request or upgrade
DSLR scans: JPEG, TIFF, or unprocessed Canon CR2 RAW files by request
UHR scans: JPEG or TIFF
Other common formats: BMP, PNG, WebP, and other standard formats may be available by request

Most customers should choose JPEG unless they need files for professional editing, restoration, archiving, or printing.

What scanning option should I choose?

For most customers, standard or medium scans are the best choice for sharing, archiving, social media, and normal prints.

Choose high-resolution, UHR, or DSLR scanning if:

The photos are especially important
You want larger prints
You plan to edit the files heavily
The film is medium format or an unusual size
The film is being prepared for PhotoFlux restoration
You want the best practical scan from the negative

For expired film, higher resolution is not always the best choice. Medium or current high-resolution scanning often gives the best practical result, especially when PhotoFlux restoration is involved.

If you are unsure, contact us before ordering. It is easier to choose the correct scanning option before the film enters the workflow than to change it later.

Will special scanning add to my turnaround time?

Yes. Special scanning can add time to your order.

High-resolution scanning may add a few extra days. DSLR scanning can add significantly more time, especially for multiple rolls, damaged film, half-frame film, XPAN, panoramic film, or unusual formats.

Special scanning is an add-on service and is worked into the lab schedule separately from normal developing and scanning. Large special-scanning orders may be completed over multiple days instead of all at once.