Velvia 100 Processing in the United States?

Ten301 · 2025-07-28T19:46:47-0400

I know U.S. commercial labs can no longer process Fuji Velvia 100 due to environmental regulations. I don’t do home processing. I have 20 rolls of Velvia 100 that have been frozen since well before its expiration date, but I don’t quite know what to do with it. I’d like to use it, I loved the film when I could get it easily processed. Any suggestions that wouldn’t cost a fortune?

Thanks in advance.

mshchem · 2025-07-28T19:56:19-0400

No lab gives a hoot about whether it's Provia 100, Velvia 100 or anything else as long as it's E6. Put an ad in classified section.

Ten301 · 2025-07-28T20:09:08-0400

mshchem said:
No lab gives a hoot about whether it's Provia 100, Velvia 100 or anything else as long as it's E6. Put an ad in classified section.

Thanks. I’m just going by The Darkroom, for example. They state on their website that they cannot process Velvia 100. I don’t know, only what I’ve read. Seems to me a high production lab would just put it through their workflow, no problem. I just don’t want to go through the hassle of having film sent back, more chance of it getting lost, etc. Personally, I think the entire Velvia 100 ban in the U.S. is silly; the rest of the world has no problem with it.

Hasslebad · 2025-07-28T20:29:21-0400

Try calling The Great American Film Lab (formerly North Coast Photo). https://northcoastphoto.com/

They can tell you if they have any limitations. Their website doesn’t say anything about Fuji Velvia 100.

Wayne · 2025-07-29T00:21:06-0400

Try Canada. You're just across a puddle from them.

Taylor Nankervis · 2025-07-29T01:03:57-0400

Ten301 said:
Personally, I think the entire Velvia 100 ban in the U.S. is silly; the rest of the world has no problem with it.

Yes it is silly...trivial and inconsequential, in context with the myriad other things that could/should/must be banned in the US! We looked on in amazement here in Australia when the announcement was made a few years back regarding prohibited processing of Velvia 100. It most definitely is processed in Australia along with just about every other film.

mshchem · 2025-07-29T01:16:33-0400

Regarding US ban on Velvia 100 "what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you."

I have the chemistry, the film and a Jobo.

Daniël Oosterhuis · 2025-07-29T04:13:24-0400

mshchem said:
No lab gives a hoot about whether it's Provia 100, Velvia 100 or anything else as long as it's E6. Put an ad in classified section.

Not entirely true.
From what I've heard, a lot of smaller labs will still do it "under the table" so to speak, but the bigger ones (like The Darkroom mentioned above) seem to want to play it safe by refusing V100 outright.

I doubt the EPA is about to bust film labs for developing the stuff, though.

loccdor · 2025-07-29T06:04:22-0400

First I heard of a lab not accepting it. I home process it and it comes out to just over $3 rolls for the chemicals or about $8 per roll if I rate my time at $10/hr.

My reason for home processing it is less risk of loss of pictures and less gunk on the photos. I did try a few E-6 labs before coming to that decision.

runswithsizzers · 2025-07-29T08:56:07-0400

I have shot a lot of slide film, but I've never processed any E6 at home. Here is a question for those that do process E6 at home:

If a person can follow instructions, is DIY processing -- using a stainless steel reel and tank (no JOBO), and an E6 chemistry kit -- a sure thing? That is, how often do you get unexpected results, color shifts, etc. despite strictly following the kit instructions? And is there anything to "learn" from experience or testing when processing E6, such as when to deviate from the manufacturer's instructions to get acceptable results?

I guess what I am trying to find out is this, if a person has 20 rolls of slide film, how many of those rolls are likely to be wasted/ruined by a beginner while learning the process of DIY color reversal processing?

ChrisGalway · 2025-07-29T08:56:37-0400

(i) Send it to Canada or Europe for processing?

(ii) Process it yourself using the Adox or Bellini kits (the best), it really is not hard and it's hugely rewarding to open the tank at the end and unravel those beautiful colour sides! The main thing is to ensure you get the temperature right, 38deg +/- 0.5 and depending on the agitation method you might have to extend the 1st Dev time by a minute or so.

Spektrum · 2025-07-29T09:14:07-0400

ChrisGalway said:
Send it to Canada or Europe for processing?

I'm curious if postal or courier shipments are currently being X-ray scanned? This would be my biggest concern when sending anything internationally.

Wayne · 2025-07-29T09:23:18-0400

Spektrum said:
I'm curious if postal or courier shipments are currently being X-ray scanned? This would be my biggest concern when sending anything internationally.

OP lives in Michigan. As of last week Michigan was still immediately adjacent to Canada. Chances are Toronto is a roundtrip daytrip away.

Wayne · 2025-07-29T09:29:57-0400

HOME | e6it

www.e6it.ca

Wayne · 2025-07-29T09:59:25-0400

At the other end, https://www.agximaging.com/ is in the Soo

Alan Edward Klein · 2025-07-29T10:12:40-0400

Worse than Velvia 100 being banned is Fuji stopped producing Velvia 50 in large format.

loccdor · 2025-07-29T11:15:51-0400

runswithsizzers said:
I have shot a lot of slide film, but I've never processed any E6 at home. Here is a question for those that do process E6 at home:

If a person can follow instructions, is DIY processing -- using a stainless steel reel and tank (no JOBO), and an E6 chemistry kit -- a sure thing? That is, how often do you get unexpected results, color shifts, etc. despite strictly following the kit instructions? And is there anything to "learn" from experience or testing when processing E6, such as when to deviate from the manufacturer's instructions to get acceptable results?

I guess what I am trying to find out is this, if a person has 20 rolls of slide film, how many of those rolls are likely to be wasted/ruined by a beginner while learning the process of DIY color reversal processing?

I can only speak for a plastic 3-reel Paterson tank. I never lost any rolls with it from E-6 kits over the years. I don't need a sous vide, a stoppered double sink with a good hot water connection and a mercury thermometer have been fine for me.

The only disappointing results I have ever gotten from E-6 were from film that was too expired. I don't consider it harder than C-41 (and not really much harder than B&W either).

I mainly use the Film Photography Project kits now as they cost $38. I've tried Adox/Tetenal/Unicolor as well, didn't notice a difference.

ChrisGalway · 2025-07-29T11:42:34-0400

runswithsizzers said:
I have shot a lot of slide film, but I've never processed any E6 at home. Here is a question for those that do process E6 at home:

If a person can follow instructions, is DIY processing -- using a stainless steel reel and tank (no JOBO), and an E6 chemistry kit -- a sure thing? That is, how often do you get unexpected results, color shifts, etc. despite strictly following the kit instructions? And is there anything to "learn" from experience or testing when processing E6, such as when to deviate from the manufacturer's instructions to get acceptable results?

I guess what I am trying to find out is this, if a person has 20 rolls of slide film, how many of those rolls are likely to be wasted/ruined by a beginner while learning the process of DIY color reversal processing?

I find that, with my processing technique, I need to give Provia 100f a longer 1st Dev time than the 6min15sec stated in the kits (Adox 3/4 bath, Bellini 6/7 bath). I say "my processing technique": I use a Paterson tank pre-warmed as in the instructions, inversion agitation 12 times per minute and a large water bath at roughly 40deg. It takes around 20-25sec to do the inversions (out of the water bath), and then the tank is put back in the warm water bath ... but I've never kept a continuous monitoring of the actual temperature of the 1st Dev ... the most critical step.

My advice for a non-jobo user is to develop your first film giving around 7min15sec ... and then take it from there. If it's too light (and you think the exposures were correct) there reduce the 1st Dev time a bit, if it's too dark, increase the 1st Dev time a bit for the next film.

With 20 rolls, you would be unlucky to "lose" even one, in my opinion, two at the most. Remember to increase the 1st Dev time as you re-use the solutions as specified in the instructions.

EricTheReddish · 2025-07-29T12:39:52-0400

My local lab recently processed some Velvia 100 for me without batting an eye. *shrug*

Spektrum · 2025-07-29T12:44:59-0400

Wayne said:
OP lives in Michigan. As of last week Michigan was still immediately adjacent to Canada. Chances are Toronto is a roundtrip daytrip away.

@Wayne, Thanks for the info. My concern was more about the suggestion of sending it to Europe for development.

Ten301 said:
I don’t do home processing.

I would suggest you consider developing these films yourself at home. It's not much more difficult than black and white. These days, with sous vide devices becoming increasingly popular and affordable, maintaining the process temperature isn't beyond the capabilities of the average home user. However, the fun you'll get from it is priceless!

Spektrum · 2025-07-29T12:48:28-0400

EricTheReddish said:
My local lab recently processed some Velvia 100 for me without batting an eye. *shrug*

@Ten301 I think your problem has just been solved

EricTheReddish · 2025-07-29T12:49:38-0400

Dwayne's Photo in Kansas looks like they'd process Velvia 100. Their photo for E-6 processing shows a roll of it, and I couldn't find any mention of a restriction.

Ten301 · 2025-07-29T14:17:15-0400

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I abandoned developing film at home (b&w) several years ago after a severe allergic reaction to one of the chemicals. It was never determined which, I don’t think they actually tried to find out, but I was told by my doctors at the time to give up the hobby, which I did immediately. So, I’ll be reaching out to the commercial labs suggested.

Thank you again!

Disconnekt · 2025-07-29T14:55:06-0400

Spektrum said:
I'm curious if postal or courier shipments are currently being X-ray scanned? This would be my biggest concern when sending anything internationally.

UPS wont shipped shot/undeveloped film, since they put them through a CT scanner even for ground shipping (htldr what they told me last year here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/seems-ups-wont-mail-undevelop-film.204643/#post-2766460)

MattKing · 2025-07-29T14:58:31-0400

Wayne said:
OP lives in Michigan. As of last week Michigan was still immediately adjacent to Canada. Chances are Toronto is a roundtrip daytrip away.

Or head south to Windsor

Velvia 100 Processing in the United States?

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