A New Kind of Negative Film Inversion Tool

film Q is a web app that batch-inverts film scans (including large files) without the need to install software.

How does it work?

At its core is a simple, time-proven method for inverting film negatives: histogram equalization. Histogram equalization does not affect the original colour balance; it simply removes the base fog¹ from the inverted film scans. The result is greater creative control and a better understanding of the medium.

☝️ I’ve been using this method and the initial versions of the film Q code to invert the negatives on Analog.Cafe for the past four years! However, you should know that histogram equalization does not always produce finished colour positives — you may need to do your own colour correction afterward.

Because film Q does not process files on your device — everything is done on Analog.Cafe servers — you can control it with anything that has a web browser, like a Mac, an Android phone, an iPad, or that vintage Windows 95 computer.

film Q is made for batch processing. As the name suggests, you can queue up dozens or hundreds of film scans in one go and just let the app do its thing.

Combined with Dropbox (a cloud file storage with desktop and mobile app integrations), film Q can be used as a plug-in solution to your secure film negative archive. Once the conversion is complete, the service places clearly labelled processed files right next to your originals and adapts to your organizational system. This way, your files are easy to find and organize.

When can I try film Q?

film Q will be available to all Analog.Cafe GOLD members this spring.

Subscribe (free) to get notified when it goes live! 💌

Questions? Email [email protected].

¹ — Removing base fog is an approximate function of the histogram equalization technique when working with adequately scanned film negatives.