Janet H Walker on tue 6 jan 98
Diane wrote about Seattle Filmworks:
...option of getting back slides, prints, and/or digitized images
I've tried this for two orders. In contrast to Diane's good experience,
both orders were two week turnaround (although I paid for priority mail
in the second case. If you don't they return your order by Bulk Mail.)
The scanned images require a computer with 24-bit color so be aware
before you pay for the images of whether you'll be able to use them.
The images are 640x480 supposedly. That is the same aspect ratio as
35 mm film and so one would expect to have the full image
represented in the scan. This was not the case. The scan clipped
the image as opposed to showing the full negative or slide. Since I
had photos of paintings that I was hoping to use in a brochure, I
was quite disappointed. In fact, disgusted. So, maybe it will work
for you but it depends on what your needs are and also on the
prevailing winds from Seattle.
Regards,
Jan Walker
Cambridge MA USA
Ron Wright on wed 7 jan 98
I also tried Seattle Filmworks. It was a very bad experience. After 2
weeks of waiting (I paid for express) I figured that the stuff was lost
in the mail. After another week and 10 phone calls, trying to get a
refund, the order showed up in my mailbox, post marked 2 days earlier.
Use them at your own risk.
Ron Wright
Shiresham Pottery
http://www.concentric.net/~wrright
Janet H Walker wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Diane wrote about Seattle Filmworks:
> ...option of getting back slides, prints, and/or digitized images
>
> I've tried this for two orders. In contrast to Diane's good experience,
> both orders were two week turnaround (although I paid for priority mail
> in the second case. If you don't they return your order by Bulk Mail.)
>
> The scanned images require a computer with 24-bit color so be aware
> before you pay for the images of whether you'll be able to use them.
>
> The images are 640x480 supposedly. That is the same aspect ratio as
> 35 mm film and so one would expect to have the full image
> represented in the scan. This was not the case. The scan clipped
> the image as opposed to showing the full negative or slide. Since I
> had photos of paintings that I was hoping to use in a brochure, I
> was quite disappointed. In fact, disgusted. So, maybe it will work
> for you but it depends on what your needs are and also on the
> prevailing winds from Seattle.
>
> Regards,
> Jan Walker
> Cambridge MA USA
defaultuser@domain.com on fri 9 jan 98
Dear Clayarters,
I've used Seatle filmworks many many times and always with great service
and quality. Returned film in less than 1 week and the digitized images
downloaded from their website were great. If you have a problem contact
the company immediately and give them an opportunity to solve the
issue. this is only fair with any business transaction.
Paul :-))
Ron Wright wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I also tried Seattle Filmworks. It was a very bad experience. After 2
> weeks of waiting (I paid for express) I figured that the stuff was
> lost
> in the mail. After another week and 10 phone calls, trying to get a
> refund, the order showed up in my mailbox, post marked 2 days earlier.
>
> Use them at your own risk.
>
> Ron Wright
> Shiresham Pottery
> http://www.concentric.net/~wrright
>
> Janet H Walker wrote:
> >
> > ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> > Diane wrote about Seattle Filmworks:
> > ...option of getting back slides, prints, and/or digitized
> images
> >
> > I've tried this for two orders. In contrast to Diane's good
> experience,
> > both orders were two week turnaround (although I paid for priority
> mail
> > in the second case. If you don't they return your order by Bulk
> Mail.)
> >
> > The scanned images require a computer with 24-bit color so be aware
> > before you pay for the images of whether you'll be able to use them.
>
> >
> > The images are 640x480 supposedly. That is the same aspect ratio as
>
> > 35 mm film and so one would expect to have the full image
> > represented in the scan. This was not the case. The scan clipped
> > the image as opposed to showing the full negative or slide. Since I
>
> > had photos of paintings that I was hoping to use in a brochure, I
> > was quite disappointed. In fact, disgusted. So, maybe it will work
>
> > for you but it depends on what your needs are and also on the
> > prevailing winds from Seattle.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jan Walker
> > Cambridge MA USA
freewill on fri 9 jan 98
The film that Seattle Filmworks distributes is actually cinema film
(err...what they use in hollywood to shoot movies) that's past its "best
if used by..." date. That's why it can be developed as prints OR slides,
and it also accounts for the variations in quality (as well as why it's
so cheap.) Suffice it to say, it's a company that cuts corners and I would
never expect consistent enough results for portfolio slides.
No mattter where you buy your film, you should *always* check the "use by"
date, and purchase only the "freshest" rolls (those are the ones with the
use by date *farthest* away in the future). Yes, those rolls that are on
sale are always the oldest ones, so pass them by if you can afford to. You
should also use that roll and turn it in for processing as soon as
possible after purchase. It DOES make a difference.
Presentation, as they say, is everything.
best of luck,
jenni
Daryl Baird on fri 9 jan 98
Greetings All,
Saw the evaluations of Seattle FilmWorks and had to jump in. I've had
some of the same experiences previously noted, but I've also been
pleased with SFW since opting to download my photos from their site when
ready. They send me an e-mail letting me know and I hop over and get my
file. Easy. The prints and disk follow in the mail later. To get the
most from a service like this, buy their software for adjusting your
images, or another package like it.
Daryl Baird
Loveland Artworks
Loveland, CO
Bill Aycock on sat 10 jan 98
Clayarters- this is an unfair blast from an anonymous source. (signed Paul,
but from "defaultuser@domain.com"-- really!)
Most of the adverse comments I read were concerning poor service, that was
NOT clearable by any contantct with the "works". In fact, most included
reference to contact NOT doing any good.
One problem with poor processing is that IT CANNOT BE CORRECTED !!. Once
developed, thats it.
I have tried Seattle for routine processing, including digitizing, and was
not happy. We use Dale labes in Fla for routine documentation, and a local
lab for critical slide work. Dale gives me slides, prints, and Kodak CD
disks from Print film. I have compared consecutive rolls at Dale and
Seattle, both to be digitized, (both supposedly on the same kind of
equipment), and Seattle lost, by a significant margin.
At 10:43 AM 1/9/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Dear Clayarters,
>
>I've used Seatle filmworks many many times and always with great service
>and quality. Returned film in less than 1 week and the digitized images
>downloaded from their website were great. If you have a problem contact
>the company immediately and give them an opportunity to solve the
>issue. this is only fair with any business transaction.
>
>Paul :-))
Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill
Woodville, Alabama, US 35776
(in the N.E. corner of the State)
W4BSG -- Grid EM64vr
baycock@HiWAAY.net
Carl meigs on mon 12 jan 98
Folks who are dissatisfied with Seattle FW might try Mystic Color Lab,
especially if you are east of the Mississippi. They provide a similar
service using Kodak film. I haven't had disasters with Seattle, but they
have come close trying my patience, especially on the matter of not sending
things
by fast methods I have paid for.
Check out Mystic at www.mysticcolorlab.com
Carl Meigs
meigs@neca.com
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