About Large Format Pro

Large Format Pro uses top-quality drum scanners and well-tested processes to convert your film into digital files.

About Bruce Watson, owner and sole employee

I'm a working fine-art photographer who is obsessed with creating excellent prints. You can see some of my work at AchromaticArts.com. The vast majority of my work is with 4x5 film, both black & white and color negatives. My workflow includes drum scanning the film, editing in Photoshop, and printing with inkjet printers. I make prints that range from about a 3x enlargement up to about 12x. For a 4x5 negative, that's a print that's about 150cm (60 in) long. This helps me understand what other photographers want from their scans.

I've been drum scanning for over six years now. In that time I've learned how to treat film to maintain its archival properties. In fact, I typically give the film back to you cleaner than I got it. I've learned a great deal about my scanner and its software. I've learned techniques that work and techniques that don't, and how to scan some difficult negatives. I've also learned that one never stops learning – that just when you think you have it down something else shows its fangs!

What sets Large Format Pro apart from other labs that offer drum scanning?

Your film is scanned by a large format photographer. I do more than just run a scanner all day. I'm involved in the entire workflow, from image capture to hanging framed prints. I do, I humbly assert, have a clue about what you want. I have made prints from bad scans and made prints from good scans; I know first hand how the quality of the scan effects the quality of the print.

I specialize in large format. I decided to give up the higher volume scanning business available from 35mm and medium format. There are many labs that focus on that business. I'm considerably more interested in taking my time to do a large scan correctly. It's similar to the more contemplative approach that large format photographers employ.

I specialize in negative film. Many people will tell you that negative film doesn't scan well. To that all I can say is “You should see my prints!” because I know from experience that negative films scan just fine. But they don't scan just like transparency films, and therein lies the problem perhaps. It takes desire and effort to learn how to properly scan negative films; I've paid my dues in this regard.

I'll do my best for you — you have my word

So, if you are a large format photographer or a panoramic photographer and you have transparency, color negative, or B&W negative film that you need drum scanned, please consider using the services offered by Large Format Pro. I'll do my best for you – you have my word on it.