Frequently Asked Questions

The Panchrome Project is an analog film store, film processing service and community in India. Our mission is to make analog photography viable, sustainable and accessible, without compromising on quality, integrity or intent.

Born in India and shaped by global analog cultures, we exist to strengthen the foundation of film photography in a country rich with talent but historically limited by access.

The Panchrome Project is backed by international photographer Vishal Kullarwar, whose editorial, commercial and personal work has been shaped by film. Every film stock we source, every workflow we enable and every partnership we build is informed by real use, not theory or trends.

We keep our markups intentionally minimal, just enough to sustain operations and keep film within reach.

Some costs cannot be avoided, such as import duties on imported film and GST. We believe in fair pricing, transparent sourcing and responsible growth. A portion of our proceeds also supports humanitarian efforts beyond photography, because community should extend beyond borders.

Our Mumbai studio is at Silver Queen Apartment, Soona Wala Agiary Lane, Mahim, Mumbai 400016. Drop offs and pickups happen there. Please message us before you visit so someone is on hand to help.

• Film orders on WhatsApp: +91 98203 71403 or +91 97021 71403
• General enquiries: +91 98202 71403
• Drop offs and pickups: +91 97021 71403
• Support: support@panchromeproject.com
• Film processing and scanning: lab@panchromeproject.com
• Shipping: shipping@panchromeproject.com
• Accounts and invoices: accounts@panchromeproject.com

Phone and email support runs Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6:30 PM.

Yes, we are all ears. Send us a message or an email with your idea. Requests for films and chemistry help us decide what to bring in next.

We offer hands-on internships in film photography, design and ecommerce at our Mumbai studio. Visit our Work With Us page to see what is open and how to apply.

Panchrome Connect is your film-photography home. One account lets you buy film, log your rolls, send them for processing, receive your scans and follow every order. Shoot. Send. Track.

Yes, to use Connect and to send film for processing. You can continue with Google, or ask for a one-time code by email. There is no password to remember.

No. Sign in with the same email address you used at the store and your account will be there waiting.

The Roll Vault is your digital film shelf. Film you buy appears under My Films. You can log each roll with its camera, lens, film, ISO, exposure and priority, so you always know what you shot and how.

A logged roll keeps its story together. When you send a roll for processing, the details travel with it, which means fewer mistakes and fewer questions later.

Open the roll in your Roll Vault and send it to Film Processing. It becomes a processing order. You then review your estimate, pay, download your order form and shipping label, pack your film and ship it to us.

Open Orders to see each order with its status and payment state. Open Notifications for updates, and tap the plus on a card to see more.

Those sections are still being built. We will share news in our newsletter and WhatsApp community when they are ready.

Open Profile, edit your details and save. They will be there the next time you sign in.

Try the email code again, or sign in with Google. If it still does not work, write to support@panchromeproject.com from the email address you used.

We only ask for what we need to run your orders. Please read our Privacy Policy to see how your information is handled.

We source fresh and expired film stocks, rare and discontinued emulsions, and motion picture films adapted for still photography, because character matters. Our store focuses on 35mm and 120 film.

Fresh film is within its expiry date. A film marked 09/2030 is at its best until September 2030.

Expired film is past that date. A film that expired in 05/2004 is more than twenty years past it. Expired film can be beautiful, but it behaves less predictably.

Our rule of thumb is to overexpose by one stop for every decade past expiry. A film that expired in 2002 is over two decades old, so we shoot it about two stops over the meter reading.

Many photographers disagree and have their own methods, so research and trust your own. This is simply what has worked for us.

Motion picture film, such as Kodak Vision3, is made for cinema cameras. Respooled into still canisters, it works in 35mm still cameras and has a look all its own.

Colour cine stocks carry a remjet backing, so they need ECN-2 processing, not regular C-41. Our ECN-2 service includes remjet removal.

Quickloads (QL) and Readyloads (RL) are discontinued sealed packet films for large format cameras. They need no changing bag or film holders, only a special QL or RL holder, which made them great for travel. Some Readyloads come with chemistry in the packet. The 545i is the most widely used RL holder. If you need a holder, ask us and we will help.

Refrigerate film as soon as it arrives. In hot, humid places such as coastal India, a fridge matters even more. Keep unused film cool and dark, away from heat, sunlight and humidity, because storage can change how film behaves.

Our film is cold stored by our sources and kept in temperature-controlled fridges with us until it ships.

About six to eight hours. Take it out the night before and keep it in a cool, dark spot such as a drawer or cupboard. With 120 film, shooting it too cold can cause mottling, where the backing paper sticks to the emulsion.

We share new arrivals, restocks and seasonal offers through our newsletter, our WhatsApp community and Instagram at @thepanchromeproject.

Yes. Tell us the film and format and we will try to source it for a future drop.

Most films use standard processes. A few older films were made for processes that are no longer available. Read up on the film before you shoot it, and ask us if you are unsure. Experimenting is part of the fun.

We carry selected darkroom equipment from partner brands, along with Panchrome merchandise. Browse the store, or tell us what you need and we will try to help.

1. Sign in to Panchrome Connect.
2. Open Film & Scanning and choose a processing batch.
3. Add each roll and choose its development and scan options.
4. Review your estimate, then check out securely.
5. Download your processing order and shipping label.
6. Pack your rolls, attach the label and ship them to us.

We take care of the rest.

• C-41 colour negative: ₹825 per roll
• ECN-2 motion picture film: ₹975 per roll
• Black and white: ₹825 per roll
• Black and white reversal: ₹1,400 per roll
• E-6 colour slide: ₹1,475 per roll

Prices include development and basic scans. 18% GST is extra.

Most film is processed in collaboration with Darkroom8, an experienced specialist film lab in Malaysia. We coordinate the batches, paperwork and movement of your film from start to finish.

Speciality black and white processing is done in house at our Mumbai studio, using a range of chemistries.

Darkroom8 gives our community access to dedicated analog expertise, professional equipment and a wider range of processes, handled through scheduled batches. Location does not decide quality. Chemical control, consistency, technician experience, scanner calibration and careful handling do.

Your result also depends on how the film was exposed, its age and how it was stored.

Yes. For speciality black and white work, such as particular developers or unusual stocks, we process in house in Mumbai using multiple chemistries. Message lab@panchromeproject.com before you send your film so we can talk through the best approach.

35mm and 120. For 35mm we can also scan standard frames, half-frame photographs and panoramic frames. Common medium format frame sizes shot on 120 are supported.

Yes. Every roll includes development and standard JPEG scans of approximately 2000 by 3000 pixels.

Yes. You can upgrade to high-resolution JPEGs of up to approximately 6000 by 4000 pixels, or choose TIFF files for more editing flexibility. These are charged per roll, and the price appears in your estimate.

Depending on the film and service, scans come from Noritsu 900, Noritsu 1800 and Fuji Frontier scanners. Black and white reversal film is scanned on an Epson V850.

You will receive a permanent Dropbox link to view and download your files once processing and scanning are complete. We suggest downloading and backing up your scans as soon as you get them.

Yes, for supported film types, when you add your roll. It is charged per stop, per roll. Please check that the adjustment is set on the correct roll.

Yes. ECN-2 processing is available for Kodak Vision3 and other compatible motion picture stocks, and it includes remjet removal.

Yes. Every roll is configured on its own, so one batch can have different processes, scan sizes and push or pull instructions.

Put rolls in protective containers or a secure, moisture-resistant pouch, and pack them in a sturdy outer box. Put the processing order inside and attach the shipping label clearly on the outside. Please do not send loose rolls in a courier envelope.

It depends on the batch, the process, the shipping schedule and the number of rolls. Timelines are estimates and start once your film has been received and checked in. E-6 and reversal processes take longer.

Yes. Choose the negative return option on your order. A handling charge applies, and any return shipping is calculated by destination. Negatives travel in special tamper-proof envelopes so they stay flat and safe.

Development cannot guarantee usable images, because results depend on the film's age, storage, exposure, camera and past handling. Processing charges still apply, because the chemical process has been done. If the lab notices something unusual, we will contact you where we can.

Undeveloped film can be affected by strong X-ray or CT scanners, especially fast film or film scanned many times. We pack film carefully, ship it marked Do Not X-ray and work with our partners to limit scanning. Screening is controlled by the authorities, so we cannot promise full protection.

If you are sending very high-speed, infrared or otherwise sensitive film, contact us first.

Each roll is priced by the process it needs. The base price includes development and standard JPEG scans. Extras apply only when you choose them: high-resolution JPEGs, TIFF files, push or pull, half-frame or panoramic scanning, and negative return. Your estimate in Connect shows the full total, with 18% GST, before you pay.

Yes. Our Film Archive shows images from our community, processed and scanned at Darkroom8.

You pay at checkout, on the store or in Connect. Payment options include UPI, debit and credit cards and net banking.

Yes. Payments go through a secure, established payment gateway, and we do not store your card details. If anything goes wrong with a payment, tell us and we will look into it.

Please do not pay again straight away. Failed payments are usually reversed by your bank within a few working days. If yours is not, write to accounts@panchromeproject.com with a screenshot and the transaction reference.

No. We do not offer cash on delivery.

Lab prices are shown before 18% GST, and your estimate in Connect adds it, so you see the full total before you pay.

Yes. Send us your GST number when you order, or write to accounts@panchromeproject.com, and we will include it on your invoice.

Across India, in cities and rural areas alike, and internationally.

Standard shipping is free across India. A few exceptions apply:

• Orders below ₹2,500 to Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur carry an extra shipping charge.
• Sikkim, Leh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep always carry an extra charge.
• Single film orders carry an extra shipping charge.
• Pincodes our default courier cannot serve move to express shipping, at extra cost.

Any extra charge is shared with you before dispatch.

We aim to process and ship orders within 1 to 2 business days. Orders placed on weekends or public holidays are processed the next business day. After dispatch, estimated delivery is:

• Metro cities: 1 to 4 business days
• Other cities and towns: 5 to 7 business days
• Remote areas: 7 to 10 business days
• International: 3 to 5 business days, subject to zone and customs

These are estimates. Weather, courier delays and holidays can add time.

Delhivery is our default for India. Express shipping, with Blue Dart or DTDC, is optional and starts at ₹450 depending on location, weight and parcel size. We share the charge before dispatch and ship once it is cleared. Photographic chemistry always travels by Delhivery, not express. International orders go by DHL Express.

For Mumbai and Thane you can arrange same-day pickup from our studio with a courier app such as Porter or Swiggy Genie. Message us first so your order is ready.

Once your order ships, we send a tracking number by email, SMS or WhatsApp. Use it on our courier partner's website. Orders placed through Connect also appear under Orders.

Contact us within 1 to 3 hours of placing your order. Once an order is booked or in transit, the address cannot be changed.

Please speak with the delivery agent, who will try up to two times. If delivery still fails, the parcel comes back to us and we will contact you about re-shipping. Extra shipping and return charges may apply.

Yes, by DHL Express. Shipping charges depend on weight, size and pincode, and are shared before dispatch. Import duties and taxes in your country are your responsibility, and we do not collect them. Film ships marked Do Not X-ray.

In eco-friendly, tamper-proof packaging. Returned negatives go in special envelopes so they do not bend.

Please record a short video or take clear photos as you open it, and write to support@panchromeproject.com within 24 to 48 hours with your order number.

No. Film is a consumable, so we do not accept returns or exchanges, including for a change of mind. This protects our film stock chain: returned film could have been exposed to heat or humidity, and we cannot risk passing it on.

Orders placed with the wrong product, quantity or variant are not eligible for return, refund or exchange. You are welcome to swap or sell with fellow photographers through community channels, at your own discretion.

We cannot guarantee results on any film, fresh or expired. Exposure, storage, age and processing all play a part, so results alone are not grounds for a refund. Read about the film you buy, experiment, and enjoy the surprises. We are all learning.

Film is sensitive to heat and humidity. Mottling, emulsion breakdown and rusted canisters can come from poor storage, and we cannot refund or replace film for that. Please refrigerate your film as soon as it arrives.

Our chemistry is freshly imported and carefully packed. Once it is delivered, storage is the buyer's responsibility. Heat, sunlight or air can cause separation, crystallisation or discolouration, and we cannot replace chemistry for that.

Equipment from partner brands such as Jobo and Cinestill is covered by the maker's warranty. Report a fault within 24 to 48 hours of delivery by email, with clear photos or video. Claims need vendor approval, and any customs duty on a replacement is paid by the buyer.

If we cannot fulfil your order, for example the film is out of stock at source, we will tell you and refund you. If only a smaller quantity is available, we will send a revised estimate, and the balance is refunded or kept as credit for your next purchase.

We will email you a refund receipt or a payment notification. If you choose credit, it is deducted from your next invoice and shown on it.

We bring in developers, fixers, stabilisers and other photographic chemistry, mostly on request. Message us to check what is available.

Tell us what you need and how much, through our contact page or on WhatsApp. We will confirm availability and price before you pay.

If it can be sourced, we will help. Tell us what you are looking for.

India has import rules for hazardous chemicals. Some, such as E-6 chemistry and wet plate collodion, fall into those categories, so some vendors will not ship them here. We try alternate shippers and the most workable route, and we will tell you about any extra cost in advance.

Follow the maker's instructions. As a rule, keep chemistry sealed, cool and dark, away from heat, sunlight and open air. Poor storage can cause separation, crystals or colour changes.

The Analog Table is our community series, built on a simple idea: photographers grow faster, and love the craft more, when they are in the same room as the people who have been doing it longer. It is a recurring gathering where film photographers, from someone on their first roll to someone with twenty years of negatives, sit across from senior working professionals and simply talk. Each edition features a different guest.

Join our free WhatsApp community, sign up for the newsletter and follow @thepanchromeproject on Instagram. You will hear about new film, events and offers first.

We announce each edition in our WhatsApp community and on Instagram. Spots are limited, so we ask you to register.

A gallery of images from our community, processed and scanned at Darkroom8. Browse it to see what different films and processes look like.

Tag @thepanchromeproject on Instagram and we may share your work. Credit always goes to you.