Professional drum scanning services in Europe & worldwide

Analog Perfection Digitized.

“Heidelberg Tango drum scans for film photographers, artists and archives who need every important frame digitised properly.”

Order drum scans See drum scan prices

At wescan.film we specialise in professional drum film scanning on a Heidelberg Tango. Mail your 35mm, 120 or large format film to Riga and receive 16-bit scans ready for editing, printing and archive use.

Heidelberg Tango drum scanner detail in the wescan.film scanning lab

Film scanning lab in Riga

Professional Heidelberg Tango drum scanning from Riga to the world.

wescan.film is a specialist drum film scanning lab for photographers, artists, archives and labs who need high-resolution 16-bit TIFF files from 35mm, 120 and large format film.

From one selected frame to a full archive, the work is handled carefully: clean film, wet mounting when needed, scanner settings matched to the original, and files prepared for print, editing and long-term preservation.

Services

Professional film scanning for serious final files.

Choose drum scanning when the frame needs more than a quick lab file: cleaner shadow separation, controlled highlights, fine grain, and 16-bit TIFF files that can be printed, edited and archived with confidence.

Heidelberg Tango drum scanning

High-end PMT drum scans for photographers, artists, archives and labs who need more than a standard flatbed or minilab scan.

Professional mail-in film scanning

Send selected film frames to Riga from Europe or worldwide, then receive carefully prepared files for editing, print, online publication or long-term archive.

35mm, 120 and large format film

Scan 35mm film, 120 roll film, 4×5, 5×7 and 8×10 sheet film with a workflow built around important frames.

16-bit TIFF output

Receive flexible 16-bit TIFF files with clean shadow detail, controlled highlights and colour that is ready for serious post-production.

Film formats

35mm, 120 and large format drum scanning.

Different film formats need different handling. 35mm, medium format and sheet film all respond differently on the drum, so scan size and setup are matched to the original and the final use.

35mm drum scanning

For selected 35mm negatives and slides that need more detail, better shadows and cleaner print files than a normal lab scan.

120 film scanning

Ideal for Hasselblad, Mamiya, Pentax 67, Rolleiflex and other medium format negatives where tone and grain matter.

Large format scanning

4×5, 5×7 and 8×10 film scans for fine art, gallery prints, editorial work and archive reproduction.

Archive film scanning

Careful digitisation for collections, photographer archives, estates and fragile originals that need calm handling.

Slide film scanning

E6 and transparency film scanning with highlight control and colour separation for dense, contrasty originals.

Black and white scanning

16-bit monochrome scans with clean grain, open shadows and files that print beautifully.

Mail-in process

From film frame to final TIFF.

A simple mail-in workflow for selected negatives, slides and archive frames that need proper high-resolution scanning.

Choose the frames

Send only the frames that matter. Drum scanning is best used for portfolio images, exhibitions, archives and print files.

Mail your film

Send negatives or slides to wescan.film in Riga, Latvia. We confirm the order before scanning.

Wet-mounted scan

Selected frames are mounted and scanned on a Heidelberg Tango for sharpness, tonal range and clean geometry.

Download your files

Final scans are delivered as high-quality TIFF files, with your original film returned by post when required.

Mail-in scanning

Based in Riga. Built for Europe and worldwide clients.

Wescan.film is a mail-in drum scanning service based in Riga, Latvia. You can send selected film frames or slides from Europe, the UK, the US and other countries, then receive finished 16-bit TIFF scan files by download.

This is best for final selects, exhibition work, books, large prints, professional portfolios and archive material where a standard lab scan is not enough.

Heidelberg Tango drum scanner for professional drum film scanning at wescan.film in Riga — Heidelberg Tango drum scanner

A real Heidelberg Tango drum scanner, built for serious film work.

Our Heidelberg Tango is a dedicated PMT drum scanner designed for high-end film reproduction. Film is scanned dot by dot, with careful setup rather than a fast batch-lab workflow.

Kodak Ektar 100 sample drum scan showing colour, grain and landscape detail — Kodak Ektar 100 sample scan

Kodak Ektar 100 drum scan with vivid colour and fine grain.

Kodak Ektar 100 is known for saturated colour, strong contrast and very fine grain. A good drum scan keeps that crisp, clean look while holding detail for large prints and careful colour work.

Kodak Portra 400 negative drum scan example with soft colour and tonal detail — Kodak Portra 400 scan

Kodak Portra 400 film scan with soft tone and natural colour.

Portra 400 is valued for gentle contrast, smooth skin tones and flexible exposure latitude. A 16-bit drum scan gives photographers room to refine colour and density without breaking the file.

Kodak E100 slide film drum scan example with controlled highlights and colour separation — Kodak E100 drum scan

Kodak E100 slide film scan with clear colour and precise highlights.

Kodak E100 has a clean, sharp transparency look with vivid but controlled colour and very fine grain. Because slide film is less forgiving, careful scanning helps preserve highlight detail and separation.

Archival film scanning example for preserving photographic negatives and transparency collections — Archival film scanning

Archive scanning for important originals.

Archive scanning turns vulnerable originals into long-term working files without reducing the value of the film itself. For collections, estates and publication work, a careful 16-bit scan is an investment in access, preservation and future use.

PMT vs CCD scanning

In what way is a PMT scanner better than a CCD scanner?

A PMT drum scanner reads light with extremely high sensitivity, which is especially useful for dense negatives, transparency film and subtle shadow detail. CCD scanners can be practical, but they usually cannot match the tonal separation, wet-mounted flatness and final-file flexibility of a good drum scan.

PMT drum scanner

Best for: Best for final selects, exhibitions, books, archive work and large prints.

A photomultiplier tube reads very small changes in light, helping separate dense shadows, fine grain and delicate tones.

CCD scanner

Best for: Useful for contact sheets, quick previews and lower budget archive browsing.

Convenient, but usually weaker in dense shadows and less controlled with film flatness and edge-to-edge focus.

Camera scan

Best for: Useful for professional 16-bit TIFF camera scans when a drum scan is not required or a faster workflow is more suitable.

We also scan with a medium-format Fujifilm 100MP system, producing detailed 16-bit TIFF files. It is a controlled professional workflow, while PMT drum scanning remains the best choice for final archive, exhibition and difficult dense film.

Minilab scan

Best for: Fine for everyday rolls, social sharing and fast delivery.

Practical, but usually not the final file for serious print or publication work.

Output

Files made for print, archive and editing.

Final scans are prepared as flexible 16-bit TIFF files for editing, retouching, printing and long-term storage.

FrameStatusOutput

35mm E100Scanned16-bit TIFF

120 PortraWet mountArchive L

4×5 B&WQueuedPrint file

Prices

Simple drum scan pricing.

A quick guide to common drum scan prices. Full project quotes are available for archives, books and larger batches of selected frames.

Original	Price M	Price L	File size M	File size L
35mm	€18	€23	140 MB	322 MB
645	€19	€28	296 MB	771 MB
6×6	€25	€38	394 MB	1 GB
6×7	€29	€44	460 MB	1.2 GB
4×5 / 5×7 / 8×10	€55	€78	466 MB	1.23 GB

Minimum order: €50. Prices include 21% VAT. Large archive jobs can be quoted separately.

Explore wescan.film

Helpful pages before you order a drum scan.

Use these pages to choose the right scanning route: Heidelberg Tango drum scans, scan sizes, negative conversion, examples, pricing and ordering details.

Service

Drum scanning service

The full overview of Heidelberg Tango drum scanning, best use cases and output.

Open page →

Scanner

Heidelberg Tango

Wet mounting, PMT capture and why the scanner matters for difficult film.

Open page →

Proof

Drum scan examples

Sample scans, crop guides and real film examples for judging quality.

See examples →

Prices

Film scanning prices

35mm, 120 and large format scan prices, including M and L file sizes.

View prices →

Guide

Scan sizes M vs L

Choose the right scan size for print, cropping, archiving and client delivery.

Read guide →

Guide

Negative conversion

Scan-only versus converted files, especially for C-41 colour negative film.

Read guide →

FAQ

Questions people ask before ordering a drum scan.

Clear answers before you mail your film.

What is drum film scanning?

Drum film scanning is a high-end way to digitise film by mounting it on a rotating drum and reading the image with a very sensitive optical system. It is used when detail, tonal range and print quality matter.

Do you scan 35mm and 120 film?

Yes. wescan.film scans 35mm, 120 medium format and large format film, including colour negatives, black and white negatives and slide film.

Can I mail film from another country?

Yes. The service is based in Riga, Latvia and accepts mail-in film scanning orders from Europe and clients worldwide.

Should I drum scan every frame?

Usually no. Drum scanning is best for final selects, portfolio work, exhibition prints, book projects and important archive frames.

What files do I receive?

The main delivery format is high-quality 16-bit TIFF, suitable for editing, retouching, printing and archive use.

How much does drum scanning cost?

Homepage prices start from €18 for 35mm M scans and €23 for 35mm L scans. Larger medium format and sheet film scans cost more, with a €50 minimum order.

Order scans

Send the important frames first.

Tell us the format, film type, number of frames and final use. We will recommend scan size before you post the film.

Email wescan.film

Explore the lab

Choose the right scan before you send your film.

Start with the scanner and service overview, then compare real scan examples, prices, file sizes and conversion options. It keeps the order process clear before anything is posted.

Service