Seattle Film Works
Check out our newest episode of Bringing if Back From the Dead where we test out a 25 year old roll of Seattle Film Works 400 speed film. This roll was rated at 50 iso and came out great. See the final images below and check out the video and history of this unique film stock. What should we test next?
A bit of history
Seattle FilmWorks was a photo processing and film company founded in the early 1970s in Seattle, Washington. It became well-known for offering unique services, such as providing movie film that could be used in standard 35mm still cameras, which contributed to its popularity among amateur photographers during its peak years. Here's a brief history of the company:
Origins and Business Model
Founded: 1976
Original Focus: Seattle FilmWorks began as a mail-order company specializing in inexpensive film and photo processing. The company gained attention by re-spooling surplus motion picture film (primarily Kodak 5247) for still photography use.
Unique Offer: Their film, marketed as "Seattle FilmWorks film," was processed using the ECN-2 (Eastman Color Negative) chemical process, the same method used for developing motion picture film. This required customers to send the film back to the company for processing, as it was incompatible with standard C-41 photo labs.
Rise in Popularity
During the 1980s and early 1990s, Seattle FilmWorks grew rapidly by advertising heavily in magazines and newspapers, offering low-cost film and processing packages.
The company encouraged repeat business by returning two rolls of fresh film (often free) along with developed negatives and prints.
Their marketing appealed to cost-conscious hobbyists and photographers intrigued by the use of cinema film for still photography.
Transition to Digital
In the 1990s, as digital photography began to rise, Seattle FilmWorks adapted by offering photo-to-CD services. This allowed customers to obtain digital scans of their photos, bridging the gap between film and digital formats.
The company rebranded itself as PhotoWorks in the late 1990s to shed its association with film and focus more on digital photo services.
Decline and Acquisition
Despite its efforts to adapt to the digital age, the company struggled to compete with the rapid growth of digital photography and online photo services.
In 1999, PhotoWorks became an online photo-sharing and printing service but never regained its former prominence.
In 2008, American Greetings Corporation acquired PhotoWorks and eventually discontinued its services
Lawsuits and Decline
In the late 1990s, Seattle FilmWorks faced significant legal challenges that contributed to its eventual decline.
Lawsuits Over Misleading Marketing Practices:
Consumer Allegations: Customers accused Seattle FilmWorks of misleading advertising practices. The primary concern was that the company marketed its film as standard 35mm film while omitting that it required a specialized development process (ECN-2) incompatible with most local photo labs.
Legal Outcome: A series of class-action lawsuits were filed, leading to settlements in some cases. These lawsuits damaged the company’s reputation and raised awareness of the limitations of their proprietary film.
Digital Transition Challenges:
As digital photography grew rapidly in the late 1990s, Seattle FilmWorks struggled to adapt. Although the company rebranded as PhotoWorks to focus on digital services, the rebranding failed to overcome its tarnished reputation and declining customer base.
Their reliance on proprietary processes and an outdated film model left them unable to compete with more versatile and accessible digital photo services.
Final Years:
By the early 2000s, Seattle FilmWorks/PhotoWorks had largely lost relevance in the photography market. In 2008, American Greetings Corporation acquired the company and absorbed its operations. Shortly afterward, PhotoWorks was discontinued entirely, marking the end of Seattle FilmWorks’ legacy.
