Hello everyone,
We would like to share an update on our long-awaited film project, following our previous development notes from September 2025. This longer update is part of a broader series of film development reports that will be published separately:
- Film Project Update VII: Peel-Apart Film II Progress
- Film Project Update VIII: Black-and-White Production, Large Format Film, Automation— Goal of 2026
- Film Project Update XI: New Film Technology
This announcement focuses on the current progress of our black-and-white film production line, the setbacks we encountered during early testing, and our continued goal of beginning commercial black-and-white film production in 2026. We will also begin producing shorter announcements to share our latest updates on our upcoming projects.
Progress Toward Black-and-White Film Production
Since our last development blog, we have continued to make progress on the first iteration of our black-and-white film production line.
Our current objective is to begin testing our production and assembly workflow in 2026, with the goal of producing our first commercially available black-and-white photographic film in 2026.
The initial production roadmap includes the following formats:
- 120
- 135
- 127
- 126
- 4x5
- 8x10
- Additional formats under development
Our goal is not only to manufacture black-and-white film but also to establish a complete, internally controlled production system that delivers consistent, high-quality results across multiple photographic formats.
Setbacks and Quality Control Refinement
During our initial production testing in late 2025 and early 2026, we encountered several issues related to production stability, automation, and quality control.
One Issue had arised during our 8x10 film test film, with static-electricity occured during emulsion coating application and drying process.
4x5 Tabular Grain Testing Sample, scratches and emulsion damage, will be refined with minimalized with double layered emulsion and quaity control
As a result, we decided to delay the official release until our production and quality-control processes become more consistent, repeatable, and fully automated.
This is part of the learning process of building a photographic film production system from the ground up at a commercial scale. We cannot allow unresolved quality-control issues to appear in official production. Our objective is to produce a film that meets a high standard of consistency and reliability, without creative or technical compromise.
For this reason, we kindly ask for your patience as we continue refining the production assembly line and improving each stage of the process before the commercial release.
Defining the Light Lens Lab Film Character
Since this project began from scratch, there is no direct reference point for us to follow. Because of this, we have been listening closely to feedback from the photographic community as we continue to define our film's visual identity.
One of the central questions of this project has been:
What should our film look like?
While we aim to produce a high-consistency and high-quality film suitable for a wide range of conditions, we also believe the film must have its own recognizable character.
Our development goal is to achieve:
- Consistent contrast across different lighting conditions
- Reliable results across different processing conditions
- Strong flexibility for push processing
- A clean and consistent image structure free from production-related defects
Starting from scratch means working in largely uncharted territory. However, this is also the purpose of the project: to develop a film with its own technical foundation, production method, and photographic character.
As we continue development, we will begin reaching out in 2026 to selected retailers, reviewers, and testers regarding interest in testing our initial black-and-white film. This process will be similar to our previous lens development projects, where community feedback played an important role in refinement before release.
We aim to listen to photographers, reviewers, laboratories, and retailers internationally as we continue developing our black-and-white film.
Production and Assembly Line Development
From May to June 2026, we moved the film project's production to our lens project laboratory in Shangrao. During this period, we also renovated both the lens and film production facilities to integrate our lens assembly operations and film production line into a single facility in Shangrao.
This transition allows both projects to remain fully in-house, with greater internal control over production, testing, assembly, and quality-control procedures, without external interference. As part of this renovation, we also completed work on a second clean room dedicated to the film project. Due to this facility upgrade, lens production was temporarily delayed; however, lens production has now resumed at maximum capacity.
We are currently testing an automated production system that combines several dedicated machines, including an emulsion coater, master roll splicer, and 135-format film hole puncher.
Our production philosophy is to develop dedicated machinery for dedicated purposes. Instead of relying on a single universal machine, we are developing specialized coating, slitting, punching, packaging, and assembly systems for each major stage of production.
This approach allows us to refine each process independently and improve production consistency over time.
Current and ongoing machinery development includes:
Emulsion Coating Machine
We are developing and testing an emulsion coating machine for specific use in our black-and-white film production workflow. This machine is part of our effort to improve coating consistency, repeatability, and production stability before commercial manufacturing.
Master Roll Splicer
The master roll splicer is being developed to support the handling, preparation, and conversion of coated master rolls into downstream production formats.
120 / 135 Packaging Assembly
We are also testing packaging and assembly workflows for 120 and 135 film formats. This includes developing future automated assembly processes to reduce manual adjustment and improve production repeatability.
Peel-Apart Film Production Testing
In parallel with our black-and-white film production work, we are continuing production testing related to peel-apart film. Further details will be shared separately in Film Project Update VII: Peel-Apart Film II Progress.
Edge Marking, Scanning Compatibility, and Format Components
We have also been testing engraved edge markings on 120 and 135 film in order to support modern scanning equipment and improve identification during scanning, archiving, and post-production workflows.
Our T-100 T-grain film has been in development over the past year. Although it is not yet mature enough for production, we are continuing to improve the emulsion, production consistency, and quality-control process in preparation for future official production.
In addition, we are testing several basic components required for film photography production. This includes proprietary backing paper for 120-format film, as well as production testing for 120 spools and 135 canisters.
In-House Development
We would like to reiterate that all machinery, tools, and parts for this project are developed and produced in-house by Light Lens Lab, without partnerships with other companies or third-party manufacturing.
This includes the production machinery, tooling, mechanical components, packaging-related systems, clean-room production environment, and other supporting parts required for film production.
Our objective is to build an independent film production platform from the ground up, with full control over design, engineering, production, testing, assembly, and quality control.
Looking Ahead
Our current goal remains to begin production-line testing in 2026 and to work toward the release of our first commercially available black-and-white film in 2026, subject to successful quality-control refinement and production consistency.
We understand that many photographers have been waiting patiently for this project. We are grateful for the continued support, feedback, and encouragement from the community.
Film production is a long-term project for Light Lens Lab. We are not approaching it as a short-term release, but as a complete technical platform that can support future photographic and cinematic film products.
Further updates will follow in the next parts of this development series.
Thank you for your continued support.