Tripleprint - Film Developers

No, not member advice on smiling, but hopefully this op will give you plenty of reasons to keep smiling at your camera for a long time to come.

Tripleprint are a snail mail film developing service. No, I don't mean they are really slow - they use the Royal Mail postal service rather than a shop front to offer a service to you.

In order to use Tripleprint you need to get hold of one of their envelopes. They're frequently found tucked into magazines, and on information leaflet stands at motorway service stations. (If you can't get hold of one, the customer services help line can be reached on 0800 849 6666).

Once in possession of the envelope, you need to detail your order, that is the type of film, number of films to be processed, and pictures on each. Then, fill in your details on the envelope - name, address and postcode - and attach the postcode labels to your films. Total up your order cost, remembering to add 70p per film sent for the return p&p, plus 30p per film if you want the optional express service. Put the payment (cheque or postal order with name and address on the back), and the films into the envelope. Seal the envelope and deposit in the nearest post box.

It's a simple process, but perhaps no more so that popping into the local developers, and realistically, you won't have your prints back as quickly. So why use Tripleprint I hear you say? Well, in my case it's a number of issues.

The reason for the company name - Tripleprint - is that 35mm film users get the option of having 3 prints back from each picture taken. You get one standard size print 6" x 4" and two compact prints 3" x 2". (For 110 films, the print size is slightly smaller - 5.2" x 4" and 2.6" x 2")

The cost of this is just £2.49 for up to 27 exposures and £3.99 for up to 39 - cheaper than a lot of high street developers. Extra sets of prints can also be ordered at the same time, they cost 10p less than the original set, but getting 3 prints anyway, you can save your money.

If you don't want the tripleprint format, you can opt for the new 'Solo' prints, which give just one print from each exposure, but at the larger size of 7.5" x 5". Again, the prices are good - up to 27 exposures is £4.99 and up to 39 exposures is £5.99. Extra sets of this size can be ordered too costing £2 less than the original sets. (The 'Solo' size is only available for 35mm films).

Users of APS film (including Advantix) pay the same prices as are charged for the 'Solo' service regardless of the print size being 6" x 4", 7" x 4", or 10" x 4". Also, as with the 'Solo' service, you receive just one print, rather than the tripleprint format.

As well as the cheap prices, and the tripleprint format you can opt for, you receive a Konica film (free of additional charges), for each one that you send in for developing, so if you keep using the service, you save money on the cost of film too.

Orders are normally dispatched within 3 working days of receipt, so realistically you should get your pictures back within a week of sending them, although at peak times, (perhaps Christmas and throughout the summer), it could take longer.

The quality of photo's you receive from Tripleprint is fine. I can't compare with the results you might get from an expensive or specialist developer, nor can I give a professional verdict as my camera and photographic skills are not that good, but in comparison to developing services such as those offered by Boots or Jessops for example, I have always found Tripleprint to be equally good. I have never had any films go astray, or had any substandard results offered to me.

Your photos arrive in a sealed waterproof bag, so damage is unlikely. Included in the bag along with your prints are more envelopes for future developing, your free film/s, and sticky labels printed with your name, address, postcode and a customer number, which saves you the trouble of filling in all the details each time you use the service again.

I have been using Tripleprint for years, and will continue to do so, as I have always found the service to offer good results, and at very reasonable prices. I consistently receive my prints back within a week of sending the films off, and have on occasions got them back in just 4 days. Affordable and reliable... get smiling at your camera and give the service a try.