Seattle
Experimental film
Two people. Two places. One photograph.
Prelit is an experimental film project that connects photographers across time and space. Each roll is partially exposed by hand, leaving room for you to complete the story.
About
The first half is already on the roll
Every frame of a Prelit roll carries a faint image before it reaches you. Whatever you shoot lands on top of it.
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We expose it first
In the dark, by hand, we lay a scene onto every frame: Seattle streets, shapes of light, imagery from the past, or something you asked for.
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You shoot over it
Load it like any roll and shoot at box speed. Shadows in your picture let our scene show through. Bright areas cover it.
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The lab develops both
Any lab can process it with standard chemistry. When the scans come back, you see both exposures for the first time.
Shop
The film
Four kinds of pre-exposure, on color or black and white stock.
Loading the film…
Gifts
Give someone a city
A Prelit roll is a gift that keeps going after it’s opened. A few ways to give one:
- Seattle, for a friend who moved away
- A roll for someone who shoots film, so they finish the picture
- A roll you shot half of, mailed to a friend to complete
- A custom roll with a place, a name, a date, or a drawing
FAQ
Questions
How do I shoot a pre-exposed roll?
Load it and shoot it like any other roll, at box speed. Because each frame already has some exposure, darker scenes and shadows are where our image shows through most. Bright skies and white walls tend to wash it out.
Can any lab develop it?
Yes. Color rolls develop in standard C-41 and black and white rolls in standard black and white chemistry. There’s nothing special to tell the lab, though you might mention it so they don’t think the scans are a mistake.
Will the pre-exposure line up with my frames?
Close, but not exactly. Every camera winds film a little differently, so our scene can land slightly off from your frame lines. That’s part of the experiment.
What can I ask for on a custom roll?
A place, a pattern, words, a drawing, or a photo you send us. Describe it at checkout and we’ll email you to confirm the idea, and when it will ship, before we expose anything.
How should I store it?
Like any film: somewhere cool and dry. A latent image slowly fades, so for the strongest pre-exposure, shoot and develop your roll within a few months.
Where do you ship from?
Seattle. You’ll see the shipping cost before you pay. Have a question we didn’t answer? Email us.