[ 0029 ] fig1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a film processing system according to the present invention . the processing system includes a scanning and / or printing system ( photofinishing system ) to receive a film and produces images ( e . g ., photographs ) from an associated printer or scanner . the scanning and / or printing system is shown with a barcode reader 2 , similar to that disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 352 , 879 in the name of eastman kodak company , where its operation is described fully . it will be appreciated that any suitable barcode reader may be used in the film processing system of the present invention and that the present invention is not limited to the device disclosed in the referenced u . s . patent . the barcode reader has a reading unit 2 to read a barcode on a film ( not shown ) being processed . a microprocessor 4 is arranged to receive an output from the reading unit 2 via an analogue - to - digital converter 3 and determine the unitary barcode , in this example the industry standard dx code , of the film . in addition , a memory 6 is provided , coupled to the microprocessor 4 . the film is driven through the reading unit 2 by a stepper motor 5 under the control of the microprocessor 4 . in this example , the memory 6 is arranged to store a number of predetermined processing algorithms . in use , a film passes through the reading unit 2 and its dx code is read . the microprocessor 4 , acting in this case as a selector , then selects an appropriate processing algorithm from the memory 6 , which is used to produce the images from the printer or scanner ( not shown ), such as digital image files , hard copy ( e . g ., photographs ) or soft copy ( e . g ., computer displayed images ). the algorithm selected is a customized algorithm , the customization being dependent on the unique film / camera combination with which the photographs were taken . [ 0031 ] fig2 shows an example of a film 8 encoded according to the present invention . the film has a barcode 10 printed on one of its edges , which is used to encode information about the specific camera type in which the film was used . for example , manufacturers who make a certain model of one - time use camera can apply a unique code to the film used inside such cameras . as mentioned above , that camera will produce films having a unique negative population . to optimize the quality of prints generated from the film , it is necessary to use a suitable algorithm in the scanning and / or printing process . the film manufacturer provides a suitable algorithm to the scanning and / or printing system so that when the film is scanned and / or printed , an appropriate algorithm is used in the generation of the images . the algorithm is optimized in relation to one or more of a number of possible parameters . these include , amongst others , film characteristics such as sensitometric or colour - reproduction characteristics . alternatively or in addition , the algorithm is optimized in relation to camera characteristics such as lens or flash characteristics . if the film / camera combination identified is a particular one for which there is a corresponding algorithm , then this corresponding algorithm is used in the processing . otherwise , if no customized algorithm is provided for a particular film / camera combination , a suitable global processing algorithm is used . referring to fig2 the film 8 has a barcode 10 printed along one of its edges . as the film progresses through the scanning and / or printing equipment , detectors 12 read the barcode 10 and provide a signal to the microprocessor 4 ( not shown in fig2 ) so that a corresponding algorithm can be selected . for otuc or film / camera combinations that would benefit from unique printer / scanning processing algorithms , unique dx part 1 and part 2 numbers are applied to the film . this is done using the existing industry - standard dx latent image barcode and therefore negates the need for any additional hardware or hardware modifications to the scanning and / or printing system . the scanning and / or printing system is arranged to read the barcode as it already does and assign a custom designed algorithm in dependence on the film / camera combination . this may be dependent on the specific camera type or picture - taking unit in which the film was used . this is a significant advantage that facilitates easy industry wide adoption . in contrast , the system described in the japanese patent application , kokai publication # 11 - 231465 , referenced above , requires modification to the scanning and / or printing system which is undesirable . during scanning and printing stages , the processing system of the present invention , having read the barcode on the film , allocates an appropriate algorithm to process the image data . as explained above , if the film / camera combination identified is a particular one for which there is a corresponding algorithm , then this corresponding algorithm is used in the processing . otherwise , a suitable global processing algorithm is used . this is in contrast to conventional systems , which only allow optimisation of colour and density ( lightness / darkness ) parameters within the constraints of an existing algorithm . the present invention allows the selection of unique algorithms whose parameters are optimized to maximize the quality of images obtained from a known otuc or film / camera combination . as discussed above , the negative population produced by otucs differs from that produced by the same film used in traditional cameras e . g ., a film / camera combination of which the design parameters are known . in addition , there is also variation in the negative population produced by different otucs . these differences are due to design and usage factors , such as , for example , the lens characteristics of the otuc or the brightness of the location in which the film was used . to obtain optimum results a custom designed algorithm is required for each of these situations and these factors are preferably allowed for in the design of the algorithms . as explained above , the algorithm is designed to allow for many factors , including but not limited to , film characteristics , lens characteristics ( e . g ., cos 4 fall off ), flash characteristics ( e . g ., colour temperature , fall off ) and usage ( e . g ., distance / light level parameters of consumer pictures , underwater usage etc .). the algorithms are designed in accordance with design principles and methods known in the art ( see for example , european patent application no . ep 0 595 032a ). the algorithm may be optimized in dependence on physical parameters of the camera , such as those mentioned above , or it may be optimized in dependence on camera usage . for example , if the camera is an underwater otuc , some adjustment to the processing algorithm is required to ensure optimum quality of the images produced . when a new film type is made , dx part 1 and part 2 codes are assigned , and a unique custom - designed algorithm is required . the film or camera manufacturer usually generates the algorithm since it is aware of the necessary design features thereof . it is an advantage of the system of the present invention that since it is only a new algorithm that is needed , this can be implemented with an updating of the memory coupled to the microprocessor . this can be achieved simply by downloading the algorithm from an appropriate web site , e . g ., a web site of the printer / scanner manufacturer . alternatively the software may be distributed via an appropriate media , e . g ., cd - rom . in addition to the algorithm being designed to compensate for parameters of the otuc , in another embodiment of the present invention , the dx barcode is used to select a processing algorithm that adapts the image in some predetermined manner . the otuc may be provided with a lens producing known geometric distortions . an algorithm is then selected so that the system compensates for the geometric distortions . for example , if the geometric distortions were due to the use of an anamorphic lens , in response to recognition of the barcode , the scanning and / or printing equipment expands the image so that it corresponds to the view seen by a user at the time the picture was taken . this is achieved without any hardware modification in the scanning and / or printing equipment since it is programmed to read the barcode and assign a custom designed algorithm in dependence thereon . in this case , it is possible to produce a wide - angle otuc utilising the whole of a 35 mm frame resulting in enhanced quality . [ 0042 ] fig3 is a flow chart showing the main steps in the method of the present invention . at step 14 , the film is received into the scanning and / or printing equipment . the method then proceeds to step 16 in which the dx code of the film is determined from the barcode printed on the edge of the film negative , as discussed above . then , at step 18 it is determined whether the dx code of the film currently being scanned and / or printed is the same as or different to that of the previously developed film . if it is determined that the dx code is the same as the previously developed film i . e . the film currently being processed originates from an identical ( or sufficiently similar ) picture taking unit , then the last algorithm used by the scanning and / or printing system is re - used . if however , it is determined that the dx code is different and therefore the current film originates from a different type of picture taking unit , a new algorithm is retrieved from the system memory and used to generate output images . the algorithm selection occurs automatically as the dx code of the film is read by the scanning and / or printing system and thus , the quality of the final photographs is automatically optimized .