FAQ
Common Questions
What do I need to use Brightroom?
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Just your iPhone and a light source. A lightbox or light pad gives the best results, but an iPad or laptop screen set to full brightness works well. Brightroom requires iOS 16 or later.
What's the difference between Scan and Convert?
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Scan opens your camera directly — point and shoot, then Brightroom converts automatically.
Convert shows a choice: Take Photo (camera) or Choose from Library. Use this to process photos you've already taken, or to re-scan with a different film type setting.
Which film types does Brightroom support?
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Color Negative (C-41) — Standard color print film. Brightroom removes the orange base cast and applies per-channel color correction.
B&W Negative — Desaturates before inverting with a film contrast curve.
Slide / Positive (E-6) — Gentle levels correction that preserves the film's inherent color balance.
My converted image looks too dark or flat.
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Usually caused by dim or uneven lighting. Make sure your light source is bright and covers the full frame evenly.
After converting, try the Exposure slider (drag right) and Shadows slider (drag right to lift dark areas). Contrast can add punch without affecting overall brightness.
The colors look wrong.
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First check that you have the right film type selected — Color Neg applies orange-mask removal which the other modes don't. Then try the Warmth slider: right for warmer tones, left for cooler. The Vibrance slider adds color without oversaturating skintones.
The image saves sideways. How do I fix it?
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Tap Save and choose Save — Rotate Left 90° or Save — Rotate Right 90°. The rotation is applied before saving so the image lands correctly oriented in Photos.
How do I add a caption to the photo?
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After choosing a rotation, the caption sheet appears automatically. You can type directly in the text field, or tap Dictate Caption to speak it. If the voice recognition gets something wrong, just edit the text field before tapping Save.
The caption is embedded in the IPTC Caption field of the JPEG, so it's visible in Lightroom, Preview, Photos, and any app that reads IPTC metadata.
How do I scan the next negative after saving?
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After a successful save, Brightroom shows a "Saved to Photos" alert with a Scan Another button. Tap it and the source picker opens immediately — no extra navigation required.
Does switching film types reset my crop or adjustments?
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Your crop persists when switching film types. Adjustments reset when you switch — because the new conversion pipeline produces a different base image that needs fresh calibration.
Tips
Getting the Best Results
TIP 01
Use an even light source
A lightbox gives the most uniform illumination. Avoid phone screens — the pixel grid can appear in high-resolution captures.
TIP 02
Keep the film flat
Curled negatives cause focus problems. Flatten them between books overnight or use a film holder.
TIP 03
Shoot perpendicular
Hold your iPhone directly above the film, parallel to it. Any angle introduces keystoning that crop can't fully correct.
TIP 04
Darken the room
Ambient light reflecting off the film reduces contrast and washes out shadows.
TIP 05
Crop first, then adjust
Crop to remove the film border and sprocket holes first. Adjustments then apply only to the framed content.
TIP 06
Reset individual controls
Tap the control name in the toolbar to open its slider. If a value isn't working, tap reset next to the value to return it to default without resetting everything else.
Still need help?
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