Track darkroom chemicals and film stock with expiry dates on iPhone
Last updated 2 June 2026
EditMe has a darkroom inventory that tracks two things side by side: mixed chemistry and stored film stock. Each chemistry batch carries a mix date, a shelf life in days, and a roll capacity, so the app shows how many rolls are left and flags a batch as expired or exhausted when its date passes or its capacity runs out. Each film entry holds its name, EI/ISO, quantity, an optional expiry date that turns red once it has passed, and an optional storage location. Everything lives on your iPhone or iPad, with no account and no cloud.
What the darkroom inventory actually tracks
The inventory in EditMe is one screen with two lists: Chemistry and Film. They answer different questions, so they hold different fields.
A chemistry batch is something you have mixed and want to use until it runs out or goes off. When you add one you give it a name, a shelf life in days, and a capacity measured in rolls. From the mix date plus the shelf life the app works out an expiry date, and from the capacity minus the rolls processed it works out how many rolls remain. The row then reads plainly, showing the rolls left against the batch capacity and a "good until" date. When the date has passed the row is marked expired, and when no rolls remain it is marked exhausted, both in red so they are hard to miss.
A film entry is stock sitting in a drawer or fridge. You give it a name and an EI/ISO, a quantity, an optional expiry date, and an optional storage location. The quantity shows as a count, the location shows underneath if you set one, and the expiry date turns red once it is in the past. Film expiry is optional, because a lot of black and white stock keeps for years and you may not want to track a date at all.
How you use it day to day
- Add a batch when you mix. Open the inventory from the darkroom tools, tap add, pick Chemistry, and set the shelf life and capacity. The app starts the clock from that moment.
- Add film as it comes in. Pick Film, enter the name and EI/ISO, set how many rolls you have, and add a storage location and expiry if it helps you.
- Glance before a session. The list tells you at a glance whether a developer is still good, how many rolls it has left, and which film you actually have on the shelf.
- Swipe to remove. When a batch is used up or a film is gone, swipe the row away.
The inventory sits next to the rest of the darkroom in EditMe: the multi step development timer, the calculators, and the development log.
All of this is stored as a plain file on your own device. There is no sign in, no sync server, and nothing leaves the iPhone or iPad. EditMe is free to download, and the darkroom is part of EditMe Pro after a few free sessions, so you can try the timer and the inventory before deciding.
How it compares
| Factor | EditMe | By hand (notebook or spreadsheet) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry expiry | Worked out from mix date plus a shelf life you set, and flagged when the date passes | You note the date and remember to check it yourself |
| Remaining capacity | Shows rolls left against the batch capacity, and flags a batch as exhausted at zero | You tally rolls in your head or on paper |
| Film stock | Name, EI/ISO, quantity, optional expiry that turns red, and an optional storage location | A list you keep updated by hand |
| Where it lives | On your iPhone or iPad, no account, no cloud | On paper, or in a file synced to some service |
| Cost | Free to download, darkroom is part of EditMe Pro after a few free sessions | Free, but it is your time and attention |
Frequently asked questions
Does EditMe tell me when a developer has expired or is used up?
Yes. A chemistry batch carries a mix date and a shelf life in days, so EditMe works out an expiry date and marks the batch as expired once that date has passed. It also tracks rolls processed against the batch capacity and marks the batch as exhausted when no rolls remain. Both flags show in red on the row.
How does it know how many rolls a batch has left?
When you add a chemistry batch you set its capacity in rolls. The remaining count is simply that capacity minus the rolls processed, shown on the row against the batch capacity. A batch starts at full capacity and is flagged as exhausted once no rolls remain.
Can I track film stock as well as chemistry?
Yes. The inventory has a separate Film list. Each film entry holds its name and EI/ISO, a quantity, an optional expiry date, and an optional storage location. The expiry date turns red once it has passed. Film expiry is optional, so you can leave it off for stock you are not worried about.
Is my inventory stored in the cloud or tied to an account?
No. The inventory is saved as a file on your own iPhone or iPad. There is no account and no cloud sync. Nothing about your chemistry or film leaves the device.
Is the inventory free?
EditMe is free to download. The darkroom, which includes the timer, calculators, log, and this inventory, is part of EditMe Pro after a few free sessions, so you can try it first before subscribing.
Does EditMe help me work out development times?
Yes, with its darkroom calculators. EditMe ships push and pull and temperature calculators in the darkroom, so you can adjust a development time for a different push, pull, or temperature. These are separate tools from the inventory, which tracks chemistry expiry, rolls remaining, and film stock.