How to digitize film negatives at home with an iPhone
Last updated 2 June 2026
To digitize a film negative at home, you photograph it on a light source with your iPhone, then invert the capture into a positive. No scanner needed. EditMe handles the second half on the device, turning your phone photo of a negative into a finished image, with no cloud.
Capturing the negative
- Put the negative on an even backlight: a tablet showing a white screen, a lightbox, or a bright window.
- Hold the iPhone parallel and fill the frame with the negative, avoiding reflections.
- Tap to focus, keep it steady, and capture. Shoot in RAW or ProRAW if you can, for more to work with.
A steady, evenly lit capture makes the inversion much cleaner.
Finishing it on the device
Open the capture in EditMe and invert it: the app removes the orange mask for color film, balances the channels, and gives you a positive, with per-stock profiles for common films. It is free to download, runs entirely on the device, and keeps your original capture.
How it compares
| Consideration | iPhone + EditMe | Lab scan |
|---|---|---|
| Do it at home | Yes | No |
| Keep the negatives with you | Yes | Mailed away |
| Cost per roll | Free | Paid |
| Works offline | Yes | n/a |
| Turnaround | Minutes | Days |
Frequently asked questions
Can I digitize film negatives with just an iPhone?
Yes. Photograph the negative on a backlight with your iPhone, then invert the capture with an app like EditMe. No dedicated scanner is required.
What do I need to capture a negative?
An even light source behind the negative (a tablet white screen, lightbox, or bright window) and a steady hand. RAW or ProRAW capture gives you more to work with.
How does EditMe finish the image?
It inverts the capture on the device, removes the orange mask for color film, and balances it into a positive, with per-stock profiles.
Is EditMe free?
EditMe is free to download and the inversion is part of the free core. It runs entirely on the device with no cloud.