Automate film negative inversion with Apple Shortcuts on iPhone
Last updated 2 June 2026
Yes. EditMe ships App Intents, so Apple Shortcuts can run the inversion for you with no app screen to open. Three actions are available: invert a single negative, invert a batch of photos, and apply a saved preset. Each one takes your photo (a preset is optional on the two invert actions), renders the positive on the device, and hands the finished image file back to your Shortcut to save, share, or pass on. It all runs on the iPhone, with no cloud and no account.
The three actions Shortcuts can call
EditMe exposes three Shortcuts actions. Invert a single negative takes one photo and returns the rendered positive. Invert a batch takes several photos at once and returns one finished file per photo, processed one after another so memory stays in budget. Apply a preset takes a photo plus one of your saved presets and returns the edited result. On the two invert actions a preset is optional: leave it off and you get a clean inversion, add it and your saved look goes on at the same time.
Because each action returns the output file, you decide what happens next in the Shortcut. Save it to Photos, drop it in a folder, AirDrop it, or feed it into the next step. EditMe does not need to come to the foreground for any of this.
Saved presets, picked by name
The preset parameter reads your saved presets straight from EditMe, so a preset you made in the app (or in the Photos editing extension) shows up in Shortcuts without reopening EditMe first. You can pick one from the list, and Shortcuts can also match a preset by typing part of its name. One useful detail: even when you apply a preset, EditMe samples each image's own density fresh, so a preset built from a different scan does not push this frame too light or too dark. The look carries over, the exposure stays right for this photo.
A few ways to wire it up
A single-tap Shortcut on your Home Screen can take the latest scan and invert it. A batch Shortcut can take every photo you selected in Photos, invert the whole set, and save the results to an album in one run. You can also chain it: ask for input, invert with a chosen preset, then share the file. Since the work runs on the device, these Shortcuts keep working with no connection, and your scans never leave the iPhone.
How it compares
| What you want | EditMe via Shortcuts | By hand in an app |
|---|---|---|
| Invert without opening the app | Yes | No |
| Invert a single photo | Yes | Yes |
| Invert a batch in one run | Yes | One at a time |
| Apply a saved preset automatically | Yes | Manual each time |
| Get the finished file back to use | Yes | Export by hand |
| Runs on the device, no cloud | Yes | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Can I invert a film negative without opening the EditMe app?
Yes. EditMe exposes App Intents, so an Apple Shortcut can invert a negative and hand you the finished file. EditMe does not need to come to the foreground, since the work runs in the background on the device.
Can a Shortcut invert a whole batch of photos at once?
Yes. There is a batch action that takes several photos and returns one rendered positive per photo. It processes them one after another, so a large selection stays within memory.
Can I apply one of my saved presets from Shortcuts?
Yes. The invert actions take an optional preset, and there is a dedicated apply-a-preset action. Your saved presets from EditMe show up in the Shortcuts picker, and you can match one by name. Even with a preset, EditMe samples each image's density fresh so the exposure stays right for that frame.
What does the Shortcut get back?
Each action returns the rendered image file. Your Shortcut decides what happens next, whether that is saving to Photos, saving to a folder, sharing, or passing the file into another step.
Does this need a connection or an account?
No. The inversion runs entirely on the device, with no cloud and no account, so your Shortcuts keep working offline and your scans never leave the iPhone.
Is automating inversions free?
EditMe is free to download and the film inversion is part of the free core. Some pro tools are part of the optional EditMe Pro subscription.