Built a small app to keep film scans organised with proper metadata

**vincent83** · 23-Jul-2025, 22:47

Hi everyone,

I’ve been shooting film for years, and like a lot of people here I love the process. The part I kept struggling with was keeping track of what I shot, and then making sure that info stayed connected to the scans once they were on my computer.

So over time I put together a little app to help. It's called Frames and it lets you log your rolls and frames, then adds all that info into the scan files as metadata. Things like film stock, camera, lens, and shot settings get written into the file in a way that Finder, Lightroom, Flickr and other apps can read. It’s been really handy when going through archives or just trying to stay organised across folders.

I ended up sharing it more widely recently, so I thought I’d mention it here in case anyone else has had the same problem. Would be curious how you all manage your film scans and notes.

Happy to share more if there’s interest.

—Vincent

**darr** · 23-Jul-2025, 23:30

After developing and drying my film, I store the negatives in Print File sheets. In the info area, I note the location or job and assign a serial code, for example, H250723a (Hasselblad, 07/23/25, roll #1).

I then create a high-resolution digital contact sheet and import it into Lightroom, placing it in a dedicated folder named after the serial code. From there, I review each frame at full size to identify any keepers. If a frame is selected for enlargement, I scan it and save the file in the same folder, using a name like H250723a-07 (for frame #7).

I use Negative Lab Pro for conversion, which also allows me to input extensive metadata: camera, lens, film stock, development notes, and more, making it easy to search and organize the library later.

**vincent83** · 24-Jul-2025, 04:33

Thanks a lot for taking the time to share your process Darr, it's really interesting and I appreciate the detailed breakdown. I know Negative Lab Pro and use it myself after scanning, it's a great tool.

Frames is a bit more focused on the earlier stages, capturing the shooting data and then reintegrating it into the final images in a more seamless way, so everything stays connected and easy to browse later on.

Always great to hear how others approach their workflow. Thanks again for the insight!

**_Karl** · 24-Jul-2025, 08:02

Vincent
I'm searching the App Store but cannot this app.
Am I doing something wrong?

**darr** · 24-Jul-2025, 08:42

Originally Posted by _Karl

Vincent
I'm searching the App Store but cannot this app.
Am I doing something wrong?

https://withframes.com

**6x6TLL** · 24-Jul-2025, 16:45

My process was similar to Darr's. I would log each exposure for each roll (all medium format) in the field on yellow sticky notes, then put those into a database on the computer. Each roll received a unique code that was also assigned to the contact sheet scan. Any keepers I would scan and include a thumbnail in the database for reference (this was in the 1990's). For a hobbyist who sometimes took on commercial projects it was more than enough, but the system I used doesn't exist anymore and I haven't found anything similar to replace it.

I've been looking for a modern solution, but haven't really landed on anything. The app looks nice, but I'm not a fan of subscriptions, would much rather buy it to own it.

**vincent83** · 24-Jul-2025, 18:44

Thank you for sharing 6x6TLL! I’ve heard similar stories from a few folks who had great analog–digital workflows in the 90s or early 2000s yes, but nothing really stuck or evolved for the modern platforms.

I totally understand the hesitation around subscriptions. It’s always a tricky balance, especially for indie tools like this, between making the app sustainable to maintain over time and respecting how people prefer to pay. I went with the subscription mostly to support ongoing development (new features, updates, compatibility with new OS versions, etc.), but I’m always open to feedback and alternatives that could work better. Thanks again for your feedback!