Film to PhotosHow to turn negatives into photos on a Mac (3 ways)
How to convert film negatives into normal, positive photos on a Mac: with a film scanner, from scans you already have, or from phone photos, and why the built-in Photos and Preview apps can't do it properly.
To turn film negatives into photos on a Mac, first make a digital copy of each negative (with a film scanner, or from scans or phone photos you already have), then convert it with software that removes the orange film color, inverts it and sets brightness and color. Film to Photos does both with a Plustek OpticFilm scanner, or converts files you already have. Apple's Photos and Preview apps can't do it properly.
Way 1: Scan and convert in one go (best quality)
With a 35 mm film scanner such as a Plustek OpticFilm 7400, 8100 or 8200i, Film to Photos runs the scanner and converts each frame as you scan: press Scan, and a finished photo appears. Name the roll, save as JPEG or TIFF. You get about 17 megapixels per photo at 3600 dpi, enough for large prints.
- Setting up: how to set up a Plustek OpticFilm on a Mac
- The whole process: how to scan film negatives on a Mac
Way 2: Convert scans you already have
Scanned negatives with another app or scanner (for example an Epson flatbed with a film adapter, VueScan or SilverFast), and they still look orange? Choose Import scans you already have in Film to Photos and pick the files: TIFF, JPEG, PNG, scanner DNG or iPhone HEIC. They're converted like a fresh scan, and the originals stay unchanged. For best results, scan as a plain positive with no color correction and include a bit of the clear film edge.
Way 3: Photograph them with your phone
Lay the negative on an even white light (a tablet showing a white screen works), photograph it straight on, AirDrop it to the Mac and import it. Quick for a few frames; quality is lower than a scanner. See how to scan negatives with your phone.
Why "Invert" isn't enough
A color negative isn't just a "reversed" photo. It has an orange mask built into the film. Invert it and the orange turns into a heavy blue-cyan cast, and the three color channels have different contrast, so fixing one tone puts another off. Proper conversion measures the orange on the clear film, removes it from each color channel, then inverts and balances. See how to remove the orange mask.
| Tool on a Mac | Converts color negatives? |
|---|---|
| Photos app | No negative conversion |
| Preview | No negative conversion |
| Photoshop or GIMP | By hand: Invert plus per-channel Levels, every roll |
| Film to Photos | Automatic, while scanning or on import |
If the colors still look wrong
- Purple, pink or blue tint: see why do my scanned negatives look purple?
- Faded or red old film: see how to fix faded scans
- Slides or black-and-white film: slides are already positive, and black-and-white has no orange mask; see how to tell what film you have. Film to Photos is made for color negatives for now.
Quick answers
How do I turn negatives into photos on my Mac?
Get a digital copy of the negative (with a film scanner, a flatbed with a film adapter, or a phone photo on a light), then convert it with software that removes the orange film color and inverts it. Film to Photos does both steps with a Plustek OpticFilm scanner, or converts files you already have.
Can the Photos app or Preview on a Mac convert negatives?
Not properly. Neither has a negative-to-positive conversion. Even a photo editor's plain Invert turns color negatives blue, because of the orange mask in the film.
Is there a free way to convert negatives on a Mac?
You can invert and color-correct by hand in a free editor such as GIMP, using per-channel Levels. It works but takes practice for every roll. The Film to Photos trial converts your first 15 photos for free.
Can I convert negatives I already scanned as negatives?
Yes. Import the files (TIFF, JPEG, PNG, scanner DNG or iPhone HEIC) into Film to Photos with "Import scans you already have"; they're converted like a fresh scan and the originals stay unchanged.
Why do my converted negatives look blue?
A plain invert turns the orange film mask into a blue-cyan cast. The mask has to be measured and removed per color channel before inverting.