Guides
Develop, scan and convert film at home. Written by Jp Valery, the photographer who makes Monobath. He shoots 35mm, 120 and 4x5.
Scan film with a camera
Set up a camera, a light and a holder, and capture every frame sharp and evenly lit.
- How to scan film with a cameraHow to scan film with a camera: the macro lens, light, holder and stand you need, how to align and focus, and a fast roll workflow for 35mm, 120 and 4x5.
- How to scan 4x5 film, in one shot or stitchedHow to scan 4x5 film with a camera: one shot or stitched tiles, the magnification, holding sheet film flat, overlap, and apps that stitch before you convert.
- How to scan 120 film, from 6x4.5 to 6x17How to scan 120 medium format film with a camera: holders, the magnification for 6x4.5 to 6x17, one shot or two, curl and uneven frame spacing.
- How to scan slides with a cameraHow to scan slides with a camera: mounted and unmounted E-6 film, slide copy adapters, exposure that protects the highlights, the colour of the light, and dust.
- How to expose a film scan, from RAW to white balanceFilm scanning exposure made simple: shoot RAW at base ISO with a fixed white balance, expose to the film base, read the RGB histogram and avoid clipping.
- How to scan film with an iPhoneHow to scan film with an iPhone: a light pad, a holder, keeping the phone parallel, macro mode and ProRAW capture, the apps to use, and converting on a Mac.
Convert negatives into photos
Turn the scan of a negative or slide into a finished picture, by hand or with an app.
- How to convert film negatives into photosHow to convert a film negative to a positive: invert it, remove the orange mask, set black and white points per channel and add a tone curve. Step by step.
- How to convert negatives on a Mac without LightroomHow to convert film negatives on a Mac without Lightroom: standalone apps, the tools built into Capture One, ON1 and DxO, free raw editors, or by hand.
- Negative conversion software compared, free and paid (2026)Film negative conversion software compared, free and paid: Lightroom plugins, editors with built-in tools, standalone Mac apps and free raw editors.
- How to invert colour negatives in PhotoshopWhy Invert fails on colour negatives in Photoshop, and a precise manual method: neutralize the film base, invert, then set Levels for each colour channel.
- How to convert black and white negativesConvert black and white negatives: invert, set the end points, add a tone curve, clear the base tint from colour camera scans and keep a whole roll consistent.
Fix your scans
Flat, tinted, dusty or soft scans: find the cause, then fix it.
- Why film scans look flat, and how to fix themFlat film scans usually come from stray light around the frame or end points set from the wrong area. How to find the cause of grey, hazy scans and fix it.
- How to fix colour casts in film scansA colour cast in film scans usually comes from auto white balance, a poor light source or the orange mask. Find the cause, then fix it per roll or per frame.
- Newton rings in film scans, and how to stop themNewton rings are rainbow ripples where film touches glass. Why they form when you scan film, and how to stop them with glassless holders or ANR glass.
- Dust on film scans: prevent it, then remove itHow to stop dust on film scans: dry and handle film clean, beat static, blow off film and glass. Then remove the rest with healing and auto dust tools.
- How to scan and convert thin or dense negativesThin negatives come from underexposure or underdevelopment, dense ones from the opposite. Read the film edge to find which, then set the scan exposure to match.
- How to flatten curly film for scanningCurly film gives soft edges in scans. Why film curls, and how to flatten it: sleeves under weight, holders that hold it taut, glass, and stopping down.
Develop film at home
Black and white, colour and slide film, from loading the reel to hanging it to dry.
- How to develop black and white film at homeHow to develop black and white film at home: the kit, loading a reel in a changing bag, developer, stop, fix, wash, temperature, agitation and safety.
- Monobath developers compared: Df96, Kentmere and moreWhat a monobath is, how to use a monobath developer, and how CineStill Df96, Kentmere Monobath (F26), FPP and ars-imago compare on time and capacity.
- How to develop colour film (C-41) at homeHow to develop colour film at home with a C-41 kit: the kits you can buy, temperature control with a sous vide, the steps, times, capacity and safety.
- How to develop slide film (E-6) at homeHow to develop slide film at home with an E-6 kit: three-bath and full kits, why the first developer needs tight temperature control, the steps and safety.
- How to dry film without water spots or dustHow to dry film without water spots: a final rinse in distilled water with a wetting agent, the right dilution, squeegee or not, where to hang it, and dust.
Reference
The words of the darkroom and the scanning desk, in plain English.
MONOBATH FOR MAC
From negative to photo, on your Mac.
Monobath converts camera scans of colour negatives, black and white film and slides. Join the beta to try it on your own negatives.