Manual

One task
at a time.

Short articles for what you do in EmulLab. Each starts with the steps; the details wait behind a + until you need them. New here? Start with Getting started.

Start

Set up and open your first rollChoose where rolls go, then open a folder of scans. Nothing is imported, moved or copied.Capture with a cameraScan straight into a roll: fire a USB-connected camera from the app, or bring in what a tethering app saves to a folder.

Convert

Convert color negativesTurn a C-41 negative into a positive, with its color balanced off the film border.Convert black and white negativesConvert a B&W negative to a neutral positive and set its tone.Slides and positive scansEdit E-6 slides from camera scans, and flatbed or lab scans that are already positives, without inverting them.Analyze and sync a rollMeasure a whole roll together so its frames match, then copy one frame’s look to the rest.

Edit

Adjust tone and colorSet brightness, contrast and color, then finish with curves, a Lab Look or a preset of your own.Crop, straighten and rotateFrame the picture, level the horizon, and turn or flip frames.Heal dust, hairs and scratchesRemove specks by hand, or let EmulLab mark likely dust for you to check first.

Finish

Organize your rollsRate, label and tag photos, gather them into Projects and Smart Folders, and find them again.Export photos and contact sheetsMake finished files from one frame, a selection or the whole roll, and lay a roll out on a contact sheet.Updates, backups and troubleshootingKeep EmulLab current, know where your edits are kept, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Applies to EmulLab 0.9.1 (Public Beta). Updated October 9, 2026.