A good place
to get unstuck.
Which cameras and files work, what doesn’t work well yet, and how to get in touch.
Validated is different from compatible.
A file that opens is a start. Validated means conversion quality was checked on real negatives scanned with that camera.
| Camera or source | In the Public Beta |
|---|---|
| Nikon Z 9 | Validated for camera scans (NEF files) and USB capture. |
| Other camera RAW files | Compatible. NEF, CR2, CR3, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, PEF, DNG and other common RAW files open and convert. Color isn’t checked camera by camera yet. |
| USB capture with other cameras | Depends on what the camera supports through macOS; not tested. A watched folder works with any camera or tethering app. |
| Flatbed and lab scans | TIFF, JPEG or PNG files from Epson, SilverFast or a lab scanner. Choose Positive: they’re edited, not inverted again. |
| Not supported | HDR or JPEG XL DNG files (such as Lightroom HDR merges), and Sigma X3F files. |
Tell us about a camera that works, or doesn’t, with Help › Send Feedback.
Known issues.
What doesn’t work well yet. Updated with each beta.
HDR and JPEG XL DNG files don’t open
DNGs made by Lightroom’s HDR merge, or saved with JPEG XL compression, can’t be read yet. Use the original RAW files.
Lomography 400 and CineStill 800T can come out with a strong cast
These films can convert teal or magenta, with no warning. Correct it in Color, with the eyedropper or the color sliders.
Frames from the same light can differ slightly in color
Locking the roll’s color or film base can add a cast to some frames, for example frames scanned at a different camera exposure. Check the roll after Analyze Roll.
Live view is an early test feature
It works only with the Nikon Z 9 and may change.
Find Likely Dust needs checking
It can miss some specks and mark texture or edges in the picture. Check the marks before you heal them all.
Straightening can leave the film holder in two corners
The crop shrinks until it stays on the scan, not on the picture, so on a frame whose picture runs to the edge of the scan, white wedges of the holder can show in two corners. Tighten the crop by hand in Crop.
Very large flatbed scans need a lot of memory
Scans of 100 MP and more need several GB of memory while they’re open and while they export: about 8 GB for a 156 MP scan. On a Mac with 8 GB, quit other apps first.
VoiceOver is partly supported
Buttons and color labels have spoken names, and Tab moves between controls with Full Keyboard Access on. First-time tips are read aloud when they appear; Next and Skip are inside them.
Found something else? Use Help › Send Feedback.
Before your first frame.
Is EmulLab really free?
Yes. It’s a free desktop app: not a trial, and no subscription.
Do I need an account or an internet connection?
No account. Conversion and editing happen on your Mac. The internet is used only to download the app, check for updates, and send feedback when you choose to.
Does it change my original scans?
No. Edits and metadata are kept in the local catalog. Export writes new files and never replaces existing ones. Keep your own backups anyway.
Do I need Lightroom or a plugin host?
No. EmulLab is a standalone Mac app with its own conversion, editing, organizing and export.
Will it run on an Intel Mac?
The beta is made for Macs with Apple silicon. Intel Macs are being tested; until that’s done, they aren’t supported.
Will Windows and Linux be supported?
The Mac comes first. Windows may follow if the Mac app finds its audience; there are no dates.
Can I print from the app?
Not yet: there’s no print module. Print exported files from another application. Contact sheets export as PDF or JPEG.
What happens after the beta?
Version 1.0 comes out on November 17, 2026. The beta updates itself, and your catalog and edits stay as they are.
Talk to the person building it.
In the app, use Help › Send Feedback. It writes a report and opens it in your own email app, so you can read it before you send it. Photos are never attached. If no draft opens (no email account set up), the report is already on your clipboard: paste it into an email to support@emullab.com.
Or email Frank directly. For a bug, include the app version, your macOS version and Mac model, and the steps that make it happen.
Email Frank