Film to PhotosNegative Lab Pro alternative without Lightroom (for Mac)
Want to convert film negatives without Lightroom Classic or a subscription? How Negative Lab Pro works, what alternatives exist on Mac, and where Film to Photos fits for scanner and imported scans.
Negative Lab Pro only runs inside Lightroom Classic, so if you don't want Lightroom or an Adobe subscription you need a standalone converter. Film to Photos is one: a one-time-purchase Mac app that converts color negatives automatically, scans directly with Plustek OpticFilm scanners, and imports TIFF, JPEG, PNG, scanner DNG or iPhone HEIC files from anything else. It doesn't read camera RAW files yet.
What Negative Lab Pro is
Negative Lab Pro is a well-regarded Lightroom Classic plug-in for converting color and black-and-white negatives, popular with photographers who "camera scan" film. Its website lists a price of $99 (USD), with updates within that major version included, and a free trial. It needs Lightroom Classic (Adobe sells it as part of a subscription plan) or the old Lightroom 6.14, and it doesn't run a film scanner itself: you bring files from a scanner or camera.
That's ideal if you already live in Lightroom. If you don't, it means a subscription and learning Lightroom just to convert negatives.
Standalone alternatives on Mac
- Film to Photos — automatic color negative conversion (orange mask removed, exposure and neutral colors set), naming and saving the whole roll, and an optional editor with white balance, curves, color grading and a dust brush. Works with Plustek OpticFilm scanners directly, or with imported TIFF, JPEG, PNG, scanner DNG or iPhone HEIC files. One-time purchase, free trial with 15 photos.
- Scanner software with built-in conversion — VueScan and SilverFast convert negatives while scanning, with many scanners. See VueScan vs Film to Photos and SilverFast alternatives.
- Doing it by hand in a photo editor with per-channel Levels; see how to remove the orange mask.
Quick comparison
| Negative Lab Pro | Film to Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs Lightroom | Yes (Lightroom Classic) | No |
| Runs a film scanner | No | Yes, Plustek OpticFilm |
| Camera RAW files | Yes | Not yet (convert to TIFF first) |
| TIFF/JPEG scans | Yes | Yes |
| Color negatives | Yes | Yes, automatic |
| Black-and-white negatives | Yes | Yes (new, still being tested) |
| Slides | Yes | Not yet |
| Price | $99 plus Lightroom subscription | $34.99 one-time ($19.99 launch price) |
Prices from each product's website at the time of writing; check before buying.
Using camera scans with Film to Photos
If you photograph negatives with a camera, export them as TIFF (16-bit if your RAW software offers it, with automatic adjustments turned off) and choose Import scans you already have. Include a little of the clear film border in the shot; the conversion uses it to measure the orange mask. Try it with the free trial, since results depend on your light source and setup. Using a phone? See how to scan negatives with your phone.
Quick answers
Does Negative Lab Pro work without Lightroom?
No. Negative Lab Pro is a plug-in made for Lightroom Classic (its site also lists the older standalone Lightroom 6.14). At the time of writing, its website doesn't offer a version that runs on its own.
How much does Negative Lab Pro cost?
Its website lists $99 for the current version, with a free trial of 24 conversions. You also need Lightroom Classic, which Adobe sells by subscription.
What is a Negative Lab Pro alternative without a subscription?
Film to Photos is a one-time purchase that converts color negatives on its own, without Lightroom. It scans directly with Plustek OpticFilm scanners and imports TIFF, JPEG, PNG or iPhone HEIC files from other scanners, cameras or phones.
Can Film to Photos convert camera RAW files like Negative Lab Pro?
Not yet. Film to Photos imports TIFF, JPEG, PNG, scanner DNG and iPhone HEIC files, but not camera RAW. Convert camera RAW files (CR3, NEF, ARW, camera DNG) to TIFF first in your camera's software or another RAW converter, with automatic adjustments turned off.