Workflow Guide / The essentials

Workflow Guide

The essentials, with enough context to choose your own way through. Read in order, or jump to the part you need.

Choose a home for your photos.

Choose Independent Mode for individual photos or a workspace. Choose Roll Mode to keep a film roll together. Use Load Negatives in the matching startup panel; dropping files onto a panel also chooses that mode.

An open editor keeps its mode. To start another independent workspace or roll, use File → New Window.

Import and choose your photos.

Load camera RAW, JPEG, or supported scanner TIFF negatives. Import prepares previews without automatically cropping or converting them. Add more files with Add negatives.

Click a photo to focus its preview. Checkboxes in Sources choose the set for batch actions such as Auto Crop, Auto Convert, and Export. Review the checked count before confirming an action.

Keep the part that matters.

Auto Crop suggests a film or picture area for checked photos. Review each result with Edit Crop, refine the edges, and straighten the frame where needed.

Auto Convert offers None, Simple Crop, Crop to rebate, and Crop to image. Crop to rebate is the default. Your visible crop and straightening define the area used for a new conversion.

Choose your starting look.

Filmic is the default Independent profile; Standard provides another starting look. Choose the profile, check the photos you want to process, and use Auto Convert.

Roll Mode also offers Auto Tone for compatible scans made with consistent settings. It needs at least three varied, reliable donor photos. Other roll choices are available through Experimental features; the profile’s ? help explains its requirements.

Finish by feel.

Start with exposure and contrast, then refine white balance and color. Use the point curve for a more personal tonal finish. Open a control’s ? help when you need a little context.

Fit view is useful for the whole photograph; zoom in to inspect detail. Appearance Undo and Redo help you explore. Finishing adjustments do not silently refit your negative conversion.

Save the work behind the picture.

In Independent Mode, Save As lets you save individual edits (.nre) or a workspace (.nrw). In Roll Mode, save the roll as .nrr. Save records your conversion and adjustments so you can continue later.

Documents refer to their source images. Keep the originals available, along with your saved documents. An exported JPEG or TIFF is a finished image, rather than an editable NegRevel document.

Give the photograph a life outside the app.

Check the converted photos you want, then choose Export. Select JPEG for easy sharing, 16-bit TIFF for further editing, or both. Choose the image area and destination folder.

Review the choice for existing output files: create a new numbered name, skip, or overwrite matching exports. The selected image area determines the exported frame; view-only changes do not refit the conversion.

Efficient Workflow

Cache sizing, decoded data beside originals, and careful cleanup for scans you revisit.

Work more efficiently →

Keep the first steps close.

Back to Quick Start ↗