FilmFridge
User Guide

Welcome to FilmFridge

FilmFridge is a film inventory tracker for analog photographers. It tracks every roll, pack, and box of film you own — from the moment it goes in your fridge, through loading into a camera, sending to the lab, and arriving in your archive.

The app is organized around five tabs at the bottom of the screen:

Home shows a summary of your inventory and alerts. Fridge is your stock room. Loaded shows film currently in cameras. Lab tracks rolls awaiting or back from processing. More is the hub for History, Settings, and this guide.

Getting Started

When you open FilmFridge for the first time, the Home screen will prompt you to add your first roll. You have two ways to do that:

• Scan a barcode — tap the barcode icon in the Fridge toolbar to scan the UPC on a film box. FilmFridge looks up the stock automatically and pre-fills all the details.
• Add manually — tap the button at the bottom-right corner of the Fridge screen.

Once you have film in your inventory, the Home screen displays a summary of your stock.

The Fridge

The Fridge tab is your film stock room. Every roll, pack, or box you own that hasn't been loaded into a camera yet lives here.

Adding Film

By barcode scan

1. Tap the barcode icon in the Fridge toolbar.
2. Point your camera at the UPC barcode on the film box.
3. FilmFridge identifies the stock and opens the Add Film form, pre-filled with brand, stock name, ISO, format, and exposures.
4. Confirm or adjust the details, then tap Add.

Manually

1. Tap the button at the bottom-right corner of the Fridge screen.
2. Fill in brand, stock name, format, type, ISO, and any other details.
3. Tap Add.

Formats are arranged in three groups: roll film (35mm, 120, 220, 110, Minox, APS), instant (Instax and Polaroid), and sheet/specialty. Film types are arranged in two groups: common negatives and instant, then specialty processes (Color Reversal, B&W Reversal, ECN-2).

Browsing Your Stock

The Fridge offers three view modes, cycled by tapping the view toggle in the toolbar:

• List view — a flat list of all your stock, grouped by UPC identity.
• Bin view — stock organized into collapsible groups by format, then by film type within each format. FilmFridge switches to this automatically when you have more than ten rolls.
• Locations view — stock organized by storage location (Fridge, Freezer, Shelf, Bag, etc.).

Your chosen view mode and each bin's expanded/collapsed state are remembered between sessions. Tap a format chip below the search bar to filter by format, or use the search bar to find a stock by name or barcode. Tap in the toolbar to sort by Date Added, Brand, Expiry Date, Format, or Quantity.

Row Indicators

Each row shows a colored format pill. Alert badges appear below it when relevant:

• Yellow ↺ — partially shot (mid-roll swapped)
• Red ▲ — expired
• Orange 🕐 — expiring within three months
• Yellow ⊙ — at or below your Low Stock threshold

Editing, Deleting, and Batch Operations

From any roll's detail view, tap Edit to update any field. Scroll to Actions and tap Delete to remove a roll (confirmation required).

To act on multiple rolls at once, tap → Select Items, tap each row (or tap a group header to select all rolls in that group), then tap Move to reassign to a different storage location or Delete to remove them all. Tap Cancel to exit without changes.

Loaded

The Loaded tab shows every roll currently inside a camera.

Loading Film into a Camera

1. Find the roll in the Fridge and tap it to open the detail view.
2. Scroll to Actions and tap Load into Camera.
3. Select your camera from the list. Tap anywhere on a camera row to select it.
4. Confirm and tap Load. The roll moves to the Loaded tab immediately.

While a Roll is Loaded

• Record a Shot ISO — if you're rating the film at a different speed than box speed, tap the Shot ISO row to update it.
• Log the last frame — tap Last Frame Shot to record which frame you stopped at. Pre-fills the frame field when you record a mid-roll swap.
• Add a roll note — tap the notes field in the Roll Notes section. The note saves automatically when you tap away or scroll.
• Add journal entries — log shooting sessions with text and location.
• Record a Mid-Roll Swap — pull a partially-shot roll back to the Fridge (requires Mid-Roll Swaps enabled in Settings).
• Send to Lab — when the roll is finished, move it to the Lab tab.

Session Journal

While a roll is loaded, you can keep a running log of shooting sessions. Each entry can include a short note (up to 100 characters) and a location set by GPS or address search. Tap the pencil icon on any entry to edit its text, location, or date. If any entries have locations, a Map button appears in the journal header to see all your shooting spots on a map.

Mid-Roll Swap

Mid-Roll Swap lets you pull a partially-shot roll from a camera and return it to the Fridge without losing track of where you were.

Recording a Swap

1. Open the roll's detail view from the Loaded tab.
2. Scroll to Actions and tap Record Mid-Roll Swap.
3. Optionally enter the last frame you exposed. If you've already set the Last Frame Shot field, it pre-fills here automatically.
4. Confirm or adjust the ISO you were shooting at and tap Save.

The roll returns to your Fridge with a yellow ↺ indicator. Find it when you're ready to continue and load it into any camera. Each swap is recorded separately; the full history travels with the roll through Lab and into History.

Lab

The Lab tab tracks rolls that have been shot and sent off for processing.

Sending a Roll to the Lab

1. Open the roll's detail view from the Loaded tab.
2. Tap Mark as Shot — Send to Lab.
3. Optionally record push/pull, service type, slide mounting, negative cutting, and free-text notes for the lab.
4. Tap Send. A days-waiting counter starts immediately.

When your scans or prints arrive, open the roll in the Lab tab and tap Mark as Processed. The roll moves to History.

History

History (under More → History) is the permanent archive of every processed roll and consumed instant pack. Search by film name, format, camera, description, or journal text. When you have more than ten entries, History organizes them automatically by month.

More

The More tab is the hub for secondary sections: History, Settings, Documentation, FAQ, What's New, and Credits. FAQ and What's New are updated remotely — you always see the latest version without needing an app update.

Settings

Cloud Sync

By default, your inventory is stored only on your device. To back it up and access it across multiple devices:

1. Go to More → Settings and tap Enable Cloud Sync….
2. Enter your email address and tap Send Sign-In Link.
3. Tap the link in the email, then return to FilmFridge — sync activates automatically.

No password required. To disable, toggle Cloud Sync off. Cloud data is deleted within 7 days once all devices disconnect — sign back in on any device before then to cancel the deletion.

Options

Low Stock Alerts — toggle on or off, and set the threshold (1–10). For roll film the threshold counts individual rolls; for sheet film it counts total sheets across all boxes of that stock.

Mid-Roll Swaps — off by default. Enable to unlock the Record Mid-Roll Swap action on loaded rolls.

Bulk Roll Film — off by default. Enable to add the Bulk Film section to your Fridge.

App Data

FilmFridge keeps a local cache of film stock and camera data for barcode auto-fill. It updates on every launch and every 24 hours. Tap Refresh now in Settings → App Data to force a refresh.

iPad Layout

On iPad, FilmFridge includes an enhanced layout with a persistent sidebar and split-view panels across all tabs — Fridge, Loaded, Lab, and History each show a list panel on the left and a detail view on the right simultaneously. This layout is available as a one-time in-app purchase for $0.99.

Without the purchase, FilmFridge runs in the standard iPhone layout on iPad. All your data, sync, and features are identical either way — the iPad layout is a cosmetic and organizational upgrade.

Unlocking the iPad Layout

1. On your iPad, go to More → Settings.
2. Tap Unlock iPad Layout in the iPad Layout section.
3. Confirm the purchase in the App Store dialog that appears.

The layout switches immediately after purchase. No app restart is required.

Restoring a Previous Purchase

If you've already purchased the iPad layout and need to restore it — for example, after reinstalling FilmFridge or getting a new iPad — go to More → Settings → iPad Layout and tap Restore Purchase. The purchase is restored through your Apple ID at no charge.

Instant Film

Instant packs (Polaroid 600, i-Type, SX-70, Go, Instax Mini, Instax Wide, Instax Square) follow the same workflow as regular film, with one difference:

• Instead of Send to Lab, tap Pack Finished — Mark as Consumed when the pack is empty. Consumed packs appear in History.
• Mid-Roll Swap is not available for instant packs.

Sheet Film

Sheet film (4×5, 5×7, 8×10, Polaroid Sheet) works differently from roll film in a few important ways.

How Sheet Film is Stored

Each record represents one physical box. The quantity field tracks the number of sheets inside that box — not the number of boxes. Add a separate entry for each physical box you own, even if it's the same stock, to keep expiry dates and sheet counts accurate per box.

Adding and Adjusting Sheet Film

Add by barcode or manually, selecting a sheet film format. The Add Film form shows a Sheets in box stepper instead of the standard quantity and exposures fields. To update the count as you use sheets, open the box's detail view and tap − or + on the Sheets in box row — changes save immediately.

Sheet film rows show the sheet count rather than a roll multiplier. The Fridge section header lists rolls, packs, and sheets as separate totals. Low Stock alerts apply to the total sheet count across all boxes of a given stock combined.

Bulk Roll Film

Bulk Roll Film tracking is for photographers who buy 35mm film on large spools and load their own cassettes. FilmFridge tracks your remaining footage and records each cassette load.

Adding a Bulk Roll

1. In the Fridge, tap and choose Add Bulk Roll.
2. Enter brand, stock name, ISO, and film type. You can scan a barcode to pre-fill the details.
3. Set the spool length using a preset (100ft, 50ft, 30m, 17m) or a custom value in feet.
4. Tap Add.

Bulk rolls appear in a Bulk Film section below your regular inventory. Each row shows remaining footage and a small progress bar.

Loading Cassettes

Step 1 — Set up the load

1. From the bulk roll's detail view, tap Load Cassette.
2. Select exposures per cassette (12, 20, 24, 36, or Custom) and set how many cassettes you're cutting.
3. Review the footage estimate and tap Continue. No footage is deducted yet.

Step 2 — Confirm the details

1. Set Cassette Type (Plastic or Metal), Date Loaded, optional expiry, and storage location.
2. Tap Add Roll (or Add N Rolls for multiple cassettes).

Footage is deducted from the spool and one roll is created per cassette. New rolls appear in your Fridge grouped with your regular 35mm stock. Bulk-loaded cassettes behave like regular 35mm rolls through the rest of the workflow — they show a Bulk Film badge and a Bulk token in the list subtitle.

Apple Watch

The FilmFridge Watch app gives you quick access to your loaded cameras while you're out shooting — without reaching for your phone.

Camera List and Detail

When you open FilmFridge on your Watch, you see every camera that currently has film loaded. Each row shows the camera name, film stock, format, and ISO. Tap any row to see the full detail, including:

• Expiry status — a red Expired or orange Expiring Soon label if applicable
• Shot ISO — tap to pick from a list or set to box speed
• Last Frame — tap + or − to log the last frame shot. Syncs to iPhone within seconds.
• Roll note — any note typed on your iPhone appears here for quick reference (read-only on Watch)

Adding a Journal Entry

Tap Journal Entry on any camera detail to add a shooting note via dictation or keyboard. FilmFridge acquires your GPS location in the background while you type. When you tap Save, the entry — with location if available — is sent to your iPhone and appears in that roll's Session Journal.

How Sync Works

The Watch app receives inventory updates from your iPhone automatically. Changes you make on the Watch are sent immediately when the iPhone is reachable. The Watch displays a brief confirmation when each change is acknowledged.

Tips

• Pull to refresh works on all list screens to force a sync with the cloud.
• If you scan an unrecognized barcode, the Add Film form opens with it pre-filled so you can enter details manually.
• Journal entries can be edited or deleted by tapping the pencil and trash icons (visible while the roll is loaded or in the lab).
• A swapped roll can be reloaded into any camera — not just the one it came from.
• Tap anywhere on a row — not just the text — to open that item.
• The Last Frame Shot field clears automatically when you send the roll to the lab.
• You can move multiple rolls to a different storage location at once using Select Items mode — useful when reorganizing or packing for a trip.
• Bulk Roll Film footage figures are estimates based on typical daylight-loading practices.

Troubleshooting

My film didn't scan. Barcode lookup requires an internet connection. Check your connection and try again, or add the roll manually with the button.

The app shows a "Film data unavailable" banner. FilmFridge couldn't connect to its database on launch. Tap Retry to try again.

Cloud sync shows an error. Tap Retry if available, or sign out and back in to re-establish the connection.

A roll disappeared after I deleted it on another device. With Cloud Sync enabled, deletions propagate automatically. Check History — it may have been moved there rather than deleted.

I don't see "Record Mid-Roll Swap." Enable Mid-Roll Swap Tracking in More → Settings → Options. It is only available on loaded, non-instant rolls.

Three rolls of the same stock show as two separate groups. One roll may have been added with an unrecognized barcode. Tap Edit on the oddly-grouped roll, verify the brand and stock name match the others exactly, and save.

Bulk-loaded rolls don't group under the right barcode. Cassettes from a bulk spool have no retail UPC. They group by stock name and brand, not by barcode.

I want to remove several expired rolls at once. Tap in the Fridge toolbar, choose Select Items, select the rolls, then tap Delete.

Watch app shows no cameras. The Watch app only shows cameras with film currently loaded. Load a roll into a camera from the iPhone app first.

Watch changes aren't appearing on my iPhone. Make sure your iPhone is nearby. Changes sync the next time the connection is available.

FilmFridge is in active development. New features will appear in future updates.
Updated April 2026 — includes iPad Layout, Bulk Roll Film, Apple Watch, and Locations view.