Changelog

JPEG XL Support & Metadata Export

This update adds support for JPEG XL to the Mac app. You can now embed your capture data directly into .jxl files when exporting scans, alongside JPEG, TIFF, and DNG. The release also includes minor UI improvements.

JPEG XL & Metadata

Frames for Mac now supports JPEG XL. When exporting your scans, you can embed data captured via the iPhone app directly into .jxl files, just as you can with JPEG, TIFF, and DNG. This ensures your images remain fully documented across modern file formats while keeping your film photography workflow consistent.

Embedded metadata includes image number, date and time, GPS coordinates, aperture, shutter speed, exposure program, exposure mode, exposure compensation, flash, metering mode, focal length, focus distance, subject distance range, lens make and model, lens serial number, lens specification, camera make and model, camera serial number, ISO speed rating, sensitivity type, and additional notes such as film stock, filters, and personal remarks.

Focus Distance in Sidebar and EXIF

This update brings focus distance support to the Mac app. If you record focus distance in Frames for iOS, that data now appears in the sidebar and gets written into the EXIF metadata when you export your scans. The update also improves how certain metadata values are handled and includes visual refinements for macOS Sequoia.

Focus Distance and Subject Distance Range

Focus distance is now visible in the sidebar alongside your other shooting data. When you export to DNG, JPG, or TIFF, this value is written to the Subject Distance field in the EXIF metadata. The app also calculates a Subject Distance Range by combining the focus distance with the focal length you used for the frame, giving image viewers and cataloging software more context about your shot.

This feature works with focus distance data recorded in Frames for iOS (version 1.21.0 and later). If you've been logging focus distance on your phone, that information now carries through to your exported files on Mac.

Focus Distance Recording

This update adds focus distance to the data you can record for each frame, giving you a more complete picture of your shooting settings. The update also includes several interface improvements that make entering and reviewing your frame data more convenient.

Track Your Focus Distance

When logging a frame, you can now record the focus distance alongside your other shooting data. Whether you were focused at 1.2 meters for a portrait or set to infinity for a landscape, this information is saved with each shot. The app reads your iOS regional settings and displays distances in meters or feet accordingly.

If you use Frames on Mac, this focus distance data can be written into the Subject Distance and Subject Distance Range fields of your EXIF metadata when exporting to DNG, JPG, or TIFF. Your focus settings stay with your scans, just like aperture and shutter speed.

Interface Improvements

Selecting focal length values is now easier, and the exposure compensation picker shows 0 EV instead of Not Set when no adjustment is recorded. Parameters also appear in a consistent order across the frame list and settings, making the app more predictable to use.

Localized Welcome Screen and Exposure Metadata

The welcome screen has been localized and refined for all supported languages. Previously available only in English, it now displays in your preferred language with clearer drag and drop guidance to help you get started.

Exposure Mode and Exposure Program

Exposure Mode and Exposure Program are now visible directly in the sidebar, making it easier to review this information while browsing your images. Exposure Mode displays as either Manual or Auto Exposure, while Exposure Program shows Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, or Normal Program based on your recorded data.

These fields have also been reintegrated into the EXIF metadata when exporting to DNG, JPG, and TIFF files, so your exposure settings travel with your scans.

Film Sorting & Quick Access

This update gives you more control over how your library is organized and makes it faster to get where you need to go. Films inside folders now have sorting and ordering options, and a new Recent Films shortcut lets you jump between projects without leaving your current screen. You can also long-press rows to access common actions right where you are, and there's a new Auto option for recording exposure settings.

Sort and Order Your Films

You now have full control over how films are organized inside your folders. Sort your rolls by name, date created, or date edited, and choose ascending or descending order. If you group films by project, trip, or camera, this makes it much easier to find what you're looking for without scrolling through everything.

Jump to Recent Films

A new Recent Films shortcut is now available inside every film menu. This lets you quickly switch to another roll you were working on recently without navigating back to the library first. It's a small addition, but it saves time when you're moving between active projects.

Long-Press for Quick Actions

Long-pressing any row now reveals a menu of shortcuts for that item. Whether you want to move, edit, or delete something, the options are right there where you need them. This works throughout the app and reduces the number of taps required to get things done.

Auto Option for Exposure Settings

When recording frames, you can now select Auto for shutter speed and aperture. This is useful when you're shooting with a camera that handles exposure automatically and you just want to log the shot without entering specific values. The option sits alongside your existing manual choices in the recorder toolbar.

Location and Privacy Updates

If you have location services turned off, you can now set locations manually without any restrictions. The app no longer requires GPS access to let you select a location. There's also a redesigned Privacy Settings screen that gives you a clearer view of how your data is handled, along with direct access to the Privacy Policy.