FilmTracker User Guide

Complete guide to using FilmTracker for Adobe Lightroom Classic

Getting Started

FilmTracker is a powerful metadata management plugin designed specifically for film photographers using Adobe Lightroom Classic. It allows you to efficiently organize and apply camera, film stock, and lens information to your images.

📋 What You'll Need

  • Adobe Lightroom Classic (latest version recommended)
  • Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.14+
  • FilmTracker license key
  • Internet connection for activation

Installation

  1. Download FilmTracker

    After purchasing, you'll receive a download link via email. Download the FilmTracker plugin package.

  2. Locate Lightroom Plugins Folder

    Find your Lightroom plugins directory:

    • Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Modules
    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules

  3. Install the Plugin

    Copy the FilmTracker folder into the Modules directory.

  4. Restart Lightroom

    Close and reopen Adobe Lightroom Classic.

  5. Enable FilmTracker

    Go to File → Plug-in Manager, find FilmTracker in the list, and ensure it's enabled.

License Activation

After installation, you'll need to activate your license:

  1. Open FilmTracker from the Lightroom menu
  2. Click the "Activate License" button
  3. Enter your license key (found in your purchase email)
  4. Click "Activate"

⚠️ Device Limits

Each license type has a device activation limit. Make sure to deactivate FilmTracker on old devices before activating on new ones if you've reached your limit.

Camera Manager

Camera Manager

The Camera Manager allows you to store and organize your film camera collection.

Adding a Camera

  1. Open FilmTracker and click the "Camera Manager" tab
  2. Click "+ Add Camera"
  3. Enter camera details (make, model, format, etc.)
  4. Save the camera

Camera Fields

  • Make: Camera manufacturer (e.g., Nikon, Canon, Leica)
  • Model: Specific camera model
  • Format: Film format (35mm, Medium Format, Large Format)
  • Notes: Additional information about the camera

Film Manager

Film Manager

Manage your film stock inventory and details.

Adding Film Stock

  1. Navigate to the "Film Manager" tab
  2. Click "+ Add Film"
  3. Enter film details (brand, name, ISO, type)
  4. Save the film stock

Film Fields

  • Brand: Film manufacturer (Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, etc.)
  • Name: Film name (Portra 400, HP5+, etc.)
  • ISO: Film speed
  • Type: Color/B&W, Negative/Positive

Lens Manager

Lens Manager

Keep track of all your lenses and their specifications.

Adding a Lens

  1. Go to the "Lens Manager" tab
  2. Click "+ Add Lens"
  3. Enter lens specifications
  4. Save the lens

Lens Fields

  • Make: Lens manufacturer
  • Model: Lens name/model
  • Focal Length: Lens focal length
  • Max Aperture: Maximum aperture (f-stop)

Applying Metadata to Images

Main Plugin Interface

Once you've set up your gear, applying metadata is simple:

  1. Select one or more images in Lightroom
  2. Open FilmTracker
  3. Choose your camera from the dropdown
  4. Select the film stock used
  5. Choose the lens
  6. Click "Apply Metadata"

The metadata will be written to your images' EXIF data and can be used for filtering and organizing your catalog.

Troubleshooting

FilmTracker doesn't appear in Lightroom

  • Verify the plugin is in the correct Modules folder
  • Check Plug-in Manager (File → Plug-in Manager)
  • Ensure the plugin is enabled
  • Restart Lightroom

License activation fails

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify you're using the correct license key
  • Ensure you haven't exceeded device limits
  • Contact support if the issue persists

Metadata not applying

  • Ensure images are selected in Lightroom
  • Check that all fields (camera, film, lens) are selected
  • Verify you have write permissions for the images
  • Try with a single image first to test