FAQ
Straight answers before you try Cull Me uP — it runs on your existing folders, writes portable XMP, and never locks your work in.
01 About the product
What is Cull Me uP, exactly?
A modern RAW Light Table for the first pass — opening RAW folders, picking and rejecting, and rating through the Sort Me uP 5-pass mode. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac with Universal Purchase.
Is Sort Me uP a separate product?
No. Sort Me uP is the 5-pass progressive star rating mode inside Cull Me uP and Cull Me uP Studio. Pick / Reject is step one; Sort Me uP is step two.
What is Cull Me uP Studio?
The full post-shoot session app. Cull Me uP Studio adds ingest, sessions, Quick Compare with synchronized zoom, full metadata editing, batch rename, export, and the Studio insights reports (Lens Performance Report, Hero Ratio, etc). Cull Me uP Studio is iPad and Mac.
What is Nala?
Nala is the intelligence layer across CMP — it powers grouping, suggestions and pattern-finding inside the products. It is not a separate product. It is in active development; the launch products are Cull Me uP and Cull Me uP Studio. Powered by Nala, guided by you — it never chooses for you.
When does it launch?
Cull Me uP and Cull Me uP Studio are planned for launch across iPhone, iPad and Mac. We will only commit to a launch date when it is truly committed.
02 About the workflow
Does it import my RAWs into a catalog?
No. Cull Me uP opens the folder directly. There is no catalog, no import queue, no preview build phase. Files stay where they are.
Will my picks and stars work in Lightroom, Capture One, or DxO?
Stars and color labels are written to XMP sidecars that Lightroom, Capture One and DxO can read. Pick / Reject mapping and DxO-aware sidecar behavior are handled carefully where supported and validated.
Does it work with DxO PhotoLab specifically?
Cull Me uP is aware of `.dop` sidecars and reads them alongside XMP, with validated metadata fields. DxO users keep their existing workflow intact.
Can I use it without a Mac?
Yes. Cull Me uP runs on iPhone and iPad as well. Cull Me uP Studio requires iPad or Mac.
03 About AI and trust
Does Cull Me uP use AI to cull my photos?
No. We do not rate your frames. Studio insights reads your own ratings to show patterns. The eye stays with the photographer.
Does it upload my photos to the cloud?
No. The cull happens locally on your device. Files never leave your folder unless you choose to export them.
Is Nala a product I buy?
No. Nala is not a product and not a separate purchase. It is the intelligence layer across the ecosystem — it organizes, suggests, remembers and reveals patterns. But it never decides what matters. You do.
Does Nala lock in my work?
No. Nala suggests structure; it never moves, hides or deletes your files. Your XMP, your sessions and the Light Table remain yours — with or without Nala.
04 Pricing and launch
How much will it cost?
Cull Me uP is Pay Once · Keep Forever. Studio is a separate edition that also includes Cull Me uP, launching alongside it. Pricing lives on the Compare Editions page, with early adopter pricing at launch. Nala is the intelligence layer, not a separate paid tier.
Is there a free trial?
Trial and refund details will be confirmed before launch.
Can reviewers or photographers request product access?
Press, reviewers and selected photographers can use the Press & reviewers page to request information, review access or a product preview. The public site focuses on the product story and launch information.