An artwork scanner for museums and galleries. Capture perfectly cropped images, scan labels to extract details, and build your personal art collection.
Made by Jordan Matthiass.
How it works
Simple Art Scanner features a unified library view with instant access to scanning.
Capture: Tap the scan button and point your phone at an artwork. The app automatically detects edges and crops the image with perfect alignment. Then photograph the museum label, and the app extracts artist, title, year, and other details automatically.
Library: Your personal collection is front and center. Search by title or artist. Tap any artwork to view details, add notes, or share it.
Getting started
1. Tap the scan button and photograph an artwork
2. Review the automatically cropped image
3. Photograph the wall label
4. The app extracts details (you can edit manually if needed)
5. Artwork is saved to your Library
Questions
Why isn't the label scanning working?
On devices that support Apple Intelligence, label data is automatically extracted and structured. On other devices, the app uses local OCR. Ensure the label is clearly visible and well-lit.
The edge detection isn't working on my artwork.
Edge detection works best with clear boundaries between the artwork and background. Ensure good lighting and avoid extreme angles. You can always retake the photo or use the precision magnifier to manually adjust the corners.
Can I sync across devices?
Yes. Sign in to iCloud in your device settings. Your artworks and metadata will sync automatically across all devices using the same Apple ID.
Where are my photos stored?
If you enable iCloud sync, files go to your private iCloud Drive container—the developer cannot access them. When you share an artwork, metadata is embedded in the image file itself. If you have iCloud disabled, all information is stored entirely locally within the app container.
Can I edit artwork information?
Yes. In your Library, tap any artwork and tap "Edit" to modify title, artist, year, medium, exhibition, or add notes.
How do I delete an artwork?
Swipe left in your Library and tap Delete. Deletion is permanent.
Can I share my artworks?
Yes. Tap an artwork, then tap Share. Send it via Mail, Messages, AirDrop, Photos, or other apps. Metadata is embedded in the shared image.
Can I export my entire collection?
You can share individual artworks or use the Select button to choose and export many at once. Your full collection is stored in iCloud and accessible across devices.
What permissions does the app need?
Camera: Required to capture artwork and labels. Photos stay inside the app by default unless you export them.
Photos: Only requested if you choose to save to your library.
Privacy & data
We do not collect your data. Simple Art Scanner contains no accounts, sign-ups, analytics, or crash reporting. No data is transmitted to the developer or third parties.
All photos, OCR output, and metadata stay within your app's sandbox. They leave your device only when you explicitly share them, or when synced to your private iCloud Drive container.
If you enable iCloud sync, your artworks are stored in your private iCloud Drive container. Apple handles encryption. The developer has no access. If iCloud becomes unavailable, the app stores data locally and moves it to iCloud when available again.
On devices with Apple Intelligence, label parsing uses on-device Foundation Models supplied by Apple. No content is sent to the developer. On older devices, OCR runs entirely on-device.
Simple Art Scanner is rated 4+ and collects no personal data, so it complies with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) requirements.
Technical details
iOS 17.6 or later on iPhone or iPad. Requires a rear camera.
Artwork photos and metadata are stored locally. A typical artwork takes roughly 2–5 MB of space.
Simple Art Scanner works entirely offline. You can capture, store, and view your collection without internet. iCloud sync requires an internet connection and an iCloud-enabled Apple ID.
Support
For questions, bugs, or feature requests, email . Include details about your device, iOS version, and the issue.
If you enjoy Simple Art Scanner, please leave a review on the App Store.
© 2026 Jordan Matthiass. All rights reserved. Simple Art Scanner is provided "as-is" without warranties. No personal data is collected or stored by the developer.
