A kooky idea for an Iphone app

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 10, 2011

I've been using the Dev Chart App on my Iphone and I like it a lot. What would be cool is another where you could use your Iphone 4 with it's front facing camera as an enlarging meter. I think the possibilities would be endless with data storage and calculations of zones in your final print. I also envision a device that you could connect it to the phone where you could time your enlarger also. Perhaps an Fstop timer. Would APUGers that use the Iphone 4 would buy such an app and associated device used as an enlarger timer? Just putting it out there.

tkamiya · Jan 10, 2011

Concerning use of Iphone or similar type device in darkrooms, I thought about it and did some preminary stuff. One of the things that came into light (yes, pun intended!) is that these LCD screens are back-lit. These are basically a bright white illuminated background with a LCD based mask. Based on needs, this mask lets out R, G, or B light to make up the color. The problem is, with backlight ON and displaying black (that is all RGB turned OFF), there's still enough light coming through. In fact, if you display black (and make sure the backlight is on) and take it into a darkroom, it can light the room enough to see. I verified my finding under a 40x microscope as well.

No doubt, this can made to work in an application where complete darkness isn't required but as a generic universal and programmable controller, it isn't as useful as I initially thought.

That said, I know there is an app out there to turn iphone into a light-meter. Maybe that can be used as an exposure meter for enlargers using different calibration.

squinonescolon · Jan 10, 2011

You could just use any of the iPhone covers and add a red filter from encapsulite and you'll be set. My darkroom windows are covered with the film, and I can print with the window open during the day with no fogging on any of my papers (ilford, Emaks)

ghostcount · Jan 10, 2011

I only found it available 48"x32' for $330. Where can I buy some of these in smaller quantities?

squinonescolon said:
You could just use any of the iPhone covers and add a red filter from encapsulite and you'll be set. My darkroom windows are covered with the film, and I can print with the window open during the day with no fogging on any of my papers (ilford, Emaks)

holmburgers · Jan 10, 2011

I've lately been wondering if an iPhone or similar could be utilized as a light meter. I don't even own one, but I'd be curious to know.

squinonescolon · Jan 10, 2011

You give them a call and they cut it for you. They did for me. I believe there was a foot or two minimum.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 10, 2011

For $3 it can be yours

holmburgers said:
I've lately been wondering if an iPhone or similar could be utilized as a light meter. I don't even own one, but I'd be curious to know.

I have it and it's pretty accurate.

http://www.appstorehq.com/lightmeter-iphone-57542/app

But you'll have to take a digital picture first

holmburgers · Jan 10, 2011

Cool

squinonescolon · Jan 10, 2011

And by the way I don't think it's a crazy idea. I've been thinking about it for a while. I know how to program for the iPhone and I've been thinking about the same. This is the way I see it. it would be a system approach. A meter and note taking for the field, tied to developing charts on the studio and meter and stop-timer on the darkroom.

The meter on the field would be a hardware piece that would attach to the bottom of the iPhone with a real diode as to use as a spotmeter, and maybe another version with sphere for incident.
The program on the iPhone would receive the signals from the meter and everything else would happen on the phone. The advantage being that you could record everything and use the meter as a note taking device. I envision you could take the highlight and shadow measurements and the meter would run either zone or BTZS calculations and it would give you exposure as well as developing time all rolled into one based on your previous tests. Hit save and your whole session and picture data is saved for you to use when you get home.

When you get home. Look up the data for the picture you're developing and hook it up to a temperature probe. If you're using the BTZS tubes or developing on a tray the timer would run 6 timers at once and tell you when to get the tubes or sheets out to the stop and fixer.

Later another piece of hardware ( a relay that can run on USB connection) can run the enlarger. The software would do all the calculations based on the data from the exposure or just from the metering using the hardware piece that you use previously for metering on the field. The application would switch to enlarger mode and you could do all the things you can do with current f-stop timers but you could also add and program steps with much more ease that you currently can. It would not be easy, and it would require two pieces of hardware. Alternatively you could try to do it with the current camera but you might have to give up accuracy for convenience. Perhaps the hardware pieces are the PRO bundle, but you can get the software as the beginner version.
Just thinking.

Antonov · Jan 10, 2011

It's a good idea, but make it for 2G also. I go crazy when I see some applications are only for 4G ( and there is no reason for them to not be for 2G also ).

squinonescolon · Jan 10, 2011

If you use the built in camera, the cameras for the 2, 3 and 4 are different, so it would mean double or triple work. It might be more expensive for the beginner version than the PRO!

domaz · Jan 10, 2011

IPhone light meter apps work by taking the picture and reading the EXIF data from the generated JPEG. You can imagine how accurate that is. Also how quick it is- it would be totally unsuitable for an enlarging light meter where readings have to be taken very quickly. There is no functionality in the iPhone API to allow you direct access to the light sensor. Some Android phones have the facility to directly access the light sensor but they have to be rooted first- not very good for the mass market. The best bet would be development of an app that would access an external Bluetooth light sensor.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 10, 2011

You're making me salivate

squinonescolon said:
And by the way I don't think it's a crazy idea. I've been thinking about it for a while. I know how to program for the iPhone and I've been thinking about the same. This is the way I see it. it would be a system approach. A meter and note taking for the field, tied to developing charts on the studio and meter and stop-timer on the darkroom.

The meter on the field would be a hardware piece that would attach to the bottom of the iPhone with a real diode as to use as a spotmeter, and maybe another version with sphere for incident.
The program on the iPhone would receive the signals from the meter and everything else would happen on the phone. The advantage being that you could record everything and use the meter as a note taking device. I envision you could take the highlight and shadow measurements and the meter would run either zone or BTZS calculations and it would give you exposure as well as developing time all rolled into one based on your previous tests. Hit save and your whole session and picture data is saved for you to use when you get home.

When you get home. Look up the data for the picture you're developing and hook it up to a temperature probe. If you're using the BTZS tubes or developing on a tray the timer would run 6 timers at once and tell you when to get the tubes or sheets out to the stop and fixer.

Later another piece of hardware ( a relay that can run on USB connection) can run the enlarger. The software would do all the calculations based on the data from the exposure or just from the metering using the hardware piece that you use previously for metering on the field. The application would switch to enlarger mode and you could do all the things you can do with current f-stop timers but you could also add and program steps with much more ease that you currently can. It would not be easy, and it would require two pieces of hardware. Alternatively you could try to do it with the current camera but you might have to give up accuracy for convenience. Perhaps the hardware pieces are the PRO bundle, but you can get the software as the beginner version.
Just thinking.

We're thinking along the same lines. I think the Iphone and the Android are powerful computers where there's a lot of potential to be tapped for analog photogs and darkroom enthusiast. The next thing is to have a photographer/Iphone programmer/engineer that see the same potential and see it as worth while to develop.

squinonescolon · Jan 10, 2011

I know, I make myself salivate just thinking about it. The problem is that I would have to stop taking photographs so I could design the software and hardware. Can't do both at the same time.

Colin Corneau · Jan 10, 2011

holmburgers said:
I've lately been wondering if an iPhone or similar could be utilized as a light meter. I don't even own one, but I'd be curious to know.

It can and the (temporarily free) app is accurate and easy to use.

It's called - wait for it - Light Meter.

You don't have to take a picture first in order to get a reading.

http://www.appstorehq.com/pocketlightmeter-mobile-293275/app

polyglot · Jan 11, 2011

I have the LightMeter app; it works but has some issues. Its not possible on the 3G because that camera provides no exposure information, just an image, therefore it can't tell you an absolute light level.

daleeman · Jan 11, 2011

Very Cool,
I wonder if you could get an app with the right color text on it to be a timer in the darkroom? You would have no relay control for AC like an enlarger timer but would be nice to have.

L

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 11, 2011

I think it would be possible

daleeman said:
Very Cool,
I wonder if you could get an app with the right color text on it to be a timer in the darkroom? You would have no relay control for AC like an enlarger timer but would be nice to have.

L

The Iphone has a color screen so the display can be in any color. The Dev Chart App you can change the color of the display.

wblynch · Jan 12, 2011

Apple Question...

Can the newest Ipod Touch do these same things ?

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 13, 2011

Some things....

wblynch said:
Apple Question...

Can the newest Ipod Touch do these same things ?

The Ipod touch is missing a phone of course, but everything else is the same I think.

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html

daleeman · Jan 13, 2011

Can I load the dev chart on my IPAD?
Would be nice to have the darkroom timer item on there too.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 13, 2011

Now you're talking!

daleeman said:
Can I load the dev chart on my IPAD?
Would be nice to have the darkroom timer item on there too.

I think with Apple mobile device OS, most if not all Iphone Apps will run on the Ipad.

A kooky idea for an Iphone app

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