iPhone App for film development

I know this is a bit off-topic, but what app (if any) do you use to help with film development? It appears there are a few listed in the iTunes store that have received some favorable reviews, but nothing that look terribly conclusive.

As I embark on processing my own B&W film something like this looks like it would be really helpful. Any thoughts / recommendations?

What is it that appeals to you about having an iPhone app involved?

I ask, because I think that, given the way I approach the process, I am better served by a binder with print outs and notes, a Darkroom Dataguide, and a Gralab timer.

I certainly could see substituting for the timer, if mine should need replacement, but otherwise I don't find that the functionality of a small computer calls out to me for this purpose - particularly in light of the cost of an iPhone and the fact that you would be using it around water and chemicals.

I'm not saying that there won't be people who would benefit from applying the tools of an iPhone to the process. I'm just suggesting that they investigate other options as well, because from what I've seen the apps seem to have been created to permit use of an iPhone as part of the process, rather than to increase the quality and efficiency of the process.

Massive Dev Chart Timer claims to be the the world's largest development chart and multistep timer, so it would appear that it eliminates the need for 'the binder' and provides an interactive timer that indicates agitation cycles, etc. As an avid iPhone user it seems like this just makes sense ????

I use iPhone Timer. It is enough for bw.
I also write results log in the booknote.

bbiess said:

Massive Dev Chart Timer claims to be the the world's largest development chart and multistep timer, so it would appear that it eliminates the need for 'the binder'

Click to expand...

.. and possibly accurate information.

bbiess said:

Massive Dev Chart Timer claims to be the the world's largest development chart and multistep timer, so it would appear that it eliminates the need for 'the binder' and provides an interactive timer that indicates agitation cycles, etc. As an avid iPhone user it seems like this just makes sense ????

Click to expand...

Where do you store the resulting negatives, along with your notes about suggested development modifications and light conditions at time of exposure?

And what do you do when your preferred contrast and development differs from what Massive Development recommends?

I have grave misgivings about the full MDC. If the timer app uses the same data, I would strongly recommend against it for most common film and developer combinations, where there is good information from top tier manufacturers. The MDC is good for people trying to use esoteric combinations of film and developers where there is no reliable manufacturers' information available.

Don't get me wrong - I certainly see the potential of using a small computer. It is just that the choices made by the software designers may not always be the best ones, particularly for anyone who lacks sufficient experience to evaluate them critically.

I am also loath to use equipment that is battery operated and susceptible to water damage close to my developing area - especially when it would cost me several hundred dollars to replace.

If I knew of a fully customizable timer app that would work on my cheap tablet, I would happily recommend that to anyone who had already arrived at a procedure that worked for them, and sought to automate parts of it for convenience.

MDC is fully customisable. You can set times for two developers, stop bath, fixer and hypo clear. You can set your agitation regime and the DMC will prompt for each agitation event. You can do all that for each film/developer combination.

It also works with Android so should work on just about any tablet.

Hi Matt - I didn't mean that an app actually replace the 'binder' as to the point you made - you still need somewhere to store your negatives. What I meant was (and this is more a question than a statement) is that an app like MDC replaces the need for binders full of development specs for the film I'm using ... I think. That and it becomes a really simple and accurate way for a newb like me to keep track of development times, agitation cycles, etc. That was really the nature of my inquiry.

bbiess said:

Hi Matt - I didn't mean that an app actually replace the 'binder' as to the point you made - you still need somewhere to store your negatives. What I meant was (and this is more a question than a statement) is that an app like MDC replaces the need for binders full of development specs for the film I'm using ... I think. That and it becomes a really simple and accurate way for a newb like me to keep track of development times, agitation cycles, etc. That was really the nature of my inquiry.

Click to expand...

I think I know what you are thinking.

My concern isn't with the apps themselves, with one big exception, it is with the quality of the information built into them.

The big exception is that I really don't want an expensive battery powered item like an iPhone to get anywhere near my processing area.

A customizable process timer that allows you to record the steps of your process and play them back at will is otherwise a great idea.

But I think that you need to decide on the details of that process before you record it. Or at the very least, you need to know the source of the recommendations built into the app.

For fun, I did some looking around for apps that are functional on my cheap Android tablet. I located this interesting option from an entity referred to as "Darkroom Solutions": http://darkroom-solutions.com/#home

It offers three things I like:
1) there is a trial version, so I can see how it works before I pay for it;
2) there is an explicit notation stating that all recommended times are based explicitly on manufacturers' recommendations. As an example, when I tried Kodak T-Max 400 in HC-110, it actually referenced the appropriate Kodak data sheet by number; and
3) it is fully customizable.

What I don't like is that there is no way to export customized settings, or to even print them out. So if I want a backup, in case my tablet goes away and Darkroom Solutions cannot help, I would be out of luck.

I use MDC in my kitchen/bath. It's great. Highly recommend it. The less clutter in the small apartments I tend to live, the better. Negatives already take up space. I don't need to double it.


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I've used the MDC iPhone app. It works well, but, make sure you turn the phone to airplane mode first. If you receive a phone call, the timer will not run in the background and your times will be off. This has happened to me.

I really enjoy the MDC app. I don't always trust the data but what is nice about it is that as I fine tune a developing time I can save it in the app and use it next time. I find that I can kind of zone out, watch tv, etc while developing film since the app will keep me posted when to agitate and when to move on in the process. You still have to research your times and find what suits you but the app is easily programable. It's really just a fancy timer or clock app but one that is designed specifically for our process.

Just don't forget to google for the film manufacturers data sheet.

Yeah I use MDC too.

I use the built in times to set up a recipe (for example 120 HP5+ pushed to 1600 in Microphen Stock) then you can fine tune the times and next time you need it, it's ready to go with one click with all your custom settings including agitation scheme.

The agitation reminder is great. You get a warning sound then an audible click during the agitation time.

I also use the timer for C41. I have different times set for 1-4, 5-9 rolls, etc.

For paper developing I just use a wall clock with a second hand. Whatever works best!

When I go into the darkroom to develop a film, it is usually one film in a specific developer. If its a proprietary developer I look up the manufacturer's time. If there are no times I search APUG. If nothing useful there I might go to Unblinkingeye( another good source)

Once I decide on a time I can usually remember it long enough to get me to the darkroom. If it turns out to be a good time I write it down using two apps called a pencil and small notebook

I then keep that "app" in the darkroom" In the case of a time for a particular film and developer I am unclear what advantages an i-phone app confers

pentaxuser

pentaxuser said:

I am unclear what advantages an i-phone app confers

Click to expand...

The timer aspect.

It has preprogrammed timers for dev, stop, fix, etc. with agitation reminders which you can step through with one tap.

When it's time to agitate, you get an audible warning then it ticks down during the agitation time and gives you an alarm when it's time to empty the tank.

For me, this timer system is very useful. I've tried using a wall clock, but I'm easily distracted and forget where I am!

The list of times is a bonus, however bad you all think they are they usually work for me, but I mainly use it for the timer with the phone in a resealable bag (the touch screen still works through the bag).

Suggest a big sign

'You are here'

pentaxuser said:

When I go into the darkroom to develop a film, it is usually one film in a specific developer. If its a proprietary developer I look up the manufacturer's time. If there are no times I search APUG. If nothing useful there I might go to Unblinkingeye( another good source)

Once I decide on a time I can usually remember it long enough to get me to the darkroom. If it turns out to be a good time I write it down using two apps called a pencil and small notebook

I then keep that "app" in the darkroom" In the case of a time for a particular film and developer I am unclear what advantages an i-phone app confers

pentaxuser

Click to expand...

I use a metronome and audio recorder when burning & dodging.
A digital recorder would be useful especially with editing capability.

But the best use is selfies...

klownshed said:

The timer aspect.

It has preprogrammed timers for dev, stop, fix, etc. with agitation reminders which you can step through with one tap.

When it's time to agitate, you get an audible warning then it ticks down during the agitation time and gives you an alarm when it's time to empty the tank.

For me, this timer system is very useful. I've tried using a wall clock, but I'm easily distracted and forget where I am!

The list of times is a bonus, however bad you all think they are they usually work for me, but I mainly use it for the timer with the phone in a resealable bag (the touch screen still works through the bag).

Click to expand...

OK and thanks. Let's put it down to a generational thing

pentaxuser

I use an android app called Darkroom Timer. The timer functionality sounds identical to the Massive Dev Cart app, although it only comes with a handful of preset times. The other great thing about it is that it is free! Unlike the MDC app it can be interrupted by calls and continue in the background and it even works if you are playing podcasts or music at the same time, dipping the music volume to beep for agitation cycles or pour out.

Whilst the times listed on the massive dev chart are often user generated, especially for push/pull processing or unusual developers, the majority of times for common films and developers are based on the manufacturers recommendations which are always a useful starting point if you have not done extensive testing. I've never had a problem with manufacturers recommendations producing good results, and bad negatives have always been a result of mistakes in exposure rather than development when using standard times.

As the OP said that they are just starting out they are unlikely to be using Adox Silvermax in Obsidian Aqua and will likely find the times for Tri-X or FP4 to be reliable and capable of producing usable negatives.

The advice to carry out your own tests to establish your own development time are always valid but it is the kind of thing that could put some people off film if they think you can't just go with the basic guide times and then work from there.

+1 for MDC app.

Ever since I started using it I haven't looked back. I do use it only on my iPad though, not my iPhone, so don't have to worry about incoming calls. The MDC is more "in the moment" for me, just to aid with developing (and to keep track of all my customizable times) but my regular backups, which I have been doing forever, is keeping a yearly chart on my computer with all the rolls of film I've developed during the year (including developing and exposure specs, if I marked them down) plus I write a short-hand version right on the print sleeves that hold the negatives so I know exactly what's what.

I use Timer+. It allows you to set up, for example, a 10 minute total development time but also have it buzz or ring at the 30 second or 1 minute marks to remind you to agitate. Then stops and buzzes at the total time (i.e. 10 minutes). You can save and name "profiles" too like "D-76 for Tmax 400 at 20C".

I use Massive Development Chart app to look up times and temps but Timer+ to time myself during developing and fixing.

I have used 2 apps, both are great and free.

1. Dev it!
2. Develop!

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I built my own iPhone app for printing. A bold graphical all red interface and beeps counting through (good for steps) with louder beeps when the last 3 seconds are coming to warn me when a long exposure is ending. I never worked out a way of distributing it to other people without a lot of work.