‘Knives Out’ director launches iPhone camera app that shoots like his movies

Hollywood director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) announced a new iPhone camera app that uses the same image processing techniques as his ‘Knives Out‘ films. Here are the details.

Rian Johnson launches Chromagraph Camera

Over the past few years, there has been no shortage of discussions about the iPhone’s image processing, and, particularly, its often heavy-handed approach to post-processing.

And while things seem to have gotten better more recently, Apple’s approach to computational photography has helped fuel the development of third-party camera apps that offer more control over how photos are processed, chief among them Halide’s Mark III – Pro Camera app and Process Zero feature.

This week, Hollywood director Rian Johnson introduced Chromagraph Camera, an iPhone app he commissioned from cinematographer Steve Yedlin that promises to bring the same image processing used in the ‘Knives Out‘ films to the iPhone.

Chromagraph Camera is available for $12.99 with no in-app purchases. It already supports the iPhone Duo, though at least one review suggests its adapted interface could use some fine-tuning.

Here’s how the Chromagraph Camera is described on the App Store:

Chromagraph starts from raw image data and builds the image its own way: not a filter laid over the usual look processing, but a different process from the start.

SHOOT FIRST, SEE THE LOOK AFTER
As with a film camera, you frame through the viewfinder and see the finished look only after the image is processed. Take the picture, then open the gallery to see it with the Chromagraph look applied.

ADJUST WITHOUT LOSING THE LOOK
Intuitive yet powerful tools for color, tone, and texture give you real control while keeping every image true to the look that’s the core of the app.

A GALLERY THAT KEEPS THE ORIGINALS
Store full-quality raw files and view them in the app with the look applied live, along with any adjustments you make. Export smaller files to share with friends or save to your photo library, or turn on auto-export in Preferences to send every photo to your library right away as a JPEG or HEIC with the look applied.

NOT A FILTER
A filter sits on top of the processing your phone has already done. Chromagraph skips that processing and uses its own methods for the curated look preferred by director Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin.

On X, Johnson explained that he originally asked Yedlin and color science developer Eric Cameron to create the app for his personal use, before they decided to make it available to everyone.

He added that, despite having tried plenty of third-party camera apps, he wanted a more streamlined solution that combined custom image processing with editing tools for color, exposure, grain, and halation.

To check out Chromagraph Camera, which is currently the top paid app in the App Store’s Photo & Video category, follow this link.

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