Yes, absolutely. With one caveat. There are two styles of Osmo mirrors/reflectors that are made. One has a cool little dial that can be used to adjust the depth it drops onto your iPad's bezel. The other doesn't. Both work, but if you have an iPad with a thin bezel and you drop the non-adjustable reflector down all the way, the mirror will slide past the camera and you won't see an image. In that case, you just slide it up a bit. It can throw people off a bit as it seems like it's not working - but it's a simple rule: The camera needs to be pointed at the little mirror on the reflector. Also, some iPads now have the front camera on the landscape side instead of the top of the portrait side. Both work fine.

@@CameraLucidaApp ahh okay good to know.

Hi! There are two ways to correct the camera for the mirroring and perspective issues you get when using an angled mirror. So, my response depends upon whether you're correcting the camera issues using the manual controls or the automatic controls. If you're using the manual controls, it's possible you hit the "flip image" manual control. If you're using the automatic controls, it is possible that you placed your target upside down, so the app flipped the camera view to match. Either way, feel free to use the "contact us" button in the app and send me an email, ok? As a general rule, it's pretty tough to help people through responses to the comments thread of a KZfaq video.

If your iPad has your camera in the top of the device in portrait orientation then you can't easily rotate your device to landscape and stick a mirror on it. An Osmo is designed to point in a certain location - basically down toward the bottom of the device. If you attach it to the top of your iPad and then rotate your device into landscape, it's going to be pointed to your left or right - and that's not where your paper is! You COULD rig up your own mirror, but that's a hassle. The app can handle that weird rotation, but I certainly don't recommend it. By the way, new iPad Pros and iPad 10th generation have the front camera in the middle of the landscape side - so the opposite is true with them: They are best used in landscape orientation. Lastly, remember that the newer versions of Camera Lucida now allow you to use an external USB camera connected to your iPad's USB-C port. (iPads only - and it requires iOS 17+ and a device with a USB-C port.)

Hi, there's enlarging, and then there's zooming in. You can do either. If you're asking "what determines the size of your final drawing" the answer is this: The largest factor for determining your final image's size is your camera's field of view. The camera needs to be able to have your paper/canvas within it's field of view. If you are using a large canvas, then you can increase your camera's field of view by moving the camera further away from your drawing. Or, you can use one of the wide angle lenses. You can also adjust the displayed aspect ratio of the camera feed from within the app using the "maximize drawing size" button. Another thing people often ask is with regards to your screen size. A larger screen does not impact the size of your drawing. It simply means the user interface is larger - which is nice for those of us that need reading glasses. :) If you want to get really picky, you can also think about the fact that an iPhone's "longer, taller" screen shape is going to be less well matched to a square drawing than say an iPad screen. But the app lets you decide whether you want to fill the screen with the camera feed or fit the camera's view into the screen with black bars on the edges. Hope that helps!

Christopherstephen9708, actually when you buy the app, you get everything but one function! There is only one in-app purchase and it's for "automatic camera correction". That one in-app purchase is just for people who want to use tilted or mirrored setups and don't want to have to fiddle with the manual camera corrections. It's the only extra thing the app lets you purchase. I made the exception to the "no in-app purchases" simply because that feature which uses computer vision was very difficult to implement; literally taking me a couple of years to figure out how to do it. Since it's not something everyone uses and it took me so long to do, the in-app purchase seemed reasonable. (Plus, even if you don't purchase it, you can still use the manual controls to correct the camera.) Every other feature in the app comes bundled for the single purchase price. And, you can install the app on every device you own. And everyone in your family (using Apple Family Sharing) can also use the app without paying for it!

Hi Bob! There are two reasons you would use a stand and which stand I personally use is based on which of these two things I'm doing. The first use of a stand is to hold it in place while you draw. In that case, I like to use the "Tablet Bed Stand" made of aluminum. I'll post that link after the comment. If I'm using a mirror on the front of the iPad to draw, then my favorite by far is the Osmo stand and mirror. The second use of a stand is just to put the iPad somewhere where you can see it while it displays the view from the external camera. In that case, my favorite is still the Osmo stand - which, if you get the newer versions supports all sizes of iPads and all orientations. That's what I'm using in this video. Here's the link to the bed stand: www.amazon.com/Lost-Universal-Tablet-Holder-Samsung/dp/B00MP0J0YK/ref=sr_1_3_pp?crid=1VSA2UC2MJAIQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Hf-zja7BYaTqjF28DijqkWhx5lB9RxdDYtAOc216tN0X77HsncpzahT6f1bMIiDXGba8Rx1NHP73cPw6ZMwTBjBLMO87NBo2VxGWaZoQpwqrEXwxbyUFZNsPCCrxs7yNLiKwgvsITK9qsEJBU7wXPX77t8A-3PCYP1cozPfURYYwGOWhyH_Gg9dg0FAoZ7Uy3ysN2Pa2QFX52gjAfFnf8WWyFMNngUBz4d_7AczKpFo.fE0oIK9aRFfPQjT19AWJwggf2dM3jGVq3PolPlLjaRY&dib_tag=se&keywords=tablet+bed+stand&qid=1715852941&sprefix=tablet+bed+stand%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-3

As for changing the "orientation of the image", that depends on what you mean. You can rotate the source reference image from within the app with the rotate button. You can also rotate the view of the camera using the camera controls button. You can also rotate your device. If you're using an external camera, it will naturally have a native "up" which might not at first be what you want. If that happens, you can either rotate the camera manually to match, rotate the camera video feed from within the app - or, you can even rotate the device itself and when using the app, it will rotate the camera view. There are a lot of options to match the various ways you might want to position your iPad, the camera, etc. It's very flexible! And yes, you can set up the external camera anywhere you want - including behind the iPad!

Perfect! Great product and support. Thank you again!

The iPad only comes with one port, so like with any accessory you plug into your iPad, you'll need a dongle or hub. Preferably a hub with power delivery like this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLJFZ42M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

@CameraLucidaDemo this will help charge the ipad going to order 😊

I’m experiencing the same thing, any idea what’s going on?

Check the power supply (the thing you plug in the wall.) USB is nominally 5V, and your power adapter is almost certainly going to be providing the USB voltage, not your AC voltage. In other words, your "power hub" will be supplying 5V regardless of the wall/house current.

@@CameraLucidaApp thank you very much much for that explanation.

Ha ha! But they're not bullet holes. I know how to aim. ;)

Yes, it will work great with a 9th generation iPad! It will work on any iOS device running iOS 12.0 or higher.

I've experimented with this. Camera Lucida is, in theory, capable of running on MacOS and I've done so in development. But the gestures and some of the features such as device orientation support aren't there yet, so I haven't released a version for MacOS. So, I guess this is a teaser because yes, Camera Lucida has been compiled to run on MacOS using your iPhone as a camera, but I won';t release it until I'm happy with it. For example, if you know of a way to run an iOS app on your Mac and to trigger a device rotation, let me know because I've only managed to get MacOS to run my apps in portrait mode.

I'll certainly add that to my list! In the meantime, you might want to hop over to the Camera Lucida Facebook group and see what people are doing with the app. Some folks use it to create very large art.

Hi, please contact me from within the app - that way I'll know which version of iPad or iPhone you're using. Not all iPads come with a flashlight, so if you're missing the button, it may be that your model simply doesn't have one.

I've used Procreate and it's wonderful! But, unless I'm terribly mistaken, Procreate is an app for creating raster graphics. IE, you're creating digital art directly on your device. Camera Lucida is not for drawing art on the screen, but rather for creating non-digital (physical) art such as pencil/graphite/charcoal drawings on paper. Or watercolor. Or pastels, oils, etc. If you want to create digital art, then Procreate is the way to go. If you want to create physical are with traditional materials, then Camera Lucida will fill in where Procreate can't. Oh, and Procreate is much, much better with regards to applying filters, effects, etc. As you can tell, I really like Procreate - it's just not the same kind of tool as Camera Lucida.

Hi Sue! That's a fantastic question. And I love that you referenced the kidney bean cans as a unit of measurement. :) The answer to your question depends a lot upon a few different factors. First, it depends on which camera lens from within the app you decide to use. The wide angle lens cameras that are available on most iPhones and some iPads allow you to draw very large art at short distances without distortion. Also, there are settings in the app that allow you to decide to either fill your screen with the camera's view or "fit" the camera view into the screen. The latter gives you a wider field of view so you don't have to have your device up as high and the former makes sure you don't have black bars on the edges. As a *general* rule, using a "regular" camera lens, the largest dimension of your art will be roughly equivalent to the distance the camera is from your drawing surface. If you wanted to do a 16x20 inch drawing, you are absolutely correct that you would not want to use the app in the way this video starts out (simply held parallel to your paper above your drawing surface.) The paper would just be too far away as you point out. However, if you look at the other videos I've created showing how to create large art, you'll see that there are several options that are available to you. I know this comment is long-winded, but let me summarize quickly your options: 1) If you own two devices, you can run the app on both, pair them together so that one is a hosted camera and place the hosted camera as far from your drawing as you want while you use the other device in front of you to control the app. 2) Attach an external USB camera to your USB-C enabled iPad and place that camera where you need it to be while you control your drawing with the app. 3) Use an external monitor such as a Smart TV or laptop to display the app's screen while your device is again as far as it needs to be from your drawing. In this case, you can control zooming and panning with a cheap bluetooth controller or keyboard if you want. In summary, there are a lot of ways to use the app to draw large art! In this intro video I don't cover them because I wanted to stick to the basics. As a general rule, most people first use the app as shown in this video and then quickly move to a different style of use such as using a secondary camera or using the front camera with a little mirror attached. Contact me at [email protected] if you want to discuss all the options the app supports!

@@CameraLucidaAppThanks, Pete! I just purchased your app and I’m looking forward to creating art more quickly. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, in fact I need cataract surgery, so I’m hoping this will help. I can draw, but it can be so time consuming. I’m going to start with the basics and work my way towards creating larger art with your app. Thanks for answering my question so promptly!

Well, first we should clear up any misconception that the app "projects" anything. It doesn't - that would require a projector. I just want to be clear about that! With that being said, the size of the screen you're using does not impact the size of the drawing you're making. The size of the drawing you make is determined by how you crop your image and your camera's field of view. The field of view is determined by the distance your camera is from the paper. Simply put, the app can only help your draw if your canvas is able to be within the view of your camera. The further the camera is from the paper, the larger the paper can be. The size of your iPad or iPhone screen becomes more of a convenience and user interface issue. On smaller screens, the button might rearrange themselves, but that's about it. I prefer to use iPads for demo videos simply because it's easier for people to see the screen. When I use the app to draw, I prefer a larger screen because I don't have the same eyesight I did as a kid and I like the larger screen. :)

I'd love to, but I'd have to buy one of just about everything. I don't personally own a gopro. Sorry!

Well - was worth a shot. Thanks for the reply.

With regard to @allanpennington below - is his question valid? I'm asking because I'm in a bit of a quandry. I have 1st gen ipad which cannot be upgraded to the required IOS 17 so, without upgrading my ipad I am left with installing app on two IOS devices. My spouse has iphone I have Android. I'm thinking she can upgrade her iphone and hand-me-down her old iphone; which brings me to a question I could not find in your well written manual. Does one need to correct for distortion from hosted camera (either manual or auto)? I'm guessing no as long as hosted camera is parallel to drawing surface, correct? Again, thank you so much for your creation. I am 77 and retired and I love creating art but at this stage in life I don't have time to perfect any sort of drawing skills. Your app is perfect for what I want to do.

@@user-hj7ve3uk5t The first gen iPad didn't even have a camera, so I suspect you mean an iPad 2? Those old iPads, running a previous version of Camera Lucida *can* be a hosted camera - but they are no longer supported by Apple, so I can no longer write a version of the app for them. With the hosted camera, there is no capability (yet) for using the dynamic camera correction feature - I just found that the addition of adding the necessary transform in addition to the compression and transmission of video just created too much lag. (But, I haven't given up on doing it!) So, unfortunately, as time goes on it is getting more difficult to continue support for these old devices and I recommend people on a tight budget to find used devices from 2018 or newer.

I like the USB solution much better. Transmitting video wirelessly means corners have to be cut. I reduce the resolution and compression dynamically (as needed) to keep the lag to a minimum. This means you will likely have a better video image coming from the USB camera as it's a wired connection. Also, you can use the auto correct features with the USB camera. I just tried out a 720p USB camera I got on eBay for $15 delivered that has manual focus - it works well!

@@CameraLucidaApp That’s a great development and positive move forward for the app. I recall asking about usb camera support quite a while ago and at the time you remarked it had its difficulties in terms of implementation. It’s great you have found a workable solution. I only have an iPad Pro 9.7 inch running iOS 16.7.2 so I’ll need to upgrade in order to use my Logitech HD 1080p web cam. Although I have the iPad and a new iPhone 14 Pro so can try the other method.

@@allanpennington I remember our discussions! What's changed is that the USB-C ports on the new iPads allow for Apple to add new functionality to abstract the use of a video feed. Keep in mind, that the USB-External Camera support only works with USB-C enabled iPads running iOS 17 or higher. But, it's definitely the future!

Grazie! E vorrei sapere come dire qualcosa di più del semplice "Grazie!"

Hi Chuck! Yes, you can absolutely do that with the app! And yes, you have the choice. Just go to the settings page for the app and you'll see a section for various time-lapse recording settings. One of them is labeled, "Ignore Zooms and Pans". Just flip that switch. You'll also see you can control whether or not you record the user interface as well as defining the quality of of the video, the resolution, the video codec and a general quality setting. Lastly, if you're going to make time-lapse recordings, I also suggest that you use the two finger tap on the screen to lock the camera's exposure. Auto exposure is GREAT, unless you're making a long time-lapse recording. In that case, it makes a better final product if you lock the exposure. Hope that helps! And oh, it's all covered in the manual that's bundled with the app.

@@CameraLucidaApp Wow! Thank you for the info! 👍

Hi! Unfortunately, I didn't even order it by that name. My guess is that these are "white labeled" products from China and that if you find one on your version of Amazon that looks like it (and is said to be 15 megapixels) then you'll get the same one. It's a bit of a gamble, but Amazon's return policies are great. Here's the link to the one that I purchased. I know, it doesn't say "MiraBox" on it! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09V264SN8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Thanks a lot Pete!@@CameraLucidaApp