Keep a film development log on iPhone: developer, dilution, time, temperature
Last updated 2 June 2026
Yes. EditMe keeps a development log inside its darkroom timer: when a session finishes, it writes one entry recording the film, the rated EI (ISO), the developer name, the dilution, the develop time in minutes, the temperature in Celsius, and the date. The log lives on your iPhone in EditMe's own storage, with the newest roll at the top and a swipe to delete, so the next time you shoot the same film you can read off the exact recipe and reproduce the result roll after roll.
The darkroom (timer plus log) is free for the first three sessions, then part of the optional EditMe Pro subscription. There is no account and no cloud sync: every entry stays on the device.
What the log actually records
Each finished session becomes one log entry. From the source, an entry holds these fields:
- Film and EI: the film name and the rated ISO you developed at (shown as "EI").
- Developer and dilution: the developer name and its dilution as plain text, for example a 1+1 or stock dilution.
- Develop time: the development time in minutes, shown as a tidy duration.
- Temperature: the working temperature in degrees Celsius.
- Date: when the session ran.
In the log list, EditMe shows the film and EI on the first line, then the developer, dilution, time, and temperature on the second, then the date. That is enough to read a recipe back at a glance and dial in the next roll.
How entries get created and kept
You do not type the log by hand. You set up a session in the darkroom timer, run it to the end, and EditMe writes the entry automatically when the timer finishes. The log opens as its own sheet, newest roll first, and you remove an entry by swiping it away.
The log is saved as a file in EditMe's storage on the iPhone, written in the background so the timer screen never stalls while it saves. Nothing is uploaded: there is no cloud, no account, and no sign-in. If you delete the app, the log goes with it, so treat the device as the single copy.
To reproduce a result, open the log, find the roll that worked, and copy its developer, dilution, time, and temperature into your next session. Because the same numbers come back unchanged, the log turns a one-off good negative into a repeatable process.
Why a built-in log beats notes on paper
Film development is unforgiving about consistency. A roll that came out right at one developer, one dilution, one time, and one temperature will only repeat if you record all four together and read them back exactly. A scribbled note or a generic notes app loses the link between the numbers, and a plain timer forgets the run the moment it ends.
Because EditMe captures the recipe at the moment the timer completes, the log always matches what you actually did, not what you meant to do. Over a few rolls you build a small, honest history of your own process, which is the fastest way to stop guessing and start reproducing.
How it compares
| Factor | EditMe | By hand or a plain timer |
|---|---|---|
| Captures developer, dilution, time, temperature together | Yes, in one entry per finished session | Easy to split across notes or lose |
| Written automatically when the timer ends | Yes, no retyping | A plain timer forgets the run |
| Film and rated EI recorded with the recipe | Yes | Often omitted on paper |
| Where the data lives | On your iPhone, no cloud, no account | Paper, or a separate notes app |
| Order and cleanup | Newest roll first, swipe to delete | Manual |
| Cost | Free for three sessions, then EditMe Pro | Free but unstructured |
Frequently asked questions
Does EditMe record the temperature and time, or just start a timer?
Both. When a darkroom session finishes, EditMe saves a log entry that includes the develop time in minutes and the working temperature in degrees Celsius, alongside the developer, dilution, film, and EI. The timer is the input, and the log is the lasting record.
Can I reproduce a roll later from the log?
Yes. Each entry keeps the developer name, dilution, develop time, and temperature for that roll, so you read the recipe back and run the same session again. That is the whole point of the log: a result you can repeat instead of guess.
Is the development log stored in the cloud or tied to an account?
No. The log is saved in EditMe's own storage on your iPhone. There is no account, no sign-in, and no cloud sync, so the entries stay on the device. If you remove the app the log is removed with it.
Do I have to type each entry myself?
No. You set up and run the timer, and EditMe writes the entry automatically when the session ends, then you delete an entry by swiping it away in the log.
Is the development log free?
The darkroom, which includes the timer and the log, is free for the first three sessions. After that it is part of the optional EditMe Pro subscription. EditMe itself is free to download and runs on iPhone and iPad.
Does the log note which film and ISO I used?
Yes. Each entry records the film name and the rated EI, shown as the ISO you developed at, on the same entry as the developer, dilution, time, and temperature.