Write to me
For anything at all: a problem, a question, a request, a story about the shot you got.
Bugs and ideas
The app is on the App Store. New builds go to TestFlight first: here's the link. Send bugs and ideas straight to me. Put the app version in if you can find it (bottom of the app's Settings screen), and a screenshot if you have one.
r/VantagePointApp
Where people using the app talk to each other. Post your pairs, ask anything, say what you want it to do.
Reporting a problem
The more of this you include, the faster I can find it:
- Your iPhone model and iOS version (Settings › General › About).
- The app version. It's at the bottom of the app's own Settings screen.
- What you were doing, and what happened instead of what you expected.
- What kind of photo you started from: something you took recently, an old scan, or a picture from an archive.
- A screenshot or a screen recording if you have one. Trim out anything you'd rather I didn't see; I only need the part that went wrong.
The usual questions
What do I need to run it?
An iPhone running iOS 17 or later. It's free. iPhone only for now; if enough people ask for Android or an iPad version I'll look at it.
Is it really free?
Yes. The part you'll use most stays free: no ads, no watermark, and no cap on how many places you keep going back to. The short clip that sweeps from the old photo into your new one is free too, and so are the timelapse of a whole series, the animated GIF and the sizes for the different apps. I may add a paid set of features eventually. If I do, nothing that works today gets moved behind it.
Where do my photos go?
Nowhere. Everything happens on the phone. There's no account, no server, and nothing you make is used to train an AI model. The privacy policy has the whole picture, and it's short.
What are the permissions for?
- Camera runs the viewfinder and takes the new photo.
- Photos lets you pick a reference photo, save a finished one, and, if you use Photos near me, find shots taken close to where you're standing.
- Location (only while using the app) records where a photo was taken so the app can guide you back to the spot.
- Motion matches your phone's tilt and rotation to the original photo.
You can change any of them later in iOS Settings, under the app's name. The feature that needs the permission stops working and the rest carries on.
How do I delete my data?
Delete a series in the app to remove its photos, or delete the app to remove everything. There's nothing on my side to delete, because nothing ever came to me. If you signed up for the email list, the unsubscribe link in any email takes you off it, or write to me and I'll remove you from the list entirely.
It won't line up. What am I doing wrong?
Probably nothing. Some scenes are much harder than others, and the honest answer is that patience does most of the work. A few things that help:
- Move your feet, not just the phone. Most of the mismatch is where you're standing.
- Line up one edge at a time. Get one long line to sit right, then work on the next.
- Scenes with strong straight lines, like buildings and fences, are easier than trees and water.
- Low light and featureless scenes are harder. When the phone can't track its position well, the app drops to a simpler mode that guides on the picture alone.
- Watch where you're stepping. Look up often.
If a scene keeps beating you, tell me which one. That's exactly what I want to know.
Can I use an old photo from a library or the internet?
If you have the right to, yes. A photo you didn't take may belong to a family member, a library, an archive, or a photographer, and it's on you to check. In the United States a photo published before 1931 is very likely public domain by age, though an archive can set terms on its own scans. Credit the source either way. The terms say the same thing.
How do the early builds work?
New builds go to TestFlight, Apple's free app for trying things before they ship, a week or so before they reach the App Store. The link is on the home page; TestFlight installs the app beside your normal apps and updates it when a new build goes out. To stop testing, delete the app, or open TestFlight and tap Stop Testing. TestFlight builds expire after 90 days on their own.
How do I get off the email list?
Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. If you'd rather I delete you from the list entirely, write to me and I will.
Is there an Android or iPad version?
Not right now. It's iPhone only. If enough people ask, I'll look at it; say so on the list and I'll count you.
Rob