User manual
Every control on the camera body, what it does, and what it remembers.
How to use the manual
The Time Travel Camera is built like a real camera: a body with dials, a red REC button, little rubber buttons on the back and a display that doubles as the viewfinder. This manual walks around that body one part at a time. Each chapter stands on its own, so you can jump straight to the control you are holding.
On-screen labels are printed the way the app prints them, in capitals: DECADE, DEGREE, REC, DONE. A path such as MENU › LOOK › FRAME means: press MENU, open the LOOK page, find the FRAME row.
Quick start in six steps
- Allow the camera. On first launch, follow the four short intro pages, then tap ALLOW for the camera (and the microphone, if you want sound). Tap START SHOOTING.
- Pick a decade. Drag the knurled DECADE wheel under the viewfinder, or tap its left or right half to move one decade at a time. The year shows in the window above it.
- Pick a look. Turn the round dial on the left. In CINE mode it is the TECHNOLOGY dial, with 12 kinds of film or video for that decade. In STILL mode it becomes the STYLE dial, with 12 kinds of print.
- Set the strength. Turn the DEGREE dial on the right. 7 is the decade as specified; lower is cleaner, higher is more worn.
- Shoot. Tap REC to start and tap again to pause, or hold it to record only while you hold. Flip the lever under REC to STILL to take photos instead.
- Develop and keep it. Press DONE. The clip develops on its CLIP card, where you can SAVE it to Photos or SHARE it.
Chapters
Getting started
First launch of The Time Travel Camera: the four intro pages, the SET UP page, which permissions are asked and when, and which iPhone and iOS you need.
The camera body
A tour of HOME: the DECADE wheel, the three dials, REC and its mode lever, the side rockers, the mini buttons, the rear row and viewfinder readouts.
DECADE and DEGREE
How the DECADE wheel, the decade of the day and its fact, the TECHNOLOGY and STYLE dial and the DEGREE dial from 1 to 12 set the look of every shot.
Shooting video
Recording in CINE: tap or hold REC, takes in parts, the 3:00 tape and TAPE FULL, DONE and UNDO, FORMAT crops, self-timer, interruptions, buttons.
Taking photos
Taking photos in STILL: the STYLE dial, print shapes from circular to 3:1, borders and instant frames, FRAME, flash and screen flash, the 12 MP cap.
Sound
How sound works in The Time Travel Camera: the SOUND button's PERIOD, SILENT and ORIGINAL modes, SPEAKER FX, the VU meter and the microphone.
MENU and settings
Every MENU page (SHOT, LOOK, IMAGE, SOUND, SYSTEM) with each row's options and default, what RESET restores, and which settings survive a relaunch.
Date stamp and clock
Burn a date into photos and clips: DATE STAMP modes, four date formats, 12H or 24H, four corners, SET CLOCK for any day, and styles that print a date.
LIBRARY and clips
The LIBRARY and its filters, the CLIP card, SAVE, SHARE, EDIT and DELETE with UNDO, the share card, the 2-second end card and the decade signature.
IMPORT and EDITOR
Develop a video from Photos in any decade with IMPORT, then cut clips into one reel in the EDITOR with title and end cards, captions and music.
Siri and Shortcuts
Open The Time Travel Camera on a decade with Siri, Shortcuts or the Action button: the exact phrases, when capture starts by itself, and the link.
Storage and troubleshooting
The STORAGE page, recovered takes and REJOIN, every on-screen message with what it means and what to do, and how to restore camera or Photos access.
Accessibility
Using The Time Travel Camera with VoiceOver and its adjustable dials, how text size works on the camera panel, Reduce Motion, and shooting with buttons.