THE CINEMATOGRAPHER’S TOOLKIT
CineBrain Pro brings exposure and spot readings, color references, a director’s viewfinder, distance and depth-of-field tools, sun planning and scout reports together on your iPhone. Built for cinematographers, directors and location scouts, with photography support also included.
In beta testing/iPhone
ONE APP. CONNECTED DECISIONS.
Bring the functions of an exposure meter, spot meter, director’s viewfinder, color references and distance tools into one working space. Choose a setting, see how it relates to the other decisions and keep the references with your project.
Bring the light reference and camera settings together. Use tactile rotating rings to explore T-stop, shutter angle, frame rate and EI.
Look at the surface you choose, rather than only the whole frame. Build an exposure decision around the relationship between a face, a window and the shadows.
Explore the field of view before setting the camera. Use focal length, format, aspect ratio and protection guides to decide what the scene will reveal.
Compare an approximate source color temperature with camera white balance. Consider changes to the light and changes to the camera as separate decisions.
Connect subject distance with the focus plan. LiDAR on LiDAR models; an approximate depth estimate on dual-camera models; manual entry on other models.
Plan when the location gets the light you want, as well as how it looks. Read the location and frame direction in relation to the sun.
Save the frame with the decisions that shaped it. Project, day, scene and shot details give the team a shared reference.
Turn the scout into a useful document. Share a full project or a shooting day with technical details and notes beside the frames.
01 / THE FRAME
Compare focal-length frames from one position. Move the camera to explore how the relationship between the person and their surroundings changes. Choose the main aspect ratio and check protection areas for other deliveries.
Focal length · sensor format · main aspect / Spherical / anamorphic framing / 9:16 and other protection guides
Approximate camera-based color reference · Illustrative warming gel.
02 / THE LIGHT
Consider exposure time through shutter angle and frame rate, then work with T-stop, EI and ND. Use a spot reference to choose the surface that matters. In the color tools, evaluate source Kelvin separately from camera white balance.
T-stop · shutter angle · FPS · EI / Spot reference · ND / filter loss / Source Kelvin · camera WB · mired
03 / DISTANCE & TIME
Compare the actor’s starting and finishing distances with the depth-of-field reference. Outdoors, explore the frame’s direction relative to the sun at the time you choose. Keep distances, direction and location conditions with the shot notes.
LiDAR / estimate / manual distance / Near–far depth of field · hyperfocal / Location · frame direction · sun path
LiDAR · on supported devices
Estimates / manual input / sensor reference offsetSun path · direction · time
Azimuth / elevation / compass alignmentFROM THE SCOUT TO THE TEAM
A Scout Report (recce board) is more than a collection of images you like. Let the team see which frame, settings and light timing you mean. CineBrain Pro brings your saved references together in a project or day PDF.
Choose the position, lens and aspect ratio. Connect the reference with its project, scene and shot.
Add field notes beside the exposure, filter and focus details. Keep location and direction when available.
Create a Scout Report (PDF) for the whole project or one day, with one or two frames per page.
T4 · 180° · 25 fps · EI 800
ND 1.2 · Focus 50 m
T4 · 180° · 25 fps · EI 800
ND 1.2 · Focus 50 m
Compare two focal-length alternatives from the same position. Check the quay edge in the main frame and the 9:16 protection area.
A SHARED SHOOTING LANGUAGE
Bring lens, exposure, color, focus and light timing into the same field workflow.
Share the scene’s intention through framing alternatives and discuss the same reference with your cinematographer.
Document the location, direction, light timing and field notes with the frame, then bring them to the team.
Go beyond reading the concept. Change the setting, try it in a real place and compare the result.
OPEN TO EVERYONE, FREE
In the cinematography training, read the short explanation, change a setting in an interactive example, then try it with your own frame in the app. The training and practices connect cinematography knowledge with repeatable shooting decisions. Start with the topic you need. How to use the app is covered by the app guide.
The cinematography training (Turkish for now) is open to everyone and free; the app guide is in Turkish and English.
Planned: in-depth paid online and in-person courses.
The app guide is ready in Turkish and English. The cinematography training is in Turkish for now; the English version is being prepared.
SHORT PRACTICE PREVIEWS
Frame a key on a table, then leave it out of the frame. Note what information each reference gives the audience and when they receive it.
Have one person wait in a doorway while another approaches. Save their starting and finishing distances, then compare the relationship from a different camera position.
Choose one camera side for a two-person conversation. Save each person’s eyeline reference from that side and check whether the directions remain clear in the PDF.
Examine the same neutral card by a window and under an interior light. Save the source references and compare gel directions while keeping camera white balance fixed.
Move from an open area of a park into tree shade. Keep frame rate and shutter angle fixed, then use the wheel to explore how the spot-reference change affects T-stop or ND choices.
Compare two focal-length frames of a person from a fixed position. Then move for the same shot scale and save the background relationship and distance as separate observations.
Save a frame at a courtyard entrance. Choose two times on the day timeline and note the light direction on the face alongside buildings that could block the sun.
Make three references for a person walking down stairs and opening a door. Write the information each frame carries and check the plan in a single-day PDF.
BORN FROM FIELD WORK
CineBrain Pro grew from cinematographer Aras Demiray’s 34 years of shooting experience and his need to bring the tools he reaches for on shoots and location scouts into one place. The aim is to make technical decisions visible and shareable—and let you practise those decisions in your own scenes while learning.
Explore Aras’s work ↗BETA TEST
CineBrain Pro is in beta testing. If you’d like to try it in the field, leave your details and we’ll email you when the beta invitation is ready.
We’ve received your details. We’ll email you when the beta invitation is ready.
A FEW DETAILS
iOS 17 or later. For distance: LiDAR on LiDAR models; an approximate depth estimate on dual-camera models; manual entry on other models.
Camera-based exposure and Kelvin/tint values are references; color information is an approximate source estimate. Exposure correction, compass alignment and distance offsets help adapt known reference differences to your setup. Evaluate depth-of-field and sun-planning calculations alongside the real lens, light and location conditions.
The cinematography training (Turkish for now) is open to everyone and free; the app guide is in Turkish and English. No account is needed. In-depth paid online and in-person courses are planned.
It’s in beta testing now. The release date, price and official download link will be announced here. To try it, fill in the Join the beta form.
