Patina
Support · by Izuba
Patina keeps a visual history of one meaningful object.
Photograph something you care about. Come back months or years later, photograph it again, and drag the seam to see exactly what changed.
Getting started
- Adding an object
- Tap + on the main screen and give it a name.
- Adding an observation
- Open the object and tap +. Take a photograph or choose one from your library, set the date it was taken, and add a note if you want one.
- Lining up a later photograph
- When you photograph an object that already has a picture, the previous frame is laid over the viewfinder. Line the object up against it before pressing the shutter — a comparison is far clearer when the framing matches. The slider changes how strongly the earlier frame shows.
- Comparing two dates
- Open an object with two or more observations and tap the compare button. Drag the seam across the photograph, or drag either end of the timeline to choose which two dates you are comparing.
- Reminders
- Each object can remind you every three or six months. The reminder is measured from your most recent photograph, so photographing early simply moves the next one out.
- The widget
- Add Patina's widget to your Home Screen to see one object then and now, side by side, with the years between them.
Common questions
- Where are my photographs stored?
- On your device only. Patina has no account and no server, and makes no network requests. Your device backup includes them.
- Can I change something after saving it?
- Yes. Tap any observation to change its date, its note, or the photograph itself. Swipe an object to rename or delete it.
- Why does my comparison look misaligned?
- Patina never moves, crops or warps your photographs — it shows exactly what you took. Use the ghost overlay when photographing so the framing matches.
- My widget is blank
- The widget needs at least one observation, and shows a comparison once there are two.
Accessibility
The comparison seam works as a slider with VoiceOver, and the Reveal earlier and Reveal later buttons do the same job without dragging. Dates are always written out, never carried by colour alone. Patina supports Dynamic Type and honours Reduce Motion.
Contact
Anything else, or a bug to report: hello@izuba.co. Please say which iPhone or iPad and which iOS version, if you can.