Fotologue

Fotologue Desktop & Full Image Lifetime Archival Strategy Whitepaper 📄🖥️

Version: 1.0.17 (Build 18) | Last Updated: September 2026 | Audience: Product Strategy & Core Engineering Team

[!IMPORTANT] Privacy-Preserving User-Owned Sync Principle: To maintain Fotologue's core commitment to privacy and data sovereignty, cloud backup/sync must be 100% user-owned (via user-configured Google Drive, WebDAV, Dropbox, or local LAN sync). No proprietary user accounts, tracking, or vendor lock-in servers.

Executive Summary

Fotologue began as a mobile field-logging tool. Expanding into a Desktop Application ("Fotologue Studio") and Private Cloud Sync unlocks the ability to track an image across its Full Lifetime Pipeline: from field exposure, to darkroom printing, to gallery exhibition, print editioning, and archival sales.

1. The 4 Pillars of the Full Image Lifetime Pipeline

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ THE FULL IMAGE LIFETIME PIPELINE │ ├─────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┤ │ 1. CREATION │ 2. DIGITIZATION │ 3. PRINTING │ 4. PROVENANCE │ │ (Mobile Field) │ (Scan & XMP) │ (Darkroom / Lab) │ (Exhibition/Sale) │ ├─────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┤ │ • Exposure Log │ • Macro Presets │ • Enlarger Setup │ • Print Editions │ │ • GPS Location │ • XMP Sidecars │ • Paper & Grade │ • Gallery Log │ │ • Light Meter │ • Digital Contact │ • Exposure Secs │ • Sales & Price │ │ • 3-Axis Tags │ Sheets │ • Dodge/Burn Map │ • Archival Sleeve │ └─────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┘

Pillar 1: Creation (Mobile App Field Capture)

  • Role: Mobile app acts as the ultra-fast field capture tool (light metering, GPS location, hotshoe triggers, 3-Axis Taxonomy).

Pillar 2: Digitisation & Contact Sheets

  • Role: Scan-to-log matching, camera macro copy presets (_DSF1024.xmp), in-grid gap adjustment, and PDF proof sheet generation.

Pillar 3: Darkroom Printing ("Print Recipes")

  • Role: Track exact darkroom enlarging parameters for fine-art silver-gelatin prints:

    • Enlarger & Lens: Enlarger head height, lens aperture (e.g. Rodagon 80mm @ f/11).

    • Paper Stock: Brand, size, surface (Ilford Multigrade FB Glossy 11x14").

    • Multigrade Filter / Exposure: Base exposure seconds, split-grade filter values (Grade 00 + Grade 5).

    • Dodge & Burn Maps: Interactive diagram/notes recording dodging and burning zones.

Pillar 4: Provenance, Editions & Sales Tracking

  • Role: Manage the physical prints after production:

    • Edition Numbers: Track limited editions (Edition 02/10 + 2 Artist Proofs AP1, AP2).

    • Exhibition History: Log gallery exhibitions, framing specs, and display locations.

    • Sales & Collector Records: Record collector sales, invoice references, prices, and archival certificate of authenticity.

2. Private User-Owned Cloud Sync Architecture

To enable syncing between the mobile app and desktop application without compromising privacy:

┌────────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────────┐ │ FOTOLOGUE MOBILE APP │ │ FOTOLOGUE DESKTOP │ │ (Field Capture Tool) │ │ ("Fotologue Studio") │ └───────────┬────────────┘ └───────────┬────────────┘ │ │ │ ┌────────────────────────────────┐ │ └────────► │ USER'S PRIVATE CLOUD / LAN │ ◄────────┘ │ • Google Drive / iCloud / SAF │ │ • WebDAV / Self-Hosted S3 │ │ • Encrypted SQLite Database │ └────────────────────────────────┘

  • Encrypted Database Sync: The Room/SQLite database is encrypted and synced directly to the user's private storage (Google Drive, iCloud, WebDAV, or local Wi-Fi LAN sync).

  • Zero Vendor Lock-In: The user owns the database file and can access it anytime offline on both mobile and desktop.

3. Desktop Application Architecture ("Fotologue Studio")

Framework Options:

  1. Compose Multiplatform (Desktop):

    • Uses Kotlin and Jetpack Compose for Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux).

    • 90%+ Code Reuse: Shares the exact same Room database entities, DAOs, repository logic, and ViewModels with the Android mobile app!

  2. Electron / Web App:

    • HTML/JS/CSS frontend connected to local WebDAV/SQLite database.

Key Desktop Views in "Fotologue Studio":

  • Lightroom / Capture One Sidecar Inserter: Drag-and-drop RAW scan folders to automatically inject Fotologue XMP sidecars.

  • Full-Screen Digital Contact Sheet: High-res multi-monitor contact sheet view with lightbox comparison.

  • Darkroom Print Recipe Editor: Visual dodging/burning map editor for darkroom prints.

  • Edition & Sales Ledger: Portfolio manager for limited edition prints, gallery exhibitions, and archival binder tracking.