Taking Photos

Capture Format

SHC3 offers four capture formats for different scenarios and needs:

ISP pipeline (HEIC / HILM) uses the iPhone’s built-in image signal processor. It’s fast, but RAW-related features (such as Dynamic Range expansion) are unavailable.

RAW pipeline (HEIC+ / RAW+) processes 16-bit linear RAW data for higher image quality and Dynamic Range expansion, but is slower.

If the device does not support RAW capture, RAW pipeline formats will be unavailable.

Switch via arc controls, the Quick Cross Menu, or Settings > Capture Format.

Live Photo & ISP Options

The Apple ISP formats (HEIC / HEIC Film) have two extra options in Settings > Capture Format:

• Live Photo — Captures motion and sound around the moment, paired with the still. Increases file size and save time. When on, the top info bar’s format label gains a +Live suffix (e.g. HEIC+Live, HILM+Live). With HEIC Film, the unprocessed Live video is embedded as well, so re-editing the photo later re-applies your new settings to the Live video too.
• Reduce ISP Processing — Reduces unnatural over-sharpening. On by default.

RAW Engine

RAW pipeline formats (HEIC+ / RAW+) decode the 16-bit RAW with a selectable engine, in Settings > Capture Format > RAW Engine:

Also Save ISP Version — additionally saves a separate ISP-processed photo (with your recipe applied) alongside the RAW pipeline output, handy for comparing the two renderings. Reduce ISP Processing applies to it as well. Off by default.

Also Save HEIC Copy — RAW+ only. Saves an additional standalone HEIC as a separate photo with no RAW attached, so apps that might otherwise upload the RAW get the finished image instead. Off by default.

Exposure Control

EV Compensation

Exposure compensation ranges from -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV steps (19 levels total).

Adjustment methods:

• Arc control: Assign EV to any corner and drag the arc to adjust
• Quick Cross Menu: Scroll within the EV parameter group
• Drag adjustment: Drag vertically on the viewfinder to adjust exposure in real time

Drag Adjustment

Dragging vertically on the viewfinder adjusts exposure in real time over an independent ±3 EV range, which stacks with the arc control EV value.

Focus and AE/AF Lock

Tap to Focus

Tap anywhere on the viewfinder to autofocus and meter at that point.

AE/AF Lock

Press and hold on the viewfinder for about 1 second to lock focus and exposure:

• An AE/AF LOCK label appears above the focus box
• Both focus and exposure are locked
• If Settings > Advanced > Lock WB with AE/AF is enabled, White Balance is also locked

Tap the viewfinder again to unlock.

Lens and Zoom

Physical Lenses

SHC3 automatically detects the device’s physical lenses (ultra-wide, wide, telephoto, etc.). Physical lenses appear as individual buttons on the zoom bar.

Virtual Zoom Stops

In addition to physical lenses, you can set up custom virtual zoom stops (e.g., 1.2x, 1.5x). Virtual stops use digital crop.

In Settings > Lens you can:

• Add custom zoom stops
• Enable or disable specific stops
• Delete custom stops

Zoom Display Mode

Zoom values support two display modes:

• Magnification: Shows optical magnification (e.g., 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x)
• 35mm equivalent focal length: Shows equivalent focal length (e.g., 13mm, 26mm, 52mm, 130mm)

Switch in Settings > Lens > Display Mode.

Precise Zoom

Long-press any focal length button on the zoom bar to enter precise zoom mode for finer zoom control.

Macro

On devices with an autofocus ultra-wide lens, macro mode switches to the ultra-wide for close-up subjects.

Auto Macro (Settings > Advanced > Auto Macro, on by default) automatically switches macro on and off as you move closer or farther.

A button at the left of the zoom bar also lets you switch macro manually.

White Balance

Auto White Balance

• AWB: Standard auto white balance with continuous tracking
• AWB-A (Ambience Retain): Preserves some of the ambient color temperature, producing an image closer to what the eye perceives

Presets

Four built-in White Balance presets:

Custom White Balance

Three custom White Balance slots are available, each configurable as:

• Auto mode
• Fixed color temperature (2000K – 10000K)

WB Shift (BA/GM)

Each White Balance slot supports Blue–Amber (BA) and Green–Magenta (GM) shift adjustment:

• BA axis (horizontal)
• GM axis (vertical)

When the White Balance arc is expanded, a WB shift editor button appears on the opposite side.

Dynamic Range

Dynamic Range expansion improves highlight and shadow detail. Available only with the RAW pipeline (HEIC+ and RAW+ formats).

Modes

Flash

Three modes:

• Auto: Automatically decides whether to fire the flash based on ambient light
• On: Always fires the flash
• Off: Never fires the flash

Switch via arc controls, the Quick Cross Menu, or Settings > Flash.

Hardware Camera Button

On devices with a hardware camera button, you can change the bound function in Settings > Camera Control:

• AE/AF
• Zoom
• Exposure
• White Balance
• Aspect Ratio
• Flash
• Color
• Dynamic Range
• Capture Format
• Recipe

Location Tagging

Location tagging is off by default. Enable Settings > Advanced > Record Location if you want SHC3 to save the shooting location with each photo.

When enabled, SHC3 requests location permission the first time it is needed. After you take a photo, SHC3 gets the location in the background and writes it as standard GPS EXIF metadata. If permission is denied, location is unavailable, or location lookup times out, the photo is still saved without GPS metadata.