Plasticam

A camera for every kind of character

Explore worn VHS tape, Hi8 / Video8, DV Cam, chunky pocket-digital looks, Security+, silent KinoCrank film, and Slit-Scan. Each camera has its own controls, framing, and character.

Record with the front or rear camera in portrait or landscape, or transform a video you already have. Review the finished clip in your gallery, save to Photos, and share through your iPhone’s share sheet.

Find your recordings and camera media

The framed play button opens your recordings gallery. The cassette button opens media or film-stock options for the selected camera. The plus button opens additional look controls.

Use the camera picker to change cameras or import an existing video. Your clips are processed on your iPhone; no Plasticam account is needed.

Why does processing take time?

Some effects, including VHS and Slit-Scan, are applied after recording. Longer clips and complex effects take more time. The live viewfinder is an approximation, not always the final processed image.

Keep Plasticam open to finish sooner. Completed captures awaiting processing remain on your device and resume when you reopen the app. Closing the app during active recording can interrupt that capture.

Camera, microphone, and Photos permissions

Allow Camera access in iPhone Settings to record new video. Microphone access is optional; without it, new recordings have no microphone audio. Import uses Apple’s photo picker so you can choose a particular video.

With permission, completed videos are also added to Photos. If Photos access is denied, successfully saved clips remain in Plasticam’s gallery for playback and sharing.

Sound depends on the camera

KinoCrank saves silent video. Other cameras can give recorded sound a subtle camera-inspired character, while Slit-Scan and Pinhole retain the original sound. Security+ includes an option to save with or without audio.

DV and Security display controls apply to the saved video. Their live viewfinders stay clear so you can frame your shot.

Storage, saving, and sharing

If processing or saving fails, make room on your iPhone and reopen Plasticam to retry pending work. Important completed clips should also be saved or shared somewhere you can keep them.

Deleting a recording in Plasticam removes its local gallery copy, not an existing Photos copy. Deleting the app and its data removes its local library and pending originals. Offloading the app may retain that data.

Front camera and orientation

The front-camera live viewfinder is mirrored, but saved videos are not. The rear camera is not mirrored. The camera interface adapts to portrait and landscape while the scene stays upright.

If something looks wrong, include the camera mode, front or rear camera, and the way you were holding your iPhone in your support message.

Privacy

Video effects are processed on your device. Read the Plasticam privacy policy for local storage, permissions, sharing, backups, and support correspondence.