Rian Johnson and Steve Yedlin launch Chromagraph Camera app for iPhone

Rian Johnson and his longtime cinematographer Steve Yedlin announced this week that they have released Chromagraph Camera, a new iPhone app that applies the same image‑processing pipeline used on their films, including the 2005 indie hit Brick. The app is now available for download on the App Store and promises to give mobile shooters the look of a feature‑film camera without the need for expensive gear. Johnson, a two‑time Oscar‑nominated writer‑director, said the tool “uses the same image processing we use” in his movies, and Yedlin added that it captures the color and contrast choices they have refined over three decades of collaboration.

The launch comes as smartphones have become the default camera for many creators. Over the past few years, Apple has expanded its support for RAW capture and third‑party color grading, and filmmakers have increasingly turned to iPhones for on‑set monitoring and even principal photography. Johnson’s films have been noted for their distinct visual style—muted palettes in Brick, crisp neon in Looper, and a warm, theatrical feel in Knives Out. By packaging that aesthetic into an app, the duo is tapping into a market of hobbyists and independent filmmakers who want a professional look without hiring a full crew. The move also reflects a broader trend of directors leveraging their brand to launch consumer products, as seen with James Cameron’s 3D camera rigs and Christopher Nolan’s IMAX partnerships.

Chromagraph Camera offers 12‑bit RAW capture, a custom LUT library derived from the color grades of Johnson’s movies, and a real‑time preview that mimics the final look. Users can shoot in both portrait and landscape modes, adjust exposure and focus manually, and export files directly to popular editing suites. The app is priced at $9.99 with a free trial period, and early reviewers have praised its “cinematic” output, noting that footage shot on an iPhone 15 Pro feels markedly richer after applying the preset. Yedlin said the processing runs on the device’s neural engine, ensuring fast performance without draining the battery.

Looking ahead, Johnson and Yedlin plan to add new film‑specific presets as they release future projects, and they have hinted at a desktop companion for deeper color grading. The launch could encourage other directors to create similar tools, further blurring the line between Hollywood‑grade production and mobile content creation. For now, Chromagraph Camera gives aspiring filmmakers a ready‑made visual language, letting them experiment with the look of a Rian Johnson film using only the phone in their pocket.