GoKawiilDarkplug app turns iPhone and smart plug into darkroom enlarger timer
A new iOS app called Darkplug lets film photographers control their enlarger via a cheap networked smart plug instead of a dedicated darkroom timer. The app offers a red-on-black interface designed to avoid fogging photo paper, plus basic straight-print timing for free, with advanced features like F-stop timing, test strips, dodge-and-burn planning and split-grade printing available through a one-time Darkplug+ purchase.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project suggests hobbyist darkroom printing can be modernized cheaply using consumer smart-home hardware rather than specialized analog equipment, potentially lowering costs for an otherwise niche, equipment-heavy hobby. Its one-time purchase model, rather than subscription, may appeal to a community wary of recurring software fees for simple utility tools.
- Darkplug pairs an iPhone with a ~$20 smart plug to replace traditional darkroom enlarger timers.
- Core timing features are free; advanced tools like split-grade printing and dodge-and-burn planning require a one-time Darkplug+ purchase.
- The app's red-on-black UI is specifically tuned not to fog light-sensitive photo paper in darkroom conditions.
Kasa Smart Plug Mini (KP125) — Darkplug needs a compatible smart plug to control your enlarger, and the Kasa Mini is a reliable, widely-used Wi-Fi plug that works great for this kind of precise on/off timing. It's compact enough to tuck behind your enlarger without cluttering your darkroom bench.
See Kasa Smart Plug Mini (KP125) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: peterszentkiralyi.eu, 2026-10-06
Published there as: “Show HN: I turned my iPhone and a $20 smart plug into an f-stop timer”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.