Comparison

Lighting Recipe vs Softbox Atlas

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lighting Recipe

Record, recreate, and share lighting setups with detailed 3D diagrams. Organize your gear, import photo data, and export shareable images. Works offline and supports custom equipment.

Highlights
  • 3D lighting setup editor
  • Intuitive diagram recording
  • Automatic EXIF data import
  • Customizable gear vault
  • Visual rig builder
  • Image export with shooting data
Features
Read full description

■ Sound familiar? "How did I light that shot again...?" "The client wants the exact same setup as last time..." "I want to share how this was lit on social media..." Lighting Recipe is an app for photographers to record, recreate and share lighting setups as diagrams. You can register and place your own unique or DIY gear and props — so it works for photographers of every genre. ■ Features - 3D editing mode: build your lighting setup in 3D, check how subject, backdrop and lights look, and see it mirrored in the diagram - Lighting diagram editor: record light positions, height, power, color and beam intuitively - EXIF reading: just pick a photo — camera, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO and focal length are filled in automatically - Gear vault: organize your lighting equipment by category, with photos and prices - Builder: assemble lights, modifiers and stands into a visual rig - Dry cabinet: manage cameras and lenses as assets (serial number support — a record that helps if gear is ever stolen) - My Sets: recall your favorite gear combinations with one tap - Image export: combine your diagram and shooting data into a single shareable image - Available in 8 languages ■ Your data All data is stored on your device. No account required — works offline. Premium members can optionally use Cloud Backup. ■ Lighting Recipe Premium (monthly subscription) - Unlimited recipe saves (free: 30) - 10 lights A–J (free: 5) - 10 My Set slots (free: 5) - Expanded dry cabinet: 30 cameras / 50 lenses (free: 3 / 5) - Cloud Backup: sign in with Apple to back up and restore your data Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mafmafgs-source.github.io/lighting-recipe/privacy.html

About

Softbox Atlas

Features
Read full description

Softbox Atlas is an offline notebook for real photography lighting setups. Place a subject, camera, lights, modifiers and backdrop on a schematic canvas. Adjust direction, relative output and temperature notes, then keep each setup for the next shoot. Start free: • Create and edit up to three saved sets • Explore original lighting recipes • Attach one reference photo per set • Share a standard diagram PNG • Export or import a local JSON backup at any time Softbox Atlas Pro adds unlimited new sets, advanced schematic modifiers, shoot projects, personal recipes, 4K diagram PNGs and printable PDF shoot sheets. Choose a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription. Localized prices are shown by your store before purchase. Restore purchases and manage your subscription in the app. Lighting plans, notes and reference photos stay on your device unless you choose to share them. The stores and RevenueCat process anonymous purchase identifiers and transaction data. No Softbox account, ads or app-operated cloud sync. Diagrams show directions and your own notes; they do not calculate calibrated exposure or predict a finished photograph. Terms of Use: https://softbox-atlas.netlify.app/terms/

Screenshots

Lighting Recipe4 screens
Softbox Atlas3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lighting Recipe at none against Softbox Atlas's 2. Lighting Recipe also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Softbox Atlas sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Lighting Recipe asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Lighting Recipe versus Softbox Atlas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLighting RecipeSoftbox Atlas
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerhiroyuki nakaiStarter Studio, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Lighting Recipe

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Softbox Atlas

Subscriptions2
  • Softbox Atlas Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Softbox Atlas Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Lighting Recipe free?
Lighting Recipe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Softbox Atlas free?
Softbox Atlas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lighting Recipe or Softbox Atlas have ads?
Neither Lighting Recipe nor Softbox Atlas shows ads.

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