Capture Companion

Built for Capture One on Mac. Capture One is required and sold separately.

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Tutorial

From connection to capture.

Set up your Mac, assign a Capture One session, and build your first Set. With Suite, bring the same workflow to your Apple companion devices.

Quick start

Your first connected Set, step by step.

Follow these steps with Capture One and Capture Companion open on your Mac.

  1. 01

    Install Capture Companion

    1. Check Downloads & Requirements for the current release. The public Mac installer and App Store companions are not available yet.
    2. When your build is available, install it on the Mac first. Sign in with your Capture Companion email and register that installation.
    Downloads & Requirements
  2. 02

    Allow macOS permissions

    1. Open Capture Companion on the Mac and respond to its permission prompts.
    2. If Capture One communication was denied, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation and check Capture Companion’s access to Capture One.
    3. Only grant Accessibility or folder permissions when the app requests them for the feature you are using.
  3. 03

    Choose your screen position

    1. Open Capture Companion > Preferences from the Mac menu bar. Choose the screen edge and orientation for the toolbar.
    2. Choose Normal Window for ordinary window ordering, Reserve Area to make room for the toolbar, or Menu Bar to hide it while keeping the helper and mobile connections running.
  4. 04

    Open and assign your session

    1. Open the session you want to use in Capture One.
    2. Click Select Session in Capture Companion and choose that session. Check the displayed name before continuing.
    3. An unassigned workspace stays idle. Opening a session in Capture One alone does not assign it to Capture Companion.
  5. 05

    Assign the camera

    1. Connect the camera and confirm that Capture One can see it.
    2. Use the camera selector in Capture Companion to assign the camera to this session. Check ISO, shutter, and aperture before saving settings.
    3. If no camera is available, confirm the session assignment first, then check the camera connection in Capture One.
  6. 06

    Create your first Set

    1. Choose a Set number and enter a name that identifies the setup.
    2. Add notes, camera height, and subject distance where useful. Save the camera settings for that Set before using Lock.
  7. 07

    Save camera presets and lock settings

    1. Set the intended ISO, shutter, and aperture, then choose Save in Camera Settings.
    2. Use the camera-settings menu to create a named preset from the saved settings. A preset changes camera settings without replacing the rest of the Set.
    3. Enable Lock to maintain saved ISO, shutter, and aperture. Lens is a readout, not an editable camera setting.
  8. 08

    Pair your Apple devices

    1. Open Capture Companion on iPhone or iPad. Sign in, register the device, and confirm Suite access.
    2. Keep both devices on the same trusted local network and allow Local Network access if iOS asks. Open Sync and request a connection to the Mac.
    3. Approve the device on the Mac. View Only allows monitoring; Control allows settings changes and actions.
    4. For Apple Watch, connect its paired iPhone first. The Watch uses that connection, not a separate direct Mac connection.
  9. 09

    Record lighting settings

    1. Open Light Table to record light groups, labels, modifiers, and power settings for the current Set.
    2. Use References for reference images. It is a separate tool from Light Table.
  10. 10

    Run a capture mode

    1. Choose Focus Bracket, Exposure Bracket, or Plates from Capture Mode on the Mac or Capture on mobile.
    2. Review shot count, sequence options, and naming before pressing Start. Capture controls operate the assigned camera.
  11. 11

    Save and review set notes

    1. Open Notes for the current Set and enter the details you need to reproduce the setup.
    2. Use a distinct Set name before switching to another setup so your notes remain easy to identify.
  12. 12

    Compare approved folders

    1. On mobile, open Library > Compare Folders and choose Request Access to Folders.
    2. On the Mac, select the folders or drives this device may browse and choose Allow Selected Folders. This permission is separate from View Only or Control.
    3. Choose the left and right folders on mobile, then compare. Folder approval does not permit moving or deleting files.

Capture modes in action

Repeatable sequences without guesswork.

Use the same capture modes from the Mac or mobile. Check the assigned camera and sequence settings before starting.

01

Exposure Bracket

Choose the shot count, exposure increment, driver, and order. Review the naming tokens and color tag before Start.

02

Focus Bracket

Choose shots and focus step, then review Open Live View and Reset focus position when complete. Configure naming and color tag before Start. Focus behavior depends on your camera and Capture One.

03

Plates

Set up the plate sequence and naming before capture. Keep these supporting frames identifiable alongside the main images.

Connected Studio

Keep the session beside you.

Studio brings session folders, camera settings, and set notes to iPhone and iPad. Mobile access requires an active Suite plan or trial and a connected Mac.

  • Assign the Capture One session on the Mac
  • Approve View Only or Control access for the mobile device
  • Follow session size, folder counts, and selects
  • Keep notes and saved camera settings with the Set
Current Capture Companion iPad Studio with sample folders, camera settings, and set notes

If something does not connect

Check the simple things first.

  • Confirm the correct Capture One session is open and assigned in Capture Companion.
  • Check camera assignment and cable health on the Mac.
  • Keep the Mac and companion devices on the same trusted local network.
  • Check Suite access, device registration, and View Only or Control approval.
  • For mobile folder comparison, approve file and folder access separately on the Mac.
Open support

Built for the whole shoot

Your workflow. Your plan.

Mac covers the desktop workflow. Suite adds iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch access. Try either plan for 7 days. No card required, no automatic charges.

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