Mick - It's not possible to develop a universal red screen app for iOS at this stage. If you developed and ran a red screen app of sorts, and then you fired up another app (such as a browser, or email), the second app takes over and pushes the first into background mode. You can't run two at once in the same screen real estate - which is what would be required. Apple would need to implement it at operating system level. I believe that they would get quite a few requests from not only astronomers, but aviators, bushwalkers and in-vehicle GPS users. Here's hoping. The other problem with an app is that you'll traverse other applications as you go from screen to screen and blow your night vision in a second as you come across something with white in it - like the home screen.
If you go to settings and choose the General/Accessibility setting you can alter the "Triple-Click Home" item to inverse your screen colours universally - so you see white on black. This dramatically helps in some circumstances.
Cellophane is junk. It's crinkly, not stiff enough and is not of adequate colour density unless you use multiple payers - and then the capacitative touch screen doesn't work properly. I use a commercially-available red film designed for the purpose - and used mainly by laptop users. Touch screen sensitivity is maintained - I use it all the time and it works very well. Just remember to have the shiny side up, as the other (colour ink) side gets wet with dew and starts to go a little soft and make dragging your finger across your screen tough going. Not sure about what cases there are for the iPad 2 if that's what you have, but my original iPad's standard case is ideal for the job as you can tuck the film under the edges of the case and it holds firm while dragging.
Nice thing with this is that it works with all the apps that I might want to visit during the night - like weather, or Safari, mail or whatever. Good astronomy apps such as Sky Safari, RedShift and the like will have a red screen mode - but that's only in-app which means you blind yourself when leaving it for another app during the night.
Thanks Chris that answered the question. I have the same case as you so i will try and source some red film before i head off to Duckadang tomorrow. I have red film for the Macbook but i didnt even think about the ipad. Worst case i will run Dark Adapted on the Macbook and use the film for the ipad. I will mainly be using the Macbook for Stellarium and Eos Utility anyway so it shouldnt be too bad.
That red film preserving touch sensitivity sounds pretty cool. Who supplies it? Local or overseas?
This is what I use Marc. It's stiff enough not to crinkle on you when you make gestures, and thin enough for the technology underneath to work. It's also dark enough to really cut down on transmitted white light and give a nice deep red glow.
This is what I use Marc. It's stiff enough not to crinkle on you when you make gestures, and thin enough for the technology underneath to work. It's also dark enough to really cut down on transmitted white light and give a nice deep red glow.
This is what I use Marc. It's stiff enough not to crinkle on you when you make gestures, and thin enough for the technology underneath to work. It's also dark enough to really cut down on transmitted white light and give a nice deep red glow.
Hi Chris
As a matter of interest. Do you have a Stellarium version that works on the Ipad and if so how does the night vision button work.
Barry
Sure Barry - see attached two iPad night vision examples.
First is StellariumXL, which you can see still suffers in a couple of areas. The standard status bar at the top of the display is not replaced or overdrawn with the Stellarium app - leaving bright white text signal strength, carrier, time and battery life indicators blinding you. Secondly, the nav bars still are rendered as standard graduations - from black to white. Thirdly, the red isn't deep enough - it's still too bright. Lastly, and with probably the biggest problem - the setup dialogue is a brilliant white. Blown away in the night vision department It's great during the day though! A bit more development and these issues will be done with.
The difference can be seen with Sky Safari running - second photo. Every screen you can get to is this beautiful dark red.
Hi Chris
Thanks for that info. It looks promising. The menu spoils the night version. Some attention needed there. The Ipad version was made by a third party so I don't know much about it. The developer is probably working on the problems. Does it still have a config.ini file. If so the colour saturation can be configured there. but other than that I can't help. I don't have an Ipad and I could not convince the exchequer that she might find it useful.
Does it still have a config.ini file. If so the colour saturation can be configured there.
One thing that needs to be understood about iOS - the applications are monolithic "apps". There is no such thing as a directory of files that you manage or have access to. The nature of the O/S is completely different to your Windows or Unix environment to the user. THere is never a need to go digging to use the device day to day. Some people jailbreak them which gives you access to lower functions, but in my book that's completely unecessary and even dangerous.
OK Chris
I thought that may be the case. There is also another way to work on the colour but that probably does not exist in the monolithic structure either, The text user interface plugin has a place to change colors of most features.
Description
Rubylith is a red masking film, which is suited for use with orthochromatic films. Rubylith is "safe" for use with camera speed darkroom films as well as indirect gelatin stencil films and diazo, diazo acrylic, or SBQ sensitized stencil films or emulsions. Rubylith is primarily used in the camera plate making operations for offset lithography, flexography, gravure, and screen processes where orthochromatic films and plates are used.
Sizes
610mm & 1220mm
610mm x 1220mm !!!!!!!!!! Great for the 27" iMac!
If you are looking at smaller sizes I have some that i was preparing ready for selling anyway, so you can PM size and can send back a price. I can add velcro dots if necessary.
I want to test the functionality of the touch screen first before going ahead.
It's great during the day though! 
A bit more development and these issues will be done with.
as it discharges the field sensing for non sliding finger.
