[Reader-only discount coupons available]"ShootBinder" is a shooting note app created by a working lighting engineer that "combines what was done on-site into one app" | VIDEO SALON.web | A web magazine run by Video Salon, a monthly magazine for video production and video editing.

Photos taken during location scouting, scribbled floor plans, scripts and shot lists that arrive, and drawings that are redrawn every time a setting changes: If left unattended, filming site materials will be scattered across apps. Yuya Kawai, who works as a lighting engineer in television and film productions, put all of this into one film. The self-made iPad/iPhone app “ShootBinder” was released on the App Store in mid-October 2026. Why did you include that function, and what kind of behavior did you get the idea from? We asked the developer himself to show us the screen and talk about it.

Interview/Written Editorial Department Hagiwara

App information

Video explaining how to use the app

ShootBinder (Developer: Yuya Kawai) / iPadOS 17.0 or later, iOS 17.0 or later / Japanese/English / Released in October 2026

The free version allows you to use all functions for up to one project. To create the second project and share projects, you will need the one-time purchase “ShootBinder Pro”, which will be priced at 1,500 yen (tax included, until December 31, 2026), and the regular price will be 2,980 yen (tax included) thereafter.

Mr. Kawai kindly provided us with a discount code exclusively for readers of this magazine! You can download it for 980 yen until the end of January 2027.

It started with the idea that it could be done as an extension of GoodNotes.

Mr. Kawai is usually in charge of lighting for TV variety shows, dramas, and movies. Mainly recording in the studio, but also appearing on location. The standard note-taking app “GoodNotes” was used to manage materials in preparation for the shoot.

“I wrote on the incense discs and cut lists that arrived, took notes during location scouting, and took photos. I also scribbled rough sketches of the location by hand. After completing the drawings, I either redraw them using Illustrator on my computer, or I shared them with other staff as handwritten notes. I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I thought it would be a good idea to combine them into one app.”

The idea was simple. A notebook app that allows you to write notes has a way to draw diagrams from the beginning. Elements such as cameras, lights, doors, and windows are built in as icons, and just by dragging and dropping them, you can create location scouting materials and lighting plan drawings. That was the shape Kawai was aiming for.

“There are various memo apps, but I haven’t found many that are specialized for taking photos.We’ve included features from the field’s point of view to find out what features we need.After the release, we receive feedback from the staff around us, and some of the features are planned to be included in updates.”

Drawings are not “drawn” but “placed”

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When creating drawings in ShootBinder, stamps are the main focus rather than drawing tools. Interior items such as buildings, doors, windows, and sofas, as well as equipment such as cameras, people, and lights, are prepared in advance by type, and can be placed by simply dragging them from the sidebar onto the drawing. You can also change the angle and size.

When I demonstrated it, most of the steps were just “putting it down”. Roughly surround the wall with the shape tool and place the door, window, and sofa. Set up the camera, use arrows to indicate the movement of the person, and decide on the position of the light. With just this, you can create a drawing that you can show to people on the spot during location scouting.

Frequently used combinations can be registered as custom stamps.

“If you create a set that suits you, all you have to do is put it down and it will come out right away.”

In addition, it is equipped with a function to overlay the sun’s orbit and time on the drawing based on dimension lines, grid notes, the direction and date of the shooting location, and an inverted screen display for use in dark locations.

You can also calculate power consumption

What clearly shows that the developer is a lighting engineer is the model database linked to the light stamp. When you select a model, the power consumption is entered along with the model name. Furthermore, if you place a stamp of an outlet on the drawing and draw a line from the light, the total power consumption of the equipment connected to that outlet will be displayed.

“As I am a lighting engineer myself, I have entered the power consumption in the light model database. For example, if you connect two lights, the total output will be 1,500W. The drawing will automatically calculate, “It’s 1,500W, so I can’t use it anymore.”

There are also generator stamps, and it is possible to express system division on the diagram, such as drawing equipment with a large capacity from an outdoor generator. In addition, the official website and App Store description clearly state that this indication is only a guide and does not guarantee the safety of the power supply.

Reason for dividing the layer into two layers

The drawing is made up of two layers. Elements that represent the site itself, such as buildings and sofas, are automatically distributed to the lower layer, and equipment, people, and arrows are automatically distributed to the upper layer (manual changes are also possible). The reason for dividing into two layers is to handle situations where only the settings change at the same site. The “Plan” function is the embodiment of this concept.

“For the first cut plan, place the camera at this camera position and place the light here. When you add a plan, the building drawing will be duplicated as is, leaving only the equipment blank. If you create another layout on top of that, you can mass-produce plans for each cut.”

There is no need to redraw the floor plan, and you can switch between plans and explain, “This is what I’m going to do at this time.”

You can also add photos and videos taken by adding Pins on the drawing.

During location scouting, I take a lot of photos and videos. However, in the past, it took time to read and paste each page one by one, and it was difficult to paste multiple pages on a single document.

“When I wanted to share a photo, I tended to put it in an album on LINE and say, ‘Look at this.'”

ShootBinder allows you to import photos at once. The imported photos are first placed in the “Unorganized” list, and you can organize them by dragging them to the place you want to paste them. Once you have posted photos somewhere, they will be moved to “Organized”, so you can see at a glance which photos you haven’t used yet.

The page is not the only place to paste it. It can also be stored inside a stamp, such as storing the view from a window in a window stamp.

What Kawai sees as the biggest problem with photography is not being able to communicate where the photo was taken. Therefore, we have created a “Pin” that can be typed anywhere on a drawing or PDF. Photos and notes can be linked to Pins.

“If you just look at the photo box, the person sharing it won’t be able to tell you, “Where was this photo taken?” I think if you put a pin on the drawing and put the photo there, it would be easier to understand, “This is the photo taken from this angle.”

Reduce “search” time—sidebar, 2 screens, Pin links

Documents are organized by project, and like GoodNotes, you can import PDF files, as well as add blank and graph paper notes. The difference is in how the materials are called up. Imported scripts, schedules, shot lists, and location scouting materials are listed in the sidebar and can be opened simply by selecting them.

“With GoodNotes, you have tabs lined up at the top and you can switch between them, but when I had a lot open, I often found myself thinking, ‘Oh, where did I do that?'”

The iPad version supports two-split display. By dragging documents from the sidebar to one side of the screen, you can display combinations such as shot lists and schedules, schedules and drawings side by side, and change the ratio. The fact that it can be divided not only left and right, but also top and bottom is what he found convenient when he tried it out.

“When I was on set, I often used three screens: I had the schedule and script lined up one above the other, and on the other I launched another app to monitor the footage. Being able to look at the script while keeping an eye on the schedule was surprisingly convenient.”

When I want to look at the monitor, I switch to full screen, and after checking it, I return to the script. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other apps.

There is another function for when the number of documents increases. It is a link between pins. If you press a pin on one document, then press the pin on the other and drag to connect the two, the two will be linked, and from there you can call up the two-part display with a single tap.

“If you have a script and a schedule, and link the scenes to be shot today, you can immediately call up “What scene number was in the next schedule?”

Even when shared, the recipient can write their own notes.

Staff members using the same app can share projects (Pro version is required to start sharing). If you set up sharing and send a link, the other person can also see the same material, and everything posted by the sharing source will be reflected in the other person. On the other hand, notes written by the recipient are not reflected in the original, and remain as notes only for that person.

The materials created by the chief can be distributed to the staff, and each person can add their own notes. The data is stored in the sharing source’s iCloud, and the recipient can refer to it. Only the sharing source uses the capacity, and simultaneous collaborative editing is not supported.

“The disadvantage is that it uses up my iCloud space. I don’t use iCloud unless I synchronize.”

There is also an iPhone version, where you can check documents created on the iPad, take and organize photos, and edit stamps, shapes, and text (two-split display and handwritten editing with Apple Pencil are only available on the iPad). If you run out of space on your device, there is also a function to move data to iCloud and delete it from the device.

Supports videos based on feedback from on-site staff

AI was used in the development. He originally created his own equipment reservation system at his workplace, and he worked on it as an extension of that.

“AI has been developing very rapidly recently. I was experimenting with various things, and I thought it would be possible to create the app I wanted, so I decided to give it a try.”

The idea came to me when I was scouting locations for a movie I was working on before it started production. While working on site, I added the functions I wanted, working on my days off and in between work, and it took about two months to complete. It’s completely personal development.

Post-release improvements are also based on feedback from the field. The latest update now supports importing videos, which can be attached to Pins and pages in the same way as photos. The impetus was a reaction from outside the lighting department.

“When I told the DIT, “This is what I made,” they got interested, and when they used it, they said, “I’d like to include a video as well.” The DIT and recording staff said that since scripts, schedules, and record sheets were scattered all over the place, it would be really useful if they could include the material they had shot for confirmation.”

The DIT said that Pin’s link function was also well received. Pin scripts, schedules, and record sheets to link them, and pin photos and videos for confirmation. That way, when the director, costuming, or make-up staff says, “I want to check that scene,” you can call them immediately without having to search for them. You can also send the photos and videos you find via AirDrop or LINE using the share button at the top right of the screen.

Although it has a lot of features, there are concerns about whether it will be understood at first glance. For this reason, we have provided a hint function within the app.

“I think you’ll understand how convenient it is if you actually use it, so I hope you’ll give it a try.”

If you’re in a position where papers and PDFs tend to be scattered around, you might find it useful even if it’s not in the lighting department. Even with the free version, you can try out all the features for one project, so it would be a good idea to import one script you already have.

App information

ShootBinder (Developer: Yuya Kawai) / iPadOS 17.0 or later, iOS 17.0 or later / Japanese/English / Released in October 2026

Mr. Kawai kindly provided us with a discount code exclusively for readers of this magazine! You can download it for 980 yen until the end of January 2027.

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