Views and snapshot sizing¶
Views organize cameras on the main camera screen. A camera can belong to more than one view, and its card size and snapshot framing are saved separately in each view.
Configure a view¶
- Open Settings → Views.
- Tap + to create a view, or select an existing view.
- Add cameras under Add Cameras.
- Drag cameras to set their order, or swipe a camera to remove it from the view.
- Tap an included camera to configure its card and snapshot framing.
The editor saves valid changes automatically. Its preview shows the card against the same four-column grid used by the camera screen.
Card width¶
Every view uses a responsive four-column grid. A card can occupy one, two, three, or all four columns:
| Width | Use |
|---|---|
| 1 column | Compact status or overview card |
| 2 columns | Half-width card; useful for two cameras side by side |
| 3 columns | Large card with room for a one-column card beside it |
| 4 columns | Full-width card |
Columns are proportions of the available screen width, so the cards expand on wider devices. Spacing between cards is included when Swiftcam calculates their final dimensions.
Swiftcam places cameras in the saved order and uses the first free grid position that fits each card. Mixing widths and heights can therefore move a later camera beside a taller earlier card.
Card height¶
The height setting controls the card viewport, independently of how the image is fitted inside it.
| Height | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Fixed 1 row | Uses one standard grid row. |
| Fixed 2 rows | Uses two rows plus the spacing between them. A four-column card is 16:9. |
| Fixed 3 rows | Uses three standard grid rows. |
| Fixed 4 rows | Uses four standard grid rows. |
| Custom aspect | Calculates height from the card width and the entered width:height ratio. |
| Media aspect | Calculates height from the snapshot's aspect ratio after rotation. |
The grid is calibrated so that a two-column card with a one-row height and a four-column card with a two-row height are approximately 16:9.
For Custom aspect, enter positive values such as 4:3, 16:9, or 9:16. The values describe a ratio rather than pixels.
For Media aspect, Swiftcam uses the aspect ratio reported by the received snapshot. It uses 16:9 until those dimensions are available, so a card may resize once when its first snapshot loads. A media Aspect ratio override replaces the reported media ratio when it is set.
Snapshot framing¶
Card sizing defines the viewport. The Media controls determine how the snapshot is drawn inside it:
- Rotation changes the image orientation. A 90° or 270° rotation also swaps the aspect ratio used by Media aspect.
- Mirror flips the rendered image horizontally or vertically.
- Aspect ratio override corrects media whose reported dimensions do not match how it should be displayed e.g. a portrait hallway mode camera snapshot being sent as 16:9 format. Leave both fields empty to use the received dimensions.
- Zoom enlarges the image from 1× to 4×. It is available only when both fit options are off.
- Drag the preview to select the focal area whenever the image extends beyond the card.
The two fit options behave as follows:
| Fit horizontally | Fit vertically | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Off | Preserves the whole image at 1×; unused card space is black. Zooming can crop it. |
| On | Off | Fills the card width and preserves the media aspect ratio; the top and bottom may be cropped. |
| Off | On | Fills the card height and preserves the media aspect ratio; the sides may be cropped. |
| On | On | Fills the complete card in both directions. This can stretch the image to the card's aspect ratio. |
When both fit options are on, the aspect-ratio override is not used. Media aspect card sizing will use the snapshot's original dimensions.
Common layouts¶
- For two equal cameras side by side, use 2 columns and Fixed 1 row for both.
- For a full-width 16:9 camera, use 4 columns and Fixed 2 rows.
- For a portrait snapshot that should keep its natural proportions, use Media aspect.
- To crop around a doorway or another area of interest, leave both fit options off, zoom the image, and drag the preview to set its focal point.
Restore defaults resets the card to two columns, one fixed row, no rotation or mirroring, aspect-fit presentation, centered framing, and 1× zoom.
Snapshot request size¶
For remote snapshot sources, Swiftcam derives the requested image height from the card's on-screen height, the device scale, and the configured zoom. Requests are limited to 240–1080 pixels high to balance image quality, decoding cost, and network use. This changes the requested image resolution, not the card layout.
The All Cameras screen controls camera order but does not provide the per-view card editor. Apple Watch uses a dedicated view and separate framing behavior; see Apple Watch.