# Kinograph design criteria

**URL:** <https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/kinograph-design-criteria/2900>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 10, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/kinograph-design-criteria/2900 "2025-03-10T03:39:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![filmkeeper](https://forums.kinograph.cc/user_avatar/forums.kinograph.cc/filmkeeper/32/4495_2.png) [@filmkeeper](https://forums.kinograph.cc/u/filmkeeper)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/kinograph-design-criteria/2900/13 "2025-03-30T07:29:27Z")

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> [@matthewepler](#):
>
> - Re: “open-source film digitization” is implied and hopefully obvious to the audience on this forum. But it’s a good note if I decide to take that text and post it elsewhere.
> - We’re saying the same thing. Modules, parts, etc. The point is peer-to-peer manufacturing and distribution of custom parts.
> - Software…agreed. Using manufacturer software is not a long-term solution. I can’t build the machine and develop the software at the same time. Instead of waiting on both, I’m releasing the machine with software that does the same thing, at zero cost to me or the consumer. Win-win.

Sure, what you’re talking about is reaching minimum viable product:

 ![](https://forums.kinograph.cc/uploads/default/original/2X/8/83edcfe9a5787a27b08eb0a862b1f10e8d8706d9.png)

The MVP for Kinograph 2.0 as I understand it based on the design criteria is a usable, functional, and reliable 35mm and 16mm film scanner (picture only, no sound) in an open-source design. If you don’t touch all bases then you’ll end up spending too much time fixing problems that should have been solved in the design/manufacturing phase. Eg backlights failing prematurely requiring replacement.

Without your own software to control the camera I’d say the product is in alpha stage or beta stage.

> [@matthewepler](#):
>
> - Motion, lights, etc…you’re spot on. We’re keeping it simple so that we have the basics done right from the beginning. Basic scan with basic lights with basic motion - but good results. We can add complexity when/where we see a need as we go.

You don’t want to add any complexity unless necessary. If it becomes too much like a DIY project then it won’t meet the needs of the non-technical user who isn’t a DIY person, and anything that can go wrong will go wrong as they say. Besides there’s plenty of time to get feedback and no rush. Once you have some representative users you can get needs assessment feedback from them, whereas trying to do that now risks biasing your data towards one group of stakeholders.

> [@John\_Bower](#):
>
> Now if it’s open source, 5-10 years down the road, I could repair or replicate it to keep a machine running instead of junking it.

Exactly. Plus you can continue development for it.

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