PhotoKifu
Help
Tips for good recognition, answers to common questions, and how to contact us.
Tips for good recognition
- Get the whole board in the photo, with all four edges.
- Shoot from above or at a moderate angle. The app corrects the perspective.
- Avoid strong reflections from lamps or windows on the stones.
- Stones should sit on the points. A stone that was knocked aside may need a tap during review.
- During review, tap a point to switch between empty, black and white.
Opening the SGF in another app
- On the phone: in the library, open a position and tap Share. Pick an app that opens SGF files.
- OGS: save the SGF, then upload it to your library on online-go.com.
- On a computer: send the file to yourself and open it in Sabaki, KaTrain, Lizzie or CGoban.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a photo of a Go board to SGF?
Install PhotoKifu, point the camera at the board until the outline appears, and take the photo. Check the stones, tap any point that is wrong, choose who plays next and save. In the library, tap Share to get an SGF file or open it in another Go app.
Can it record a whole game?
Not yet. Each photo gives one position: where the stones are, not the order they were played in. You can export the position as SGF and analyse it or play on from it in any Go program.
How much does PhotoKifu cost?
Price: Free. No account is needed.
Are my photos uploaded? Does it work offline?
Nothing is uploaded. Recognition runs on your phone and the app has no internet permission, so it works offline.
Which board sizes are supported?
9×9, 13×13 and 19×19.
Does it work for baduk and weiqi?
Yes. Go, baduk (바둑) and weiqi (围棋) are the same game on the same board.
How accurate is the recognition?
It works best with the whole board in the photo, a moderate angle and little glare. Strong reflections, steep angles or stones far off their points can cause mistakes. You check every photo before saving, and one tap fixes a point.
Which apps can open the SGF?
Any app that reads SGF, for example OGS (online-go.com), Sabaki, KaTrain, Lizzie, AI Sensei, CGoban, GoGui and most KataGo-based analysis tools.
Is there an iPhone version?
An iOS version is planned. PhotoKifu first came out on iPhone in 2013. The new version starts on Android.
Which languages does the app support?
English, French, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.