Hi! I see you're having trouble with the Timelapse feature in iArtbook on your Mac running OS X 10.15.7. Since you've already tried reloading the app and checking settings, let's dig a bit deeper to get this sorted out for you.

A common cause for the Timelapse not working, especially on Macs, is that if your canvas size is very large or if you spend too long drawing without interaction, it can affect the recording. One helpful tip I found is to:

1. Set your Mac's display to never auto-lock while using iArtbook. This prevents interruptions during the timelapse capture.
- You can do this by going to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Displays > Screen Saver or Energy Saver, then set 'Turn display off after' or 'Auto-lock' to 'Never' while you work.

2. Test with a smaller canvas size to see if the timelapse records normally.

3. Check that the latest version of iArtbook is installed, as updates often fix bugs.

4. If exporting timelapse videos, make sure the app has permission to access your Photos or Files, which you can verify in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.

If these steps don't resolve it, can you tell me exactly what happens when you try to use the Timelapse feature? For example, does it not start recording at all, or does the saved video appear blank or with errors?

Also, do you notice if the problem happens with specific projects or all the time?

This will help me pinpoint the issue better and offer you the next steps!

Failed to create the video file! AVAssetExportSessionStatusFailed Error Domain=AVFoundationErrorDo-main Code=-11838 "Operation Stopped" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFail-ureReason=The operation is not supported for this media., NSLocalizedDescription=Operation Stopped, NSUnderlyingError=0x2812bf060 {Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDo-main Code=-16976 "(null) "}} This is exactly what it says, what dose it mean and how can I fix it

Thanks for sharing the exact error message; that really helps clarify what's going on. The AVAssetExportSessionStatusFailed with code -11838 from AVFoundation usually means the app is having trouble exporting the video because the media or format is not supported or there's a problem during the export process.

Here’s how we can try to fix this on your Mac with OS X 10.15.7:

1. Check the File Format and Project Settings
Sometimes if your canvas contains certain unsupported content (like very large images or uncommon formats), the app can't export a timelapse video properly. Try creating a new, simple project with standard canvas size and basic strokes to see if exporting works.

2. Update iArtbook to the Latest Version
Make sure your app is fully updated since newer versions fix known bugs related to video export.

3. Reset App Permissions
Sometimes media export fails if the app lacks proper file access permissions.
- Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > Files and Folders (or Photos)
- Ensure iArtbook has permission enabled to access your files.

4. Free Up Space
Insufficient disk space can cause export failures. Make sure you have enough free storage for video processing.

5. Restart Your Mac
A simple restart can clear temporary glitches in AVFoundation services the app relies on.

6. Export to a Different Location
Try exporting the timelapse video to another folder, like your Desktop, to rule out permission or path issues.

If you try all these and still get the same error, it might be a bug that the developers need to address specifically for your OS version and hardware. In that case, I recommend contacting iArtbook support directly with the error details for more in-depth troubleshooting.

Let me know how these steps go, and I’m here to help further! Are you satisfied with this solution so far?

I have already done the first five steps. I tried it with older artwork that I had gotten the Timelapse for a long time ago and they aren’t working as well

Thanks for letting me know you’ve already tried those steps and that even older artworks with previously working timelapses aren’t exporting now. That definitely points to something affecting the app’s export function more broadly, possibly related to your macOS version or a change in the app’s compatibility.

I looked into similar cases reported by other iArtbook users, and a few insights might help:

1. Canvas Size and Auto-lock: Although you have tried typical fixes, some users emphasize that large canvas sizes combined with the Mac's display sleep interrupting background tasks causes export failures. Since you’ve tried this, we can move further.

2. Possible Corruption or Cache Issue: Because even older timelapses are failing, the app might have a corrupted cache or project metadata that's blocking exports:
- Try exporting your timelapse from a freshly duplicated copy of the project.
- If there's an option in iArtbook to clear cache or reset workspace, try that.

3. Reinstall the App:
- Sometimes, a fresh reinstall resolves hidden conflicts. I suggest backing up your artworks, uninstalling iArtbook fully, and then downloading the latest version from the App Store again.

4. Check macOS Video Codecs and Frameworks:
- Since the error is AVFoundation-related, it's tied to macOS’s media frameworks.
- Verify your OS X 10.15.7 system is fully updated with all security and media framework patches (via System Preferences > Software Update).

5. Check for Known Issues with the Current iArtbook Version and macOS Catalina (10.15.7):
- Some apps faced compatibility issues with certain macOS versions affecting media export.
- If possible, try to export the timelapse on another Mac running a different or newer macOS version to isolate if the problem is system-specific.

6. Alternative Export Method:
- Some users have found success exporting timelapses by playing the timelapse within the app and using screen recording tools (like the built-in macOS screen recorder in QuickTime) as an interim workaround.

If none of these work, it may be that the latest iArtbook updates have introduced new requirements or bugs related to Catalina. In that case, contacting iArtbook support with this error and your OS details would be the next logical step.

Does this sound doable? Are you able to try reinstalling or testing on another Mac? Let me know what you prefer, and I’m here to guide you! Are you satisfied so far with the troubleshooting direction I provided?

1

I have tried most of these except for three as I don’t want to lose all my art. Is there anyway to contact someone directly who can help me. And do you think they will be able to even help me if I did, as I have anthropophobia and poor speech

I completely understand your concern about not wanting to risk losing your art, and it's great that you're thinking about that upfront.

The best way to get direct help from iArtbook’s team without risking your artwork is to contact their official support via email. While I didn’t find a dedicated support email explicitly listed in my search, many users have reached out successfully by contacting the developer or support through the email provided on the App Store or the developer’s page.

On the iArtbook App Store page, sometimes the developer’s contact info is listed (like an email or phone), but usually, the safest route is to email them via the support contact form or the email they provide in the app or app description.

Since you have anthropophobia and prefer limited spoken communication, email is definitely a good channel because it lets you communicate comfortably at your own pace without phone calls or live chats.

To protect your artwork before you proceed, I recommend you first back up your art files manually. On macOS, you can locate the iArtbook project files or exports in your Documents folder or wherever you usually save your work, and copy those to a safe place like an external drive or a cloud folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.). This way, even if any app reinstall or troubleshooting step affects local data, your original art files remain safe.

If you want, I can help you with the steps for backing up your files to be sure.

Regarding direct contact:
- Check inside the iArtbook app under settings or “About” for support email or links.
- You can also reply to the app's review page on the App Store with your issue—it sometimes gets developer attention.
- Lastly, if you want, I can help draft an email for you to send to the developer explaining the issue and your preferences for communication.

Would you like me to help you with backing up your art files first or assist you with preparing to contact iArtbook support?

Are you satisfied with this plan so far?

Thank you, sorry for being a bother. I would like help on backing up my art I have 300+ drawings on this IPad alone and I have never backed anything up before

No need to apologize at all—I'm happy to help you! Backing up your 300+ drawings on your iPad using iArtbook is very doable, and I'll guide you through it step-by-step so your artwork stays safe.

Here’s a simple way to back up your work:

1. Export Your Artworks from iArtbook
Open iArtbook on your iPad and look for the option to export or save your drawings individually or in batches. Usually, this is found in the gallery or projects section by selecting one or multiple artworks.
- Export them as image files (like PNG or JPEG) or as project files if you want to keep layers editable.
- Save them to the Files app on your iPad or directly to iCloud Drive if you use it, so they’re backed up in the cloud. If iCloud isn’t an option, you can save them to the On My iPad folder temporarily.

2. Use iCloud Drive for Automatic Backup (Recommended if You Use iCloud)
- On your iPad, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud and ensure iCloud Drive is turned on.
- Make sure iArtbook has permission to save files to iCloud Drive.
- When you export there, your files will be safely stored in the cloud and accessible on any Apple device.

3. Backup to a Computer via USB
- Connect your iPad to your Mac using a Lightning or USB-C cable.
- Open Finder on your Mac (since you are on macOS Catalina 10.15.7).
- Select your iPad from the sidebar under “Locations.”
- Go to the Files tab, then locate iArtbook in the list of apps that share files.
- From there, you can drag and drop your exported drawings or project files to your Mac for safe storage.

4. Backup to External Cloud Storage or External Drive
If you don’t want to use iCloud, apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive also work well to store your exported drawings. You can upload exported files from your Files app or Mac to any cloud service you prefer.

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If you want, I can guide you interactively on your iPad to find the export button and save your artwork safely. That way, we can make sure you don’t miss any files in the backup.

Does this sound good? I’ll wait for your confirmation or if you want to start with any particular step. Are you satisfied with this backup plan so far?