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Getting Started with OpenTransition

Welcome to OpenTransition! This guide will help you set up and start using the app to track your transition journey.

What is OpenTransition?

OpenTransition is a free, private app designed specifically for transgender individuals to document their transition through photos and milestones. Think of it as your personal, secure transition diary that lives on your phone.

Why Use OpenTransition?

✅ Private & Secure - Your photos and data stay on your device
✅ Easy to Use - Simple interface designed for everyone
✅ Free - No subscription fees, no hidden costs
✅ Your Data - Export, backup, or delete anytime
✅ Optional Cloud Sync - Backup to your Google account if you want

First Time Setup

1. Download & Install

Download OpenTransition from the Google Play Store and install it on your Android device (requires Android 5.0 or higher).

2. Open the App

When you first open OpenTransition, you'll see the home screen. No account required to start using the app!

3. Grant Permissions (Optional)

The app may ask for permissions:

  • Camera: To take photos directly in the app (you can skip this and import photos instead)
  • Storage/Photos: To import existing photos from your device
  • Notifications: To remind you to take progress photos (optional)

Permissions are Optional

You can use the app without granting permissions. Just import photos manually when you want to add them.

Understanding the Interface

Home Screen

The home screen shows: - Your most recent photos - Upcoming milestones - Quick access to add photos or milestones - Your transition timeline

The app has four main sections:

  1. Home 🏠 - Overview and recent activity
  2. Gallery 🖼️ - Browse all your photos
  3. Milestones 🎯 - Track important events
  4. Settings ⚙️ - Customize and configure the app

Main Actions

➕ Add Button - Tap the plus button to: - Take a new photo - Import existing photos - Add a milestone - Create a note

Taking Your First Photo

Option 1: Take a Photo with Camera

  1. Tap the ➕ button
  2. Select Take Photo
  3. Choose photo type (Face, Body, or Custom)
  4. Take your photo
  5. Select the date (defaults to today)
  6. Save!

Option 2: Import Existing Photos

  1. Tap the ➕ button
  2. Select Import Photos
  3. Choose photo type (Face, Body, or Custom)
  4. Select one or more photos from your device
  5. Choose the date for each photo
  6. Save!

Photo Types

  • Face: For facial progress (great for tracking HRT facial changes)
  • Body: For full body progress photos
  • Custom: For specific areas you want to track separately

Adding Your First Milestone

Milestones help you remember important events in your transition.

  1. Tap the ➕ button
  2. Select Add Milestone
  3. Enter a title (e.g., "Started HRT", "First therapy session", "Changed name legally")
  4. Add details (optional)
  5. Set the date
  6. Save!

Common Milestones to Track

  • 🏥 Medical events (HRT start date, surgeries, doctor appointments)
  • 📝 Legal changes (name change, gender marker changes)
  • 💬 Social milestones (coming out events, first day presenting)
  • 🎉 Personal celebrations (first voice pass, first time using public restroom)

Viewing Your Progress

  1. Tap Gallery in the bottom navigation
  2. Browse all your photos organized by date
  3. Filter by photo type (Face, Body, Custom)
  4. Tap any photo to view it full screen

Compare Photos

  1. Open any photo in gallery
  2. Swipe left or right to see other photos
  3. Use the comparison view to see changes over time
  4. Photos are automatically organized by date for easy comparison

Timeline View

  1. View your milestones in chronological order
  2. See which photos are associated with milestones
  3. Track your journey month by month

Staying Organized

Photo Organization Tips

  • Take photos in similar lighting for better comparison
  • Use the same angle and distance each time
  • Take photos on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, etc.)
  • Label custom areas clearly (e.g., "Hands", "Legs", "Hair")

Milestone Organization Tips

  • Be specific with milestone titles
  • Add notes about how you felt or what happened
  • Include relevant medical information (dosages, medications)
  • Link photos to milestones when appropriate

Privacy & Security

Using App Lock

Protect your photos with multiple security options:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Lock Mode
  3. Choose your preferred lock type:
  4. Normal: Password-based lock
  5. Train Tracks: Password lock with train theme
  6. Biometric: Fingerprint or face unlock (if your device supports it)
  7. Set your password
  8. If using biometric, your device's fingerprint/face will unlock the app

Now the app will lock when you close it!

Note: Biometric lock option only appears if your device has fingerprint or face recognition set up. It still requires a password for fallback security.

Disguised Mode (Train Icon)

Want extra privacy? Enable "Train Mode":

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Security
  3. Enable Train Mode
  4. The app icon changes to look like a train app

Perfect for keeping your transition journey private!

Cloud Backup (Optional)

You can optionally backup your data to Google:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Backup & Sync
  3. Sign in with Google
  4. Enable Cloud Sync

Your data will now backup automatically!

Backup is Optional

You don't need to create an account or use cloud backup. The app works perfectly fine storing everything locally on your device.

Backing Up Your Data

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Backup & Sync
  3. Tap Export Data
  4. Choose where to save the backup file
  5. Keep this file safe!

This creates a .ttbackup file containing all your photos and data.

Restoring from Backup

  1. Open OpenTransition
  2. Find your .ttbackup file
  3. Tap the file to open it with OpenTransition
  4. Confirm you want to import
  5. Wait for import to complete

Regular Backups

We recommend creating a backup monthly and storing it in a safe place (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or an external drive).

Customizing the App

Change Theme

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Appearance
  3. Choose your favorite color theme:
  4. Pink (default)
  5. Blue
  6. Purple
  7. Green

Set Reminder Notifications

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Notifications
  3. Enable Photo Reminders
  4. Choose frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)

Getting Help

In-App Help

Look for the ? icon throughout the app for context-specific help.

Documentation

Visit our full documentation: https://shelbeely.github.io/OpenTransition

FAQ

Check our Frequently Asked Questions for common issues and questions.

Report Issues

Found a bug? Have a suggestion? Report it on GitHub: https://github.com/shelbeely/OpenTransition/issues

Next Steps

Now that you're set up:

  1. Take or import your first photo to start tracking progress
  2. Add important milestones from your journey so far
  3. Set up app lock for privacy
  4. Create a backup to keep your data safe
  5. Explore the settings to customize the app

Welcome to your transition documentation journey! 🌈

Quick Tips

💡 Take photos regularly - Weekly or monthly photos show progress best
💡 Use the same lighting - Consistent lighting helps you see real changes
💡 Back up often - Don't lose your precious memories
💡 Celebrate milestones - Every step forward deserves recognition
💡 Keep it private - Use app lock for peace of mind

Need more help? Check out our other user guides: - Features Overview - Photo Management Guide - Milestone Tracking Guide - Privacy & Security