Breeze software is veryefficient. DSLR Remote Pro and Webcam Photobooth both run on low powered Windows computers running Windows 10, 8 or 7. The programs may run more quickly and print faster on a more powerful machine.
Breeze software is incredibly flexible. You can use it in many ways to produce and share photos, animated GIFs, slow motion and other videos. Some operators demand lightening fast results, others offer a more leisurely service. This short post is intended to help you choose the right computer to power your photo booth.
A budget laptop with an i3 processor and at least 4GB RAM should be fine for still photos. If you are planning to capture and playback boomerang GIFs, HD video or use green screen you may need a more powerful computer.
Touchscreens are flexible and an easy way to offer guests choices, share images and collect data. Laptops with built in touchscreens are popular, but not essential. Other ways to control the booth include buttons, coin operation, a wireless presenter and remote sensors.
Most photo booths need two USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports to connect the camera and printer. You can use a USB hub to increase the number of ports.
Green screen and boomerang GIFS
A more powerful PC will process green screen images and animated GIFs more quickly. A low powered PC is likely to take longer to produce the same result. Processing speed is affected by many other factors including the size of the image, background, overlay and print. Individual operators have different views about how fast their booth needs to work.
Try before you buy
If possible try the software either on the computer you plan to use, or a machine with a similar spec. You can download and try out DSLR Remote Pro and Webcam Photobooth for up to two weeks before buying the licenses.
The introduction of GDPR has focussed interest on the ability to obtain specific, granular consent from guests. Breeze Kiosk is ready to help.
Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4 allows you to present up to 10 consent boxes to guests when they email, or text images, upload them to Facebook or Twitter. Each check box can be opt-in or pre-checked, optional or mandatory.
(2)Select the folder you want Breeze Kiosk to watch for images
(3) Check the appropriate boxes to say whether you want to display still images(JPEG), animated GIFs and/or MP4and movies
(4) You will need to select a folder where the screen images used by Breeze Kiosk are stored.
(5) Check boxes to tell the program which print and sharing options you want to offer guests.
In this post I will show you how to add a consent check boxes when guests email photos.
(6) Go to the email server settings screen
Set Breeze Kiosk to log email addresses entered in a csv file
(If this is the first time you have sent emails from Breeze Kiosk on this computer, you will need to set up the settings for your email server)
(7)Check the box to log email addresses to a file, and tell the program what this file is called/where to find it.
If you need to send emails offline check the offline mode box at (8) before pressing OK.
Now we need to copy (or create your own) XML file and put in into the folder which holds your screen images. Don’t panic if you have never seen XML before! There are some examples you can copy in the program help files . All we need to do is make a few simple tweaks.
Defining the guest consent text and checkbox for emailed images. Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4 (a_
(9) This checkbox has value 0 (zero) for opt-in consent. For pre-checked consent change the value to 1
(10) The text for this check box has been highlighted in green. Change this to the wording you need.
(11) When you finish your changes, select File to save them. You need to call the file email_keyboard.xml and save it in the folderyou chose for your screen images. [As (4) above]
email_keyboard.xml is saved in the screens folder
While I am here, how do I change the background color of the email screen?
XML for email screen with white background and custom pre-checked consent box Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4
(12) To change the color of the background screen and of the text of your prompts (13), you need to add the text highlighted in green to your XML.
0xFFFFFF is the HEX notation for RGB white. 0x000000 is the HEX notation for RGB black. Hint: If you haven’t come across HEX notation for RGB colors before, use Photoshop or google RGB color checker to identify the color you want to use.
Now when my guest selects the email icon they see this white screen:
Email keyboard with custom consent Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4
How to I add two or more check boxes?
You need to add these three lines for the second check box
Example xml for email keyboard with two check boxes Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4
The second check box is opt-in, so the prompt value is 0 (zero). I have also changed the Y coordinate of the check box to place it below the first box. The final result is here:
This Email screen has two check boxes Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4
120FPS Slow motion video with no additional processing
Support for small new mirrorless camera: Canon EOS M50
Support for new DSLR cameras: Canon EOS 2000D/Rebel T7 and EOS 4000D
Touchscreen designer: Set photo , print and sharing preview areas
Process individual images for sharing (includes resizing, sharpening and new overlay)
Limit number of prints per session
Custom messages when print counter reaches limit
More
New keyboard shortcuts to accept, retake and abort previews
New option to save XML copies of emails and texts
Privacy information added to the “Sharing Photos” section
Fixed an issue when using transparent green screen backgrounds with Instagram style filters or B&W styles
Fixed an issue with the full screen live view setting when the camera and screen are in portrait orientation
New cameras
Canon EOS M50
Canon’s new mirrorless M50 camera has great potential for photo booths
Smaller, lighter and slimmer than conventional DSLRs, this is the first model which can capture high quality slow motion video in a photo booth with no addional post processing.
Video is captured at 120 fps without sound and is saved at 30 fps resulting in high quality play back at 1/4 normal speed.
Canon EOS 200D/Rebel T7
Update of the Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 and virtually identical but with a higher resolution 24 mega pixel sensor.
Canon EOS 4000D
Very similar to a Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 with the same 18 mega pixel sensor but with cheaper build quality (plastic lens mount, fewer buttons, no remote release socket and no cable access for external power).
DSLR Remote Pro 3.10 is a free upgrade for all registered users who purchased a license on or after May 1st, 2017.
Steve explains how to create event specific versions of Breeze DSLR Remote Pro on your desktop (Facebook Live video 24th April 2018)
This video shows Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
“Inverted commas” aka quotation marks aka double quotes
The path of the settings file should be enclosed in inverted commas e.g. “C:\Program Files (x86)\BreezeSys\DSLR Remote Pro\DSlrRemote.exe” “C:\profiles\settings.xml”
If your path contains spaces and is not contained within inverted commas it won’t work.
We are thrilled to announce that Steve Bliesner is joining Breeze as Brand Ambassador. He has been using Breeze since 2011 . We can’t think of anyone better to spread the word about our software and how to best to use it.
Steve is known to many of you from Facebook groups, his innovative photo booth businesses Wilkes, The Lab and Photobooth Guys; and his presentations at Photo Booth Expo and PBPI. If you haven’t come across him already you are in for a treat…
Breeze have always respected our customers’ privacy and that of guests captured with our software. Our software is sold worldwide; our customers have differing ethical and legal responsibilities about processing and handling data (including photos and other images).
No Breeze photo booth program (ie DSLR Remote Pro, Webcam Photobooth, DSLR Remote Pro for Mac, and PSRemote) shares photos online by default; photos are only shared if the program is explicitly set up to do so.
Breeze Kiosk was developed to enable social sharing. The current release Breeze Kiosk 1.4.4 will only transfer images to/from any social media site if the program is explicitly set up to do so.
Note: Older releases of Breeze Kiosk defaulted to allow images to be uploaded to Facebook. Images are only uploaded to other social media sites or downloaded from Instagram and Twitter if the program is explicitly set up to do so.
Breeze Kiosk privacy mode will only allow images to be displayed, shared or printed if the user enters the correct code.
Breeze Systems have no access to or control over guest images or data generated by our software, with two exceptions documented in the help files:
When animated GIFs are shared on Facebook, Breeze software stores a copy of the GIF on GIPHY
When images are shared by MMS and ‘SMS + Image’ using Twilio, the shared images and file names are stored on Breeze servers for 7 days and then deleted. The mobile number is not stored on Breeze servers. It is possible (although not necessary) for a user to generate image file names which include personal information about the event or guests. The Breeze servers are hosted by an EU based ISP.
The current versions of our photo booth software and Breeze Kiosk allow you to offer ‘opt in’ consent to image sharing.
Where oursoftware enables users to upload, download, and store photos the user controls where and how the images are sent; often using third party services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Dropbox. Don’t forget that it is your responsibility as user to ensure the third-party services you use are appropriate for your events and the jurisdiction you are working in.
This post contains brief notes about the Breeze Booth Event Editor, used to create and modify events for Breeze Booth for iPad.
Note:
This blog post was written for the original release of the Event Editor. An updated version was released on May 28th. This post will be updated as soon as possible. At present please refer to this page for notes about the event Editor.
Introduction
The Breeze Booth Event Editor is a powerful Windows based program which can be used to create and edit events for Breeze Booth for iPad.
The beta version of the editor has a basic user interface, which will be given a friendly front end and further features before the full release.
This beta is provided for Breeze DSLR Remote Pro users with experience using profiles. Please don’t be concerned if you don’t find it accessible at this stage.
The easiest way to get started is to download a copy of the sample events on the Breeze Systems’ servers and save these in the Dropbox folder Apps/Breeze Booth for iPad/events. Then run the event editor and click on “Open…” and load the file Apps/Breeze Booth for iPad/events/events.xml. At present the easiest way to create a new event is to copy an existing event and edit it.
Files stored on the iPad
You can use the iOS 11 Files app to view the files used by Breeze Booth for iPad and to copy event ‘assets’ (screens, print layouts, profiles etc) to an iCloud or DropBox folder.
Tap Browse in the Files app then On my iPad under Locations and you should see a folder named Breeze Booth. Tap on the folder to pen it and there will be two folders: “assets” which is where the event configuration is stored and “photos” where photos, animated GIFs and MP4 movies captured by Breeze Booth are stored. (More details can be found here)
Breeze Booth folders in iOS Files app
You can also upload the events from your iPad to the PC you are using to run Breeze Booth Event Editor.
Download Breeze Booth Event Editor
The Windows based Breeze Booth Event Editor software can be downloaded using the link below. After downloading the software unzip the file and copy it a suitable folder on the computer’s hard disk. (I copied the folder to the desktop on my PC.)
This YouTube video (created for the original beta version of the Event Editor) demonstrates downloading and opening the Event Editor, then takes you on a quick tour. There is more detail in the rest of this post.
Run Breeze Booth Event Editor
Start the Event Editor, and select Open.
Breeze Booth Event Editor main screen
Load the events by selecting events.xml
Loading events.xml into Breeze Booth Event Editor
Select an event to edit, then Edit event
Selecting the ‘GIF only’ event Breeze Booth Event Editor
This brings up a list of profiles for the event you selected. ‘GIF only’ is a simple event with one profile each for landscape and portrait orientations:
List of profiles for sample event ‘GIF only’ Breeze Booth event Editor
To make changes to a profile select Edit
Photo Booth Settings Screens
The Photo Booth Settings Screen is displayed for the profile you selected. This has four tabs : General, Photos, GIFs, Share. There are layout editors for touchscreen actions, print layout and GIF layout. More features will be added to these editors in future releases.
Use the editors to customize events; saving your changes will update settings.xml.
Photo Booth Settings Screen – General
Photo Booth Settings Screen General Tab BBEE
Select Touchscreen actions… to display the Touchscreen actions editor
Sharing settings screen Breeze Booth Event EditorDefault email for sharing animated GIFs from Breeze Booth for iPad (Breeze Booth Event Editor Beta)
Notes
Breeze Booth Event Editor works in a similar way to DSLR Remote Pro and other Windows based Breeze photo booth software.
Settings are stored in XML files
Screens are created using JPEG backgrounds, PNG overlays & animated GIF animations.
Profiles are used to load settings from the XML files and provide a way of selecting different configurations.
Breeze Booth for iPad can run with the iPad in landscape or portrait orientation and uses a separate profile for each orientation.
Screens should match the aspect ratio of the iPad’s display (4:3). The suggested sizes are 2048×1536 pixels for landscape orientation screens and 1536×2048 for portrait orientation screens.
The app uses the following screens:
ready.jpg, ready_overlay.png, ready.gif: The ready screen in photo mode. Append the style (e.g. ready_normal.jpg, ready_monochrome.jpg) to the filename to provide feedback when different styles are selected. The style names are normal,monochrome, sepia, comic, filter1, filter2, filter3, filter4, filter5, filter6
1.jpg, 1.png, 1.gif: Screen displayed during the countdown. Use 1.jpg for the first photo, 2.jpg for the second etc.
taking.jpg, taking.png, taking.gif: displayed when taking a photo
preview.jpg, preview.png, preview.gif: displayed when previewing each photo after it has been taken
processing.jpg, procesing.png, processing.gif: displayed while the print layout is being prepared
confirm_printing.jpg, confirm_printing.png, confirm_printing.gif: displays the print preview when the user is asked whether to accept or reject the photos
share,jpg, share.png, share.gif: displayed when asking the user whether to share the photos
standby.jpg, standby.png, standby.gif: standby screen displayed when the booth is inactive. Live view is disabled in standby mode to save power.
gif_ready.jpg, gif_ready_overlay.png, gif_ready.gif: The ready screen in animated GIF mode. Append the style (e.g. gif_ready_normal.jpg, gif_ready_monochrome.jpg) to the filename to provide feedback when different styles are selected.
gif_countdown.jpg, gif_countdown.png, gif_countdown.gif: displayed during the countdown before capturing an animated GIF
gif_capture.jpg, gif_capture.png, gif_capture.gif: displayed when capturing the animated GIF
gif_processing.jpg, gif_processing.png, gif_processing.gif: display while preparing the animated GIF for display
gif_playback.jpg, gif_playback.png, gif_playback.gif: playback screen displayed when the user is asked whether to accept the animated GIF
gif_share,jpg, gif_share.png, gif_share.gif: displayed when asking the user whether to share the animated GIF or MP4 movie
Animated GIF options
append _loop to the filename (e.g. ready_loop.gif) to play the animated GIF in a continuous loop.
By default the GIF will be displayed in the center of the screen. The size and position of the GIF can be modified by appending modifiers enclosed in curly brackets. The h and w modifiers specify the size as a percentage of the screen width or heighta and the l, r, t, b modifiers specify the position relative to the left, right, top or height of the screen respectively. If conflicting modifiers are present (e.g. l and r) the last one will used.
Example: to place a ready.gif animated GIF which is half the width of the screen and 1/4 the way down the screen set the filename to ready_{w50%t25%}.gif (or ready_loop_{w50%t25%}.gif to play it in a continuous loop).
Copying events to the iPad
Don’t forget to save the changes you have made. When you are ready to transfer them to your iPads running Breeze Booth for iPad, you can either
Method 1: Copy the files to a folder on iCloud or Dropbox that is visible on the iPad. Then use the Files app to copy the files to Breeze Booth for iPad’s assets folder.
Method 2: Upload the files to a folder on a web server then go the to the settings screen in Breeze Booth for iPad and edit the URL for the sync server to point to the folder on the web server. Then use the events screen in Breeze Booth for iPad to sync the events. Important: This method can only be used with secure servers that have https e.g. https://breezesys.com. It will not work with http URLs.
It’s your feedback which makes Breeze products stand out – please email comments to techsupport:@breezesys.com .
If you find this post useful please share it with others.
Breeze are delighted to announce the new Breeze Booth for iPad beta release, build 14. If you haven’t signed up yet join here
Note: This post was updated on May 31st with details of Breeze Booth for iPad beta build 14.
New in build 14
Windows based server for printing photos and for syncing output from the iPad
Dropbox support: sync events from Dropbox and copyoutput to Dropbox
Digital zoom
Control of camera settings
Support for normal, square and DSLR compatible (3:2) live view, photos and boomerang GIFs
Photos can be rotated and optionally sharpened in the print layout
Optional exit password protection
Your invitation
When you are accepted onto the program you will receive an invitation email from Apple TestFlight
Invitation email for Breeze Booth for iPad
Getting started
Your iPad needs to be running iOS 11. To email photos and GIFs from the booth you will also need to have a mail account set up with iOS Mail.
Installation
Download TestFlight from the Apple App Store and click on Redeem to show the apps you’re able to beta test. Select Breeze Booth for iPad and install.
TestFlight screen displaying the B icon for Breeze Booth for iPad
Running Breeze Booth for iPad for the first time
Start the App
Tap the Breeze icon to start the App, then Events
Breeze Booth for iPad home screen
Download the list of events from a server
The first time you run Breeze Booth for iPad the event list will be empty. You need to download events from a server to get started. We have set up a server with several demonstration events for you to download and try out.
Breeze Booth for iPad Events list is empty the first time the App is run
Tap on “Update” in the top right corner to download a list of events from Breeze Systems server.
Breeze Booth for iPad event list has been successfully synched with the version on the server
After downloading the event list tap on < Events to return to the events screen. You should see a list of events:
Breeze Booth for iPad list of events
Download all the settings for a single event
Swipe right to left on an event and select Sync to download the files from the server to your iPad. (Sync is also used to ensure that you have the latest version of files for an event.)
Be patient, and wait until you see Sync. completed successfully.
Tap < Events to return to the events screen after syncing the files.
Run the event
Now swipe right to left on the event and tap “Run” to run the event.
breeze Booth for iPad : tapping Run to start the booth for an event
In this example you will see the ready screen for an event called Simple ‘photos only’ photo booth
Breeze Booth for iPad ready screen with live view, animated GIF ‘Start’ and branded overlay
Take your first photos and explore the other events we have set up for you to try. (You will need to Exit the event, return to the Events screen, choose a new event and Sync to download the settings fron the server before you can run it.)
You can shoot and share photos and boomerang GIFs by email, play with virtual props and see semi-transparent overlays. Download photos to a Windows computer with the new Breeze Booth Synch Server for printing.
Adjust camera settings
The new camera controls and digital zoom are accessed from the home page:
Zoom, adjust exposure compensation, white balance, and tint images
You will be able to install Breeze Booth for iPad when you receive an email invitation to the email address for your Apple ID.
Breeze Booth for iPad events are defined in a powerful Windows based program called Breeze Booth Event Editor. This post uses a set of predefined ‘events’ that we have set up for you.
We have seen how to sync your iPad with a server containing sample events. First you download a list of events from the server, then all the detailed information you need to run an event.
Once you have taken some photos and animated GIFs on your iPad, download the Breeze Booth Synch Server to a Windows PC so that you can synch your images to print and share them.
View and share the folders stored on the iPad
The iOS 11 Files app can be used to view the files used by Breeze Booth for iPad. You can share events and their associated photos by copying them to an iCloud or DropBox folder.
Tap the Files App icon to see the Breeze Booth for iPad folders
Tap Browse in the Files app, then On my iPad . You should see a folder named Breeze Booth.
x
Tap on the folder to open it and there will be two folders: assets which is where the event configuration is stored and photos where photos, animated GIFs and MP4 movies captured by Breeze Booth are stored.
Breeze Booth folders viewed in Files App
Viewing images from an event on the iPad
By default Breeze Booth for iPad stores images in folders named by date.
iPad Files App showing photos taken and sub folders for animated GIFs and Print layouts on 2018-05-30
Your feedback matters!
Please let us know what you think. You can either use the TestFlight feedback link below or ping an email to techsupport@breezesys.com
TestFlight feedback link
New beta versions
When a new beta is available you should receive a notification email and can install it by running TestFlight, selecting Breeze Booth for iPad and tapping “update”.
The first beta version of the editor has a basic user interface, which will be given a friendly front end and further features before the full release.
This beta is provided for Breeze DSLR Remote Pro users with experience using profiles. Please don’t be concerned if you don’t find it accessible at this stage.
Thank you!
Chris and I are overwhlemed by your enthusiam and appreciate the time loads of you are willing to spend testing this new product. We hope you will enjoy using it for many years.
This post explains how to set up your booth with the Photobooth Setup Wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.
We recommend everyone from beginner to expert uses the Photobooth Setup Wizard as a start point for setting up a booth. The wizard also helps generate profiles quickly. This is a simple, speedy and safe way to generate a working system.
This video shows how easy it is to prepare your system using the default settings.
Easiest way to create a GIF/Photo booth
Now let’s go through how to customize your own booth using just the wizard.
The 3 Step Wizard in more detail
Select Photobooth Setup Wizard (1). First you will be prompted to save your current settings
Saving your current settings before running the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Step 1
Step 1 simply asks you to name the folder (2) where your photo booth images will be stored. These ‘images’ are the set of screen designs and layout images you will use. (This is usually a subfolder for your PhotoBoothImages folder.) Press Next (3) to move on to Step 1.
Step 1 of the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Step 2
The second step is to define the screens used by guests to interact with the booth. Adjust the default settings to meet your needs.
Dropdown list to give guests choices (Photos/Boomerang GIF, Photos only, Boomerang GIFs only, Photo or video, Video only)
This drop down list is a super-fast way to set up the booth to offer guests choice (DSLR Remote Pro 3.9 Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2)
Single ready screen to choose from Photos or Animated GIFs
Check this box for single ready screen (DSLR Remote Pro 3.9 Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2)
Choose Photos or Boomerang GIFs and check Single ready screen so that guests start the booth and choose between still photos and boomerang GIFs from a single screen (as in the video above)
Dropdown list to choose a predefined theme
Selecting a predefined theme to use with DLSR Remote Pro 3.9 at Step 2 of the Photobooth Setup Wizard
You can create, load and save DSLR Remote Pro themes containing screen background, touchscreen button, and caption sets, or buy them from third parties.
Your themes may include localized sets of captions in a variety of languages. DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 and 3.9 are shipped with English, German, Polish, Italian and Romanian captions.
Button placement
Buttons can be placed down the side or across the bottom of the screen by the wizard. (DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 Wizard Step 2)
Dropdown list to adjust live view
Live view drop down list – choose from normal, square and full screen (DSLR Remote Pro 3.9 Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2)
Changing the live view in the Wizard will automatically adjust the shape of images in both animated GIFs and prints created by DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.
Color of the background screens and text
Defining colors of the background screens and fonts (including custom colors) with the Photobooth Setup Wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Editing individual captions
Import complete captions sets using themes as above. Change (or remove) the text for individual captions using Edit captions:
Editing individual captions in the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Additional checkboxes
Checkboxes in the Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2 DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
The first 5 check boxes highlighted in green tell the Wizard whether you are using a touchscreen, whether guests can choose between color and B&W prints, whether to display a preview of each photo after it is taken and the maximum number of prints allowed.
Sharing checkboxes in the Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2 DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
The next five check boxes tell the wizard whether a sharing screen (after the photos are taken) should offer uploads to guest’s Facebook and/or Twitter account, share photos by email or MMS/SMS, or offer optional printing. Hint: some operators prefer to offer browsing and sharing from a kiosk separate to the booth. You can use Breeze Kiosk for this. To share and print photos away from the booth leave these boxes unchecked.
Inactivity timeout & use default settings
Inactivity timeout and ‘Use default setting’ button DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 wizard
The inactivity timeout is useful if the photo booth is not in continuous use because it disables the live view display and puts the booth into standby mode. Disabling live view will allow the camera’s sensor to cool down to avoid possible overheating problems. The booth can be reactivated by touching the screen. To use the inactivity timeout, just set the number of seconds after which you want to put the booth into standby.
Select Use Default Settings to restore the default settings for the photo booth.
Next takes you to the third and final step (unless you chose only GIFs or video, in which case you skip Step 3).
Step 3
At Step 3 you choose the print layout and adjust your printer settings if necessary( DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 Photobooth Setup Wizard)
The wizard offers a choice of 8 popular layouts; if you want something different choose whichever is closest to your design (you will be able to change this using the Print Layout Editor later).
Running a shoot and share booth with animated GIFs and no printing is increasingly popular. The DSLR Remote Pro 3.9 Wizard no longer asks you to select a printer when you offer only Boomerang GIFs or Video.
