Mirror booths usually do not display the camera’s live view because guests see themselves pose in the mirror.
Breeze DSLR Remote Pro’s support for bespoke interfaces and custom menus makes it a great choice for magic mirrors and photo booths. You can hide the live view whether you are offering still photos, GIFs, slow mo or video booth:
Fusion Booth running DSLR Remote Pro with choice of boomerang GIF, slow motion or photos (Image courtesy of Incredible Booth)
To capture still photos without displaying the live view simply switch it off in Advanced Settings.
Live view unchecked to hide the live view when capturing still images (Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.12)
This is great when you want to make slideshow GIFs from a set of still photos.
Breeze boomerang GIFs are captured from the camera’s live view, so when live view is switched off you cannot shoot boomerang GIFs.
Hide the live view
Mirror booth users and others who want to shoot boomerang GIFs without showing the live view need to hide it. There is a simple trick to this – move the live view so that it is no longer displayed on screen. If your screen is 1080 x 1920 pixels, offset the live view by more than this (In this example I have offset by 2000 pixels in both directions):
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Guests will still see the countdown but not the live view. Magic!
Breeze DSLR Remote Pro powers photo booths and mirror booths worldwide. Licenses cost just US $275* each and include one year’s free upgrades. This post shows screenshots from Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.12
This Windows based App runs as a fully functional trial for up to 14 days supporting most Canon DSLR cameras and Canon’s mirrorless M50.
I’m pleased to be able to say that we released Breeze Booth 1.0.1 today, adding iPhone support and scheduled updates for fixed installations to our innovative iPad App.
Breeze Booth supports all iPads and iPhones running iOS 12.1, and can be downloaded from the App Store here
New in Breeze Booth 1.0.1
Support for Apple iPhones
Scheduled syncing (updating) events and purging old images for fixed installations
Custom background images for start screen can be different when device is signed in and out
Switch between simple and advanced display options on settings screen
Simpler initial download of sample events
Simpler switching between events
Fixed issue with AirPrint
Fixed issue with text number verification
Smaller roving devices
Breeze Booth is ideal for the growing roving market, and offers new opportunities for smaller, light weight devices powered by iPhones and the new iPad Mini 5. Share and print images using Breeze Hub from both iPhones and iPads. Create bespoke interfaces for small and large screens with the powerful Event Editor.
How much does it cost?
Breeze Booth is available at an introductory price of just $49/month or $440/year for each device. To buy subscriptions open a Breeze Booth account.
Prices exclude any tax due
I’ve just bought a license! How do I upgrade?
Thanks for being an early adopter. Breeze Booth 1.0.1 is a free upgrade – just upgrade your copies of the App from the App Store.
You will often need to add or edit the files in your PhotoboothImages folder when you customize the screens in your booth or mirror. Most of you know that you must name the files you add correctly so that DSLR Remote Pro and other Breeze programs can find them. If you are sure the filename is right but the program doesn’t seem to see it, check the filename extension.
It is very easy to name a file 1.jpg.jpg by mistake, and Windows makes this hard to spot, because Windows File explorer doesn’t show the extension (.jpg or .avi etc) unless you tell it to.
In this post I will show you how to spot errors more easily:
Always display file name extensions
The first example shows an Icons view of the images for a basic booth set up with the Wizard. I find this visual overview very helpful. If you look at the filenames (highlighted in red) you will see that the .jpg file name extensions are missing:
Typical icon view of PhotoboothImages folder. Windows has hidden the file extensions
The View tab shows you that the File name extensions box is not checked:
Checking this box will reveal the .jpg extensions:
When File name extensions is checked, the .jpg etc extensions are shown
Fascinating – but why does this matter?
If you accidentally name the a file 1.jpg.jpg instead of just 1.jpg it will be very clear when you look at this window:
Here the first image has accidentally been named 1.jpg.jpg
If you cannot see these file extensions this is much easier to miss:
1.jpg.jpg is labelled 1.jpg – very easy to miss!
If you look at the Details view of the same folder this is what you will see:
Again 1.jpg.jpg is labelled 1.jpgWhen you force Windows to show the file extension my mistake jumps out
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Do share the post with others who may find it useful.
I have reserved places for the folks on the iPad waiting list for this class – please drop me an email and confirm whether you would like to take them up.
Chris and Steve are running two Breeze Master Classes at Photo Booth Expo this year – Introducing Breeze Booth for iPad, and Interface design for DSLR Remote Pro and Multi-Camera. Tickets are free to PBX Key Pass holders. The original classes have been fully booked for some time.
Both will also give Keynote presentations at PBX. Steve will open on Sunday at 12 with What I’ve Learned From Doing 1000 Events A Year. Chris will cover Choosing the Right Camera for your Booth on Tuesday at 9am. You don’t need to book for Keynote presentations, which are open to all PBX Key Pass holders.
Introducing Breeze Booth for iPad
Monday 25th February 11-12.30 & 3-4.30 Steve Bliesner & Chris Breeze
Get the low down on the latest Breeze App from Steve Bliesner (Breeze Brand Ambassador and Photo Booth Guys) and Chris Breeze (Breeze founder and developer).
Book your place at Introducing Breeze Booth for iPad (The password is PBX)
If you can no longer use your ticket, please email sales@breezesys.com so that I can give it to someone else. Thank you.
As most of you know, Chris is founder and developer in chief at Breeze. Steve Bliesner is our Breeze Brand Ambassador as well as running the Photo Booth Guys and Wilkes Photobooth. Steve’s Breeze class at BoothCon 2019 was standing room only; we expect both the PBX classes to be packed.
This is the fifth Year of Photo Booth Expo, the world’s largest Photo Booth Show. It’s a great chance to catch up with you all as well as showing the latest Breeze offerings at our booth. See you soon.
This post explains how to create and edit your own events for Breeze Booth for iPad using the Breeze Booth Event Editor 1.1 on a Windows PC, and covers
what’s new in this release
first steps : how to download, install and run the Event Editor on your PC
loading events into the event editor
cloning an event as a start point for a custom design
portrait and landscape events
editing an event
transferring events to your iPad(s)
April 4th: The version of the Event Editor described below has been replaced by v1.1.2, which can be downloaded here . You can find detailed instructions for the Event Editor in the new help files. Breeze Booth 1.0.1 is now available in the App Store, find the App here . The beta program is now closed.
Easier editing – you will find it much simpler to load events into the Editor, copy them and save your work.
Simpler cloning of events
Ability to import events from elsewhere
Improved event format
Simpler manifest regeneration
Chris has also added the ability to set up both initial and default profiles for an event, & load profiles from menu 1 or menu 2
Download and install Breeze Booth Event Editor & sample events
Event Editor runs on a Windows 10, 8 or 7 computer. Download it from here.
You will also automatically download Breeze Hub and the designs for nine sample events. When you install the event editor, these events will automatically be saved in your Documents folder C:\Users\…\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events
The Breeze Booth Event Editor installer has created this folder of sample events. C:\Users\sue\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events
There is a sub-folder for each sample event, and a file called events.xml which you need to open in the Event Editor:
Run Breeze Booth Event Editor
Start the Event Editor, and select Open.
Starting Breeze Booth Event Editor 1.1 for the first time
Load the list of existing events by selecting events.xml in C:\Users\…\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events
Select events.xml to load the list of events into Breeze Booth Event Editor
Initial list of sample events displayed in BBEE
List of sample events loaded into Breeze Booth Event Editor 1.1(This list was created from the events.xml file we opened)
The first event is called Designer and showcases many of the features included with Breeze Booth for iPad. You are welcome to use this design (or parts of it) with Breeze Booth for iPad at your own events.
The remaining 8 events are much simpler. They are intended to help you create your own designs.
This post will show you how to copy one of these simple events (Photos with virtual props) and edit it for your own use.
Photos with virtual props takes one photo and shares it on a custom background. Guests choose between 3 virtual props. They can also choose whether to shoot in color, B&W, sepia, comic effect or using a filter. The photo can be shared by email .
Cloning ‘Photos with virtual props’
Right click on Photos with virtual props and select Clone Event…
Right click on an event to clone it
You can change the name, description and folder name of the new event:
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Editing an event
Portrait, landscape or both?
Breeze Booth for iPad lets guests switch between portrait and landscape orientation on the fly (great for roaming booths like the Ring Roamer). My virtual props event can be used in both portrait and landscape orientation, so has designs for both.
If you will always run an event in the same orientation, you don’t need to create both designs.
Open My virtual props
Select My virtual props… and check Edit event…
We will just edit the portrait version of My virtual props event today. Click on the portrait Edit button:
This brings us to the Photo Booth Settings screen, where you can start to customize your design
Tabs on Photo Booth Settings screen (Breeze Both for iPad build 20)
The original Photos with virtual props takes one photo and shares it on a colored background with a custom logo. Guests choose between 3 virtual props. They can also choose whether to shoot in color, B&W, sepia, comic effect or using a filter. The photo can be shared by email .
We are going to change My virtual props event to
take 2 square photos
remove the branded background print layout
add a new background color, 2 logos* and a caption to the print layout
create a slideshow GIF from the 2 photos
customize the wording of the email
share the slideshow GIF instead of the print layout
*You can add up to 5 different png or jpg logos to each print layout in addition to the background and overlay. This is a simple way of branding a design for a particular event, and can also be used as a quick way to add an image of the bride and groom (taken earlier in the day) to wedding photo booths.
Photo Booth Settings Screen
The Photo Booth Settings Screen is displayed for the profile you selected. It has 5 tabs : General, Photos, Slideshow GIFs, Burst GIFs, and Share. You can access powerful editors to design your screens, prints and GIFs from these settings.
Photo Booth Settings – General tab
11) Change the aspect ratio of the photos to square
Changing the photo aspect ratio to square (Breeze booth Event Editor)
You can find a full list of Breeze Booth for iPad screens here
Photo Booth Settings – Photos tab
12) Change the number of photos to 2
13) Change the countdown text color to black
14) Open the Print Layout Editor
Changing the number of photos, color of countdown text and opening the Print Layout editor in Breeze Booth Event Editor
Print Layout Editor
Use the Print layout editor to customize your prints. In the slideshow below I will:
15) Remove the branded background
16) Add a new background color to the print
17) Change the printed photo to a square
18) Right click on the background to add the second photo
19) Resize and reposition the two photos
20) Add the two logos
21) Right click on the background to add a caption, then right click again to edit it
22) Save my changes
Note: You can add up to 5 different JPG or PNG logos to a print
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Photo Booth Settings – Slideshow GIFs tab
Check Create animated GIF,... to create an animated GIF from the two photos
Creating a slideshow GIF from the photos
Photo Booth Settings – Share tab
23) Check Share slideshow first to share the GIF instead of a print layout
24) Open the slideshow email editor to customize the message
Telling Breeze Booth for iPad to share the slideshow GIF
Breeze Booth Event Editor email editor for slideshow GIFs
Change the subject and email text. You can use Breeze tokens (25) in emails
Before you leave the event editor….
When you have finished editing the event, check OK to save all your changes.
Add an extra countdown GIF and sharing screen to the asset folder
The new event includes has two photos instead of one so we need a second countdown GIF 2.gif . We also need a screen called share_slideshow.jpg to share the new slideshow GIF.
I have copied the existing 1.gif and share.jpg screens to 2.gif and share_slideshow.jpg in C:\Users\sue\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events\My virtual props event\portrait
C:\Users\sue\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events\My virtual props event\portrait showing 2.gif and share_slideshow.jpg
When you make any changes to this folder you must also go back to the Breeze Booth Event Editor, open the event and regenerate the manifests
Closing the Event Editor
If you make any changes to your events, the Event Editor will prompt you to save changes to your events.xml folder. It is important that you select Yes to save the changes you have made and update the manifest.
Copying events from a PC to your iPads
There are currently 3 ways to copy events from your PC to an iPad:
Upload the events folder 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 this folder. 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. Sample events are available by setting the sync server to https://bb4ipad.com/sync in the iPad’s app settings.
Method 3: Copy the files via iCloud
Copy the event folder to a folder on iCloud that is visible on the iPad. Then use the Files app to copy the files to Breeze Booth for iPad’s assets folder.
Using AirPrint to print directly from Breeze Booth for iPad
25) To print directly from the iPad connect up your printer ( which must support AirPrint) and choose Print using Airprint on the Breeze Booth for iPad Settings screen
26) To print using a Windows PC you need Breeze Hub. Choose Connect to Breeze Hub on the Breeze Booth or iPad Settings screen
Summary
This post has taken you through downloading and installing both the Breeze Booth Event Editor and a set of sample events onto a Windows PC. I have also shown how to create your own event based on one of the samples provided by Breeze, and outlined ways to transfer new and updated events to your iPads. Finally there are short notes about printing using Airprint and a Windows PC.
If you found this post useful please share it with others.
Chris and Steve are running two Breeze Master Classes at Photo Booth Expo this year – Introducing Breeze Booth for iPad, and Interface design for DSLR Remote Pro and Multi-Camera. Tickets are free to PBX Key Pass holders Update: 9 February: Both Masterclasses are now fully booked
Both will also give Keynote presentations at PBX. Steve will open on Sunday at 12 with What I’ve Learned From Doing 1000 Events A Year. Chris will cover Choosing the Right Camera for your Booth on Tuesday at 9am. You don’t need to book for Keynote presentations, which are open to all PBX Key Pass holders.
Masterclasses
Introducing Breeze Booth for iPad
Monday 25th February 11-12.30 Steve Bliesner & Chris Breeze
Get the low down on the latest Breeze App from Steve Bliesner (Breeze Brand Ambassador and Photo Booth Guys) and Chris Breeze (Breeze founder and developer).
Update: 9 February This course is now fully booked. To join a waiting list for returned tickets, email sales@breezesys.com using subject line PBX Breeze Booth for iPad Masterclass.
If you can no longer use your ticket, please email sales@breezesys.com so that I can give it to someone else. Thank you.
Interface Design for DSLR Remote Pro & Breeze Multi-Camera
Tuesday 11-12.30 Steve Bliesner & Chris Breeze
Get the most from these powerful DSLR based photo booth Apps with Chris and Steve. This master class will cover
Designing unique interfaces for Breeze booths and Multi-Cam
Making the most of the new Multi-Camera photo booth mode
Update: 9 February This course is now fully booked. To join a waiting list for returned tickets, email sales@breezesys.com using subject line PBX Breeze Booth Interface Design Masterclass.
If you can no longer use your ticket, please email sales@breezesys.com so that I can give it to someone else. Thank you.
PBX expect both classes to be booked out, and have asked that you choose the class you prefer.
As most of you know, Chris is founder and developer in chief at Breeze. Steve Bliesner is our Breeze Brand Ambassador as well as running the Photo Booth Guys and Wilkes Photobooth. Steve’s Breeze class at BoothCon 2019 was standing room only; we expect both the PBX classes to be packed.
This is the fifth Year of Photo Booth Expo, the world’s largest Photo Booth Show. It’s a great chance to catch up with you all as well as showing the latest Breeze offerings at our booth. See you soon.
Breeze Hub is a simple (but powerful) utility, that can manage the process of printing, emailing and the SMS* of images from other Breeze software products such as: Breeze Booth for iPad, Breeze Booth for Windows (DSLR Remote Pro) and Breeze Kiosk.
*SMS is designed for sending images via a microsite and does not currently send the actual image.
Breeze Hub, showing 2 iPads connected over a local network, and several emails that have been sent.
Where it started
Hub was initially developed as a print server app, to enable the printing of images from Breeze iPad based photo booths to professional dye sub printers. Additionally, it was designed as a way to easily sync images back to a Windows PC across a local network from your iPad.
Since then, the capabilities of Hub have expanded, and it can now also be used to email and SMS* images from Breeze Booth for Windows (DSLR Remote Pro), Breeze Kiosk and of course, Breeze Booth for iPad.
Breeze Booth for iPad
Breeze Booth for iPad + Breeze Hub
If you are using Breeze Booth for iPad and you want to print at your event, Hub is the fastest and best way to do so. Hub can run on a small, low powered Windows PC, that connects to your printer via USB. The iPad then connects to Hub over WIFI, and quickly sends the images to be printed. At the same time, Hub can also share your images via email and SMS.
Breeze Booth for Windows (Aka DSLR Remote Pro)
Breeze Booth for Windows running Breeze Hub
If you send emails from Breeze Booth for Windows (DSLR Remote Pro), Hub can run on the same PC, which then allows you to send emails in the background (no waiting for images to upload before next session starts) AND it allows you to attach all images, layouts and GIFs from each session as well as designing more attractive email templates, that can include the thumbnail images.
To get started, configure your emails in Breeze Booth as normal, ensuring that you have enabled XML logging. You can then configure your attachment settings to suit your needs (see GIF below).
Configure the email settings in Breeze Booth for Windows, ensuring that XML logging is enabled. Keep in mind, Breeze Booth requires SMTP settings to be entered, but these will be ignored, as the email will be sent from Breeze Hub instead.
Configure Breeze Hub to enable emails, ensuring you have entered your SMTP details.
When designing your email template, if you are using thumbnails in the body of the email, you need to ensure that you are using the relevant tags to display the images:
{image1} – the thumbnail of the print layout or GIF/mp4
{image2} {image4} {image6} etc – the thumbnail of the first, second and third photos in the session
{image3}{image5}{image7} – the high-resolution image of the first, second and third photos in the session (though typically, you would not embed the high resolution images in the email body)
Send emails from Breeze Booth for Windows that attach all images and GIFs/mp4’s from the photo booth session
Where do you install it?
Breeze Hub can be run locally on a PC at your event (for example, on your photo booth/kiosk PC, or on the PC acting as your print server); OR it can be run on a PC in your office, where images from multiple Windows/iPad based Breeze photo booths and Kiosks, can be emailed or sent via SMS* from one central location – essentially creating your own mini cloud solution.
Thank you all for your business this year, and for being such an amazing bunch of people!
It has been great to meet lots of you in person at PBPI, PBX, Photokina and Photobooth Show Europe; and get to know many more of you through your emails and Facebook posts. Thank you all for your enthusiasm, encouragement, suggestions and comments along the way.
Our computers are switched off on Christmas Day, but we will be processing orders and providing limited support between Christmas and New Year. Please be patient if it takes a little longer than usual to receive upgrade licenses.
BreezeBrowser Pro 1.10 and Downloader Pro 2.5 introduce support for the new Canon CR3 raw file format and recent Canon cameras including the EOS R and M50.
BreezeBrowser Pro 1.10
BreezeBrowser Pro is a smart tool used by professional photographers to organize, cull and enhance photos.
What’s new?
Support for the CR3 raw files used by the mirrorless EOS R and M50 cameras.
Raw file conversion and shooting data display for Canon’s EOS R, M50, EOS 1500D/2000D/Rebel T7 and EOS 3000D/4000D cameras.
Both releases are a free upgrade for all registered users who purchased a license within the last 18 months. Users with older licenses will need to buy an upgrade license to use the latest versions of BreezeBrowser Pro and Downloader Pro.
Guests often want to share images to several email addresses. The default versions of both DSLR Remote Pro and Breeze Kiosk send emails to one address at a time. DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 and Breeze Kiosk 1.5introduce the ability to cc additional addresses when sending emails.
Sending images to multiple addresses from DSLR Remote Pro
Example 1: Adding a CC line to the email keyboard
We need to add a second prompt to the email keyboard. We do this by editing the default email_keyboard.xml file. I am going to walk you through this step by step. It doesn’t matter if you have never seen xml before.
First open the touchscreen editor, click on Test keyboard… and select Email keyboard.
Accessing the email keyboard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.12
Email keyboard created by setup wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.12
Then left click the mouse while holding down both Shift and Ctrl keys. This lets you save the XML file and the keyboard images.
First delete the four keyboard image files from the PhotoBoothImages folder(otherwise we won’t see any any changes we make to the text prompts).
PhotoBoothImages folder showing email_keyboard.xml and keyboard images (DSLR Remote PRo 3.12)
Open the email_keyboard.xml file in a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad (which comes free with Windows 10)
Replace the highlighted text with this and save the changes:
<prompt1 email_address=”1″ mandatory=”1″>Please enter your email address:</prompt1>
<text1_x>38</text1_x>
<text1_y>170</text1_y>
<text1_r>1882</text1_r>
<prompt2 email_address=”1″>CC:</prompt2>
<text2_x>38</text2_x>
<text2_y>356</text2_y>
<text2_r>1882</text2_r>
Note: Here the second prompt will appear below the first prompt. This is achieved by using the same x coordinate, and different y coordinates. The CC email address is optional and so prompt2 does not need the ‘mandatory’ attribute.
xml changed to share to two email addresses
Two is not enough?
There is usually room on a booth or kiosk screen to add the second line above. You may find it more difficult to find space to enter three or more addresses. The screen size, orientation ( there is usually more empty space in portrait oriented mirror booths than landscape photo booths and kiosks) and the numberof characters allowed for email addresses all make a difference.
These examples in this post have been created for a screen 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. If your screen is different you may need to adjust the values you use. It is also possible (but more complicated) to change the size and position of the keyboard buttons on your screen. More details
Example 2 has space for 3 email addresses to be entered below each other. Example 3 includes 4 email addresses in 2 rows. Both are created by editing the email_keyboard.xml in the same way as before. Each time you edit the xml, use DSLR Remote Pro’s test keyboard to check whether your changes work as you expect.
Example 2: Adding two CC lines to the email keyboard
Here a third prompt has been added below the others. To fit this in above the keyboard, the y coordinates of all 3 fields have been adjusted and the size of the text reduced (DSLR Remote Pro 3.12)
Example 3: Four email addresses on the email keyboard
In this example a single email is sent to four different addresses:
For more detail and other ways you can customize the touch screen keyboards in DSLR Remote Pro see the help files
Sending images to multiple addresses from Breeze Kiosk
Use the same technique with Breeze Kiosk. Start with the default email_keyboard.xml file by (1) selecting Settings. (2) Check that sending emails is enabled, and (3) click on Test keyboard…
Accessing the email keyboard in Breeze Kiosk 1.5
Then left click the mouse while holding down both Shift and Ctrl keys. This lets you save the XML file and the keyboard images. Delete the keyboard images and edit the xml in the same way as for DSLR Remote Pro.
For more detail and other ways you can customize the Breeze Kiosk touch screen keyboards see the touchscreen keyboard section of the help files
Summary
This post has walked you through adding cc email addresses to your DSLR Remote Pro screens, and outlined how to make similar changes to Breeze Kiosk.
