Tag Archives: Featured

Breeze Booth Event Editor, Breeze Booth for iPad, Breeze Hub

Breeze Booth for iPad Build 20 – What can it do?

Complete creative freedom

Breeze Booth for iPad is a powerful photo booth app that has been designed with flexibility, redundancy and creativity in mind. Design unique, custom interfaces/user experiences and quickly deploy them to a fleet of iPads using trusted cloud services (Dropbox, iCloud etc) or via your own private and secure web servers.

Click video above to see Breeze Booth for iPad in action

Key Features 

  • Centralised set up of events, interfaces and image branding via a Windows-based app
  • The industry’s most flexible interface designer
  • Make digital photos, prints and GIFs and use digital A/R props
  • White label the app interface and sharing features (as a standard inclusion)
  • Standalone capability and redundancy  (events can run offline, deploy your own private and secure sync and image sharing servers)
  • Advanced features for power users (profiles, tokens, unique ID’s, access to XML information etc)

Breeze Booth Standalone Operation

Breee Booth can run as a simple photo booth app, with loads of  features available out of the box.

  1. Shoot still images, slideshow and boomerang/burst GIFs
  2. Virtual props
  3. Standard image filters and effects: Color, B&W, sepia, comic and mirror effects
  4. Create and import  your own custom photo filters
  5. Control camera settings (digital zoom, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, tint) 
  6. Switch between front and rear cameras
  7. Printing of images (including AirPrint printers)
  8. Email images directly from the iPad
  9. Local storage of photos, prints and GIFs on the iPad
  10. Sync images & XML data to Windows PC for sharing, printing and export to other Apps 
  11. Sync images to Dropbox
  12. Log email addresses and cell phone numbers
  13. Collect guest survey and consent data
  14. Display privacy statements, terms & conditions, and other information screens
  15. Sync events from Dropbox or your own private and secure web server
  16. Transfer events to your iPad via AirDrop (no internet required)
  17. Password protect events and App settings
  18. Run events without an Internet connection
  19. Retain complete control of images and guest data

Breeze Booth + Breeze Hub at your event

Extend the power of Breeze Booth and add Breeze Hub to the mix. Breeze Hub is a small but powerful Windows companion app that can be run at your event, to allow for single or multiple Breeze Booth iPads to print to any Windows printer. In addition, it can also share images via email and SMS without having to use external cloud services. All done locally at your event.

 

  1. Print to any Windows printer (including professional dye sub printers)
  2. Offline sharing of photos, animated GIFs, and MP4 files
  3. Support sharing from multiple iPads, DLSR based booths and Kiosks with a single Internet connection at your event
  4. Monitor local iPads & display current status and images taken
  5. Share event name and other event data with local iPads

Breeze Booth + Breeze Hub + Event Editor at your office

For power users, centrally manage the syncing of multiple events, and sharing of images from your office, home or secure web server. With Breeze Hub and Event Editor, you can completely control how data is shared to your iPads and how images are sent to your guests; allowing you to create a redundant, secure and private system.

  1. Create, adapt and update events for use worldwide from your PC
  2. Design screens, prints, GIFs and email content for multiple events
  3. Sync new & updated events through your own private and secure webserver
  4. Sync new & updated events with iPads via Dropbox
  5. Centrally share images from multiple events, iPad and DLSR based booths and kiosks from your own office or server. 
  6. Run external commands on images as they are received

Creative Outputs

  • Prints with custom background, overlay, captions graphics and logos
  • Slideshow GIFs ( with animated overlays, backgrounds and titles)
  • Boomerang/burst GIFs (also with animated overlays, backgrounds and titles)
  • Share images by email and text (sharing by text requires microsite)

Industry standard image formats are suitable for sharing with other devices and programs, and uploading to the cloud

Applications

  • Social events
  • Corporate activations
  • 360 degree rotating and slider systems
  • Slider systems
  • Fixed installations
  • Trade shows and conventions
  • Unattended booth in a box rental
  • Large multi-location events with unlimited number of iPads
  • White label events

Additional features include 

Screens

  • animate screens and count down with animated GIFs
  • create menu driven interfaces
  • design for 4:3 and iPad Pro 11 
  • drag and drop screen editor
  • pre-designed interfaces
  • interface and captions in any language
  • configurable optional and mandatory surveys
  • design for both landscape and portrait-oriented iPads

Print Layout Editor

  • drag and drop layout editor
  • add custom background, overlay, captions and logos 
  • add jpg or png logos to prints
  • multiple captions 
  • Captions can include date, event and other tokens
  • Design for multiple print sizes and dpi

Prints

  • Print strips, landscape, portrait, square, panorama and other designs
  • supports high speed professional printers
  • Supports any printer with full Windows drivers for Windows 10, 8 or 7 (using Hub)
  • AirPrint directly from iPad

Animated GIFs

  • create simple multi photo gifs from your photo session
  • print high quality images from your gif
  • make short boomerang / burst gifs
  • apply animated overlays and backgrounds
  • optional sharing as MP4 movie

Sharing by email and text

  • Online and offline sharing of photos, animated GIFs and MP4s
  • Email address and cell phone logging 
  • Email directly from iPad
  • Share via Breeze Hub
  • White label html emails 
  • Customise email ‘From’ address, subject and content
  • Automate customisation using event, date, media type and other Breeze tokens
  • SMS texting to both Apple and Android cell phones

User Privacy

  • Custom consent and privacy notice support
  • Rejected images deleted automatically 
  • Photos saved to different folders by privacy options/answers to survey questions
  • Control location of saved images

Advanced Features

  • Menus
  • Breeze profiles 
  • Breeze tokens
  • Random* filename generation {UID}enhances guest privacy (virtually impossible to guess filename)
  • Access data from external applications via XML
  • Interfaces & captions in any language, international character sets

*Filenames generated are guaranteed to be unique for at least 2 years on that iPad

Try Breeze Booth for iPad yourself

Images courtesy of PhotoBoothGuys

© Breeze Systems 2018

 

Breeze Booth, DSLR Remote Pro, News

Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 released

New in DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 …

  • Support for new mirrorless Canon EOS R camera
  • Add up to 5 logos to prints (png or jpeg)
  • Send emails to multiple email addresses
  • Display both video background and GIF overlay on the same screen
  • live view overlay for video mode
  • much faster upload of images shared by text or Twitter
  • print count resets to initial value for each session

and also

  • fixes issue sharing boomerang GIFs captured in video booth mode (affected 3.11.4 only)

Canon EOS R support

Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 adds support for Canon’s EOS R mirrorless camera

Add logos to your prints

Logos provide a quick and easy way to add graphics to prints without using an image editor such as Photoshop.

DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 Print Layout Editor
Add up to 5 different png or jpg logos to prints with Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

Add up to five different logos to a print layout. Logos can be either png or jpg format.

Note: Logos are not saved in the Photobooth Print Layout (pblt file) in this release. To use both predesigned layout and logos, you need to import the layout before adding the logos to your design.

Find out more about the Breeze Print Layout Editor

Automatic reset of print count

DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 print confirmation screen
The print counter will reset to the initial value for each new session

The print counter now automatically resets to the initial value for each photo session

How to get your hands on v3.12

DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 is a free upgrade for all registered users who purchased DSLR Remote Pro after 26th November 2017. Customers with older licenses need to buy an upgrade license to use this release.

Download DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

© Breeze Systems 2018

 

 

Breeze Booth, DSLR Remote Pro, Getting started, Misc

Which camera is best for my photo booth?

We are often asked which camera is best for a photo booth. Canon cameras have very good live view quality, an important attribute for photo booths. The models below are not the only cameras you can use. Many older Canon DSLR cameras work very well. This table lists the cameras you can use with DSLR Remote Pro 3.11.4.

At the time of writing* (May 2018) we believe the ultimate photo booth camera is ….. the new (mirrorless) Canon  EOS M50.

The standard kit lens ( EF-M 15-45mm STM ) has a flexible 15-45 mm zoom. For a super slim booth, try the EF-M 22mm STM lens

Best: Canon EOS M50

A big thank you to Caroline Winata of Giggle and Riot Funbooth  for sharing this example of slow motion video (EOS M50 with DSLR Remote Pro 3.10)

  • 120FPS Slow motion video with no additional processing
  •  Similar performance to the Canon EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 including Canon’s excellent dual pixel auto focus in live view.
  • Suitable for video with external microphone socket.
  • Compact, slim and light; the M50 will fit in a smaller housing than Canon’s DSLR cameras.

July 2018 This post has been updated to include cameras supported in DSLR Remote Pro 3.11.2 ie the  Canon EOS 1500D (aka Canon EOS 2000D/Rebel T7/EOS Kiss X90) and Canon EOS 3000D (aka Canon EOS 4000D).

The photo below shows the different sizes of the new EOS M50, EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 and new EOS 2000D/1500D/Rebel T7:

Photos of Canon EOS M50, 200D and 2000D with kit and pancake style lenses
[top to bottom] EOS M50 with EF-M 22mm STM lens, EOS M50 with standard kit lens EF-M 15-45mm STM , EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 with 24mm pancake lens, EOS 2000D/1500D/Rebel T7with 18-55mm kit lens

Disadvantages

  • Access for external power is underneath the camera instead of at the side.
Photo of Canon EOS M50 showing power cable attached to base of camera
The external power cord connection for the M50 is on the camera base
  • Update September 2018
    There is a bug in the firmware of the Canon EOS M50 which means that triggering an external flash or studio strobe via the hotshoe can be unreliable. To workaround this set the shutter speed to 1/100 sec. This can be done by using bank 1 or bank 2 for the camera settings in the “Photobooth Settings” dialog. Please see the help files for more information. (We have reported this issue to Canon.)

Good for video: 200D/Rebel SL2, 800D/Rebel T7i

These cameras do everything the M50 can do except slow motion video. They are larger and heavier than the M50.

  • Excellent auto focus in live view
  • Suitable for video & have an external microphone socket

Budget: 1300D/T6

Good for still photos and boomerang and slideshow animated GIFs. Slightly higher resolution live view than 200D or 800D.

Disadvantages

  • No external microphone socket so not a good choice for video including sound.
  • Power zoom is not supported.
  • Old model becoming difficult to source new
  • Autofocus less reliable

New Canon 2000D/1500D/Rebel T7

(Updated September 20118)

Update of the Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 with a higher resolution 24 mega pixel sensor. Unfortunately Canon have removed the center contact on the hotshoe. This means the camera cannot trigger most external flashes or studio strobes so is not recommended for photo booth use.

New Canon EOS 4000D/3000D

Similar to the Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 with the same 18 mega pixel sensor but cheaper build quality (plastic lens mount, fewer buttons, no remote release socket and no cable access for external power). This camera also has no center contact on the hotshoe. This means the camera cannot trigger most external flashes or studio strobes so is not recommended for photo booth use.

Web cameras & iPad booths

This post does not cover booths powered by web cameras or the built-in cameras provided with iPads, laptops and tablets. The new Breeze Booth for iPad will use the camera built into an iPad. Breeze Webcam Photobooth software will run a booth with either a webcam or built in camera in a Windows 10, 8 or 7 PC or laptop.

*This post has been updated in September  November 2018. As new cameras are introduced this post will inevitably become outdated.

© Breeze Systems 2018

Breeze Booth, Breeze Booth for iPad, Getting started, News

Breeze Booth for iPad (beta) Build 20 – Try it today!

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Breeze are delighted to announce the new Breeze Booth for iPad beta release, Build 20.

Note: This post was updated on November 15th with details of Breeze Booth for iPad (beta) Build 20.

New in Build 20 …

  • Support for printing directly from the iPad using AirPrint
  • Menu screens to select styles, mirroring, virtual props etc.
  • Support for up to 10 different virtual props
  • Ability to add logos and resize, rotate and position them in the print layout
  • Updated sample events and assets
Virtual Props (Breeze Booth for iPad)

Build 18 added …

  • Support for selecting front or rear camera
  • Sync server now supports the sending of emails and SMS messages
  • New mirror styles
  • Slideshow GIFs
  • User surveys
  • Info screens
  • Password protection of events and app settings

Build 14 added …

  • Windows based server for printing photos and for syncing output from the iPad
  • Dropbox support:  sync events from Dropbox and copy output 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 or iOS 12.

Installation

Download TestFlight from the Apple App Store. You may need to  click on Redeem (1) to show the apps you’re able to beta test. Select Breeze Booth for iPad and (2) INSTALL.

Note: Only check Redeem the first time you download the Breeze Booth for iPad beta. If you have previously downloaded an earlier build, just check  UPDATE.

 

Installing Breeze Booth for iPad Build 20 on an iPad

Once you have installed the App, you can open it:

TestFlight screen showing Breeze Booth for iPad icon
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 Build 18 home screen before events defined

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:

Initial list of events provided with Breeze Booth for iPad Build 20

The first event is called Designer and showcases many of the features included with Breeze Booth for iPad build 20. You are welcome to use this design at your own events, and customize it to meet your needs.

Please note: Designer sends emails via Breeze Hub. Emails from other sample events can be sent directly from the iPad. Portrait with survey and sharing will send emails either via Breeze Hub or direct from the iPad.

The remaining 8 events are much simpler designs intended to help you create your own designs.

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.

Sample Events

Sample ready screen Breeze Booth for iPad (beta)

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 from the server before you can run an event for the first time.)

Capturing guest data using Breeze Booth for iPad (beta)
Use radio buttons to offer a fixed list of choices
Prints can include data collected from each guest. NB In this example the @ email icon on a blue background sends emails using Breeze Hub. The @ email icon on a white background emails directly from the iPad.
Restrict access to individual events with a password

Adjust camera settings

The new camera controls and digital zoom are accessed from the home page:

Breeze Booth for iPAd beta 14 Camera Settings screen
Zoom, adjust exposure compensation, white balance, and tint images

Printing and transferring images to a Windows PC

Summary

Join the beta test program for Breeze Booth for iPad

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 Hub 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”.

Breeze Booth Event Editor ( beta version)

To customize and brand the app you also need

  1. A PC/laptop running Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7
  2. A copy of the Breeze Booth Event Editor software
    Download and install Breeze Booth Event Editor v1.0 beta 20181116 and the sample events.

Breeze Booth for iPad has been developed by Chris Breeze, famous worldwide for his flexible, robust and powerful photo booth software.
Breeze plans to introduce many more new and exciting features over time. We welcome your feedback about potential features and any issues you experience. Please email your feedback to techsupport@breezesys.com

Each beta copy of Breeze Booth for iPad is a time limited version which will run for up to 90 days after it is issued. There is no charge to use this beta version of the program. You are welcome to use the app at events, but do so at your own risk

Thank you!

Chris and I  are overwhelmed by your enthusiasm 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.

Sue

© 2018 Breeze Systems Limited

 

DSLR Remote Pro, Getting started, Setup Wizard, Video tutorial

DSLR Remote Pro Photobooth Setup Wizard

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This post explains how to set up your booth with the Photobooth Setup Wizard in  DSLR Remote Pro.

Note: This post was updated in November 2018 and shows DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

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.

 A more detailed description of the wizard can be found in the program help files.

This video shows how easy it is to prepare your system using the default settings:

Create a GIF/Photo booth in less than a minute

Now let’s run 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 3.12

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.

Shows Step 1 of the Photobooth Setup Wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Step 1 of the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

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 3.12 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 3.12 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 3.12 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 3.12 is shipped with English, German, Polish, Italian and Romanian captions.

Button placement

Button placement using the Photobooth Setup Wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Buttons can be placed down the side or across the bottom of the screen by the wizard. (DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 Wizard Step 2)

Dropdown list to adjust live view

Live view drop down list – choose from normal, square, full screen, 4:3 and disabled (DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 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 3.12.

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 3.12

Editing individual captions

Import complete captions sets using themes as above. Change (or remove) the text for individual captions using Edit captions:

Showing individual caption edit in the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Editing individual captions in the Photobooth Setup Wizard DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

Additional checkboxes

Checkboxes in the Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 2 DSLR Remote Pro 3.12

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 3.12

The next five check boxes tell the wizard whether a sharing screen (after the photos are taken) should offer uploads to guests Twitter* accounts, 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.

*Facebook No Longer Available

Please note: On 1st August 2018 Facebook withdrew the permissions required to upload photos from a desktop app in response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This means that it is no longer be possible to upload photos to Facebook directly from DSLR Remote Pro. Photos can be shared on Facebook by emailing or texting them to users where they will be able to share them using the Facebook app running on their own device. Alternatively upload the photos to a website or microsite and provide sharing links to allow users to share the photos on Facebook when they view the page on their device.

Inactivity timeout & use default settings

DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 wizard Step 2 highlighting inactivity timeout and 'Use default setting' button
Inactivity timeout and ‘Use default setting’ button DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 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

Showing DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 3
At Step 3 you choose the print layout and adjust your printer settings if necessary( DSLR Remote Pro 3.12 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 GIF booth with animated GIFs and no printing is increasingly popular. The DSLR Remote Pro Wizard no longer asks you to select a printer when you offer only Boomerang GIFs or Video.

 

How to create your own Breeze themes

Customise your screens      Customise your prints

Buy DSLR Remote Pro

Copyright Breeze Systems 2018

Animated GIFs, DSLR Remote Pro, Getting started

Slideshow GIFs from photo booth strips: DSLR Remote Pro

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Slideshow and Boomerang animated GIFs

You can make two kinds of animated GIFs using DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 and Webcam Photobooth 2.4 : slideshow and boomerang. Slideshow GIFs contain still photos taken during normal photobooth operation. You can set up your booth to print the strips (or other layout) and share the same photos in an animated GIF – which looks much more interesting than viewing a strip on a phone.

Boomerang aka Burst GIFs are captured with a short video clip. Both types of GIF can be shared via MMS/SMS, emailed and uploaded to social media.

How to create slideshow GIFs

This blog post explains how to create  slideshow GIFs with animated overlays using the Photo Booth Setup Wizard in DSLR Remote Pro 3.8. Photos are printed in the usual way; guests can share the same images as an animated GIF. You can customize your GIFs using the advanced settings.

Start DSLR Remote Pro and run the Photobooth Setup Wizard. This example uses a strip of 4 photos. Choose whether to share via Twitter, MMS/SMS or email at Step 3. (Leave these boxes unchecked if you are using a separate sharing station.) This  example creates a 4 photo strip; guests can share their GIFs using MMS/SMS.

Shows DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 Setup Wizard Step 2
Photobooth Setup Wizard Step 3: sharing MMS/SMS DSLR Remote Pro 3.8

Next tell the program to create a slideshow GIF:

Showing Slideshow GIF settings DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 for blog post
Slideshow GIF settings DSLR Remote Pro 3.8

1. Select Advanced Settings

2. Choose Settings on the Photobooth Settings screen

3. Check Share animated GIFs so that guests can share their GIF from the booth.  (Leave this box unchecked if you are using a separate sharing station.)

4. Check Create an animated GIF from the photos

5. Then choose the Animated GIF settings to display the Animated GIF settings screen:

Shows Animated GIF settings screen DSLR Remote Pro 3.8
Animated GIF settings screen DSLR Remote Pro 3.8

6. A photo width of 600 pixels is a good start point. Use the settings in the image above to create an animated GIF from the whole photo (landscape orientation) without any border. Check the final box if you want to make an MP4 copy of each GIF.

7. When you have chosen the settings you need click OK (here and  the other pop up windows until you return to the main screen).

Adding an animated overlay to a slideshow GIF

You can create an animated overlay from a set of transparent png images. The falling snow effect here uses 12 images to create the animation. The snow flakes are in a different position on each  image. (3 snowflake overlays are shown over each of the 4 photos.) You can download the snowflake overlays here .

To add an animated overlay return to the Animated GIF Settings screen (Repeat 1 to 5 above, selecting Advanced Settings, then Settings, then Animated GIF Settings.)

Change the number of overlays per photo to 3 and click OK (here and  the other pop up windows until you return to the main screen).

Shows Animated GIF settings for animated overlay
Animated GIF settings for animated overlay (here 3 overlays per photo)

Now copy the overlay images you downloaded into the PhotoBoothImages folder containing your screens (A). The overlays must be named GIF_overlay_1.png through to GIF_overlay_12.png (B).

Showing PhotoBoothImages folder containing screen layouts and overlay png files
PhotoBoothImages folder containing screen layouts and overlay png files

Run the booth and you will create both a strip of four photos and a slideshow GIF with the animated overlay here:

Christmas slideshow GIF with animated overlay DSLR Remote Pro 3.8

Learn how to create animated GIFs with a border and/or title.

Create boomerang GIFs with an animated overlay.

If you found this post useful please share it with others. You are welcome to use these snowflake overlays in your own booth with DSLR Remote Pro.

Happy Christmas!

Animated GIFs, DSLR Remote Pro, News, Screens, Setup Wizard

New Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.8: simple, powerful branding

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Breeze Systems is proud to announce the release of DSLR Remote Pro 3.8. Easier to use and more powerful than ever before, DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 includes two free button sets designed by Wilkes Booth Co.

Highlights of the new release

  • Fast simple branding for photo booth screens
  • Create and save new photo booth screen themes
  • Transfer themes between PCs
  • Free sets of touchscreen buttons
  • Create custom caption sets in any almost language
  • Photobooth Setup Wizard now simplifies screen customization
  • Animated backgrounds for green screen boomerang GIFs
  • Support for Canon’s EOS  6D Mark II

Fast, powerful branding for photobooth screens

Brand screens quickly and easily with new DSLR Remote Pro themes

Create themed photobooth screen sets

Create, load and save DSLR Remote Pro themes containing screen background, touchscreen button, and caption sets

DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 theme including (A) screens, (B) buttons & (C) captions

A. Complete sets of custom photo booth screen backgrounds  can now be generated from a single image. The same background image can be tiled, stretched or cropped to fit any screen with new themes

DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 single background_tiled.jpeg image used to create themed set of background screens

B. Create your own buttons or choose from those shipped with DSLR Remote Pro 3.8. Touchscreen buttons can be placed below the image or to one side using the Setup Wizard. 

C. Customize captions in almost any language. Adjust the color of your text.

Transfer themes between PCs

To generate themed screens on PCs with different screen size/aspect ratio by just copy the theme to the new PC and run the Photobooth Setup Wizard.

Free touchscreen button sets

Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 includes 2 new free button sets created by  Wilkes Booth Co

DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 Welcome screen: Wilkes Booth Co Tradewind White buttons
DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 Sharing screen Wilkes Booth Co Tradewinds Blue buttons
DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 Sharing screen: Wilkes Booth Co Tradewind Blue buttons

Buy Breeze Wizard themes or complete interface designs for DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 from Wilkes Booth Co

Choose whether to run buttons across the screen or to the side using the Photobooth Setup Wizard.

Create custom caption sets

Breeze software is used in over 80 countries world wide. DSLR Remote Pro already supports Unicode and handles characters in most languages. Use the Photoboth Setup Wizard to create reusable caption sets, and apply them to different themes.

DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 is shipped with English, German, Polish, Italian and Romanian captions.

Thanks to Jürgen Mayr (Photobooth-deluxe), Tomasz Klusczyk (Smove), John Bonardo (Babooth), and Dan Neamtu (Mirror Magic), for providing the German, Polish, Italian and Romanian caption sets shipped with DSLR Remote Pro 3.8

Brand and customize screens with the Setup Wizard

  • Change screen and keyboard background color at the touch of a button
  • Generate complete screen sets from a single background image
  • Automatically  tile, stretch or crop images to fit any size of screen
  • Create and save customized caption sets
  • Save touch screen button sets
  • Choose buttons running down the side or across the bottom of the screen

Improved animated GIF support

  • New Animated backgrounds for green screen boomerang GIFs
  • New support for animated GIFs in sharing screens (email, text, Facebook and Twitter)

More new features

  • Useful shared print counter for events
  • Send emails with or without image attachment
  • Enhanced ability to pass information to microsites
  • Tap for speedy countdown
  • Default delay before taking first photo reduced to 5 seconds

DSLR Remote Pro 3.8 is a free upgrade for all registered users who purchased a license on or after 29th November 2016.

Download  DSLR Remote Pro 3.8       Buy your own license

 

DSLR Remote Pro, DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera

Light painting without a tent

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When we first showed light painting in a bright exhibition hall at Photo Booth Expo 2016, the industry was amazed. This post explains how to use light painting at indoor venues with an open or closed booth using DSLR Remote Pro.

You can use the same technique with DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera .

DSLR Remote Pro Multi Camera animated GIF (5 cameras). Flash with 3 second exposure.

What equipment do I need?

  • Camera
  • Photo booth software that lets you control the camera settings
  • Flash
  • Black backdrop
  • Lighting props

Camera: we recommend using a Canon DSLR camera. Webcams and iPads are not suitable because you need complete control over the exposure and settings (including aperture). This is not possible with a webcam or an IPad.

Photobooth software: The examples here use DSLR Remote Pro and DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera. You can use the same technique with other programs which allow you to control the camera settings.

DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth at Photo Booth Expo 2017

Flash: You need a powerful flash to freeze the subject at the start of the exposure. We like to position the flash high up so that people are less likely to look directly at it and be dazzled by the light. The flash also acts as a cue to the guests to start light painting. Ask them to pose until the flash fires and then start moving the lights.

Black backdrop: the light trails show up best against a black background. If you have a light background you may get ghosting (dark shadows) when guests move around.

Lighting props: guests’ phones, colored torches, LED batons or more elaborate props such as pixel sticks.

How do I use DSLR Remote Pro to control the camera to create the light trails?

  • Use external flash mode
  • Set a slow shutter speed
  • Use a small aperture and low ISO to cut out ambient lighting

External flash mode: Run the photo booth setup wizard; select <Advanced Settings> and check the box to set external flash mode. If you also check ‘Mirror output images’ the words guests write with the lights will be reversed to read correctly:

DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Photobooth Settings screen: check boxes for External flash mode and Mirror Output Images highlighted

Shutter speed: You need an exposure of at least 1 second to create the light trails. We find between 2 and 3 seconds is best. (Guests start to run out of ideas with exposures longer than 3 seconds).

In the <Advanced Settings> screen select camera settings mode Bank 1, then click on the <Camera Settings> button to the right. This takes you to the camera settings screen. You need to adjust the Bank 1 settings for both taking photos and live view.

DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Photobooth Settings screen: select Bank 1 and click on <Camera Settings>

Camera settings: Start with  exposure (Tv) set to 2″ (2 seconds), aperture (Av) 22, ISO 100 and white balance ‘flash’.

DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Camera Settings screen: Bank 1 ‘taking photos’ settings highlighted

Live view: Select Tv: bulb for a bright live view image and White balance: Auto (ambience) for reliable colors.

DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Camera Settings screen: Bank 1 live view settings highlighted

In a brightly lit venue you may need to reduce the length of the exposure or use a screen to dim the ambient light.

DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera users should use the same technique.

Ideas for lighting props

Colored torches (DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth)

The simplest props are guest’s own mobile phones and colored LED torches. A set of LED finger torches can be glued together.

LED baton (DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth)

Our most popular props are made from LED lighting strips wound round a foam baton and powered by rechargeable batteries. Pixel sticks can be customized for branded events.

For more ideas search for specialist websites and articles such as these

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© Breeze Systems Ltd 2018