This post explains how to create and edit your own  events for Breeze Booth for iPad using the Breeze Booth Event Editor on a Windows PC, and covers

• what’s new in this release
• how to download, install and run the event editor on your PC
• loading a list of existing events into the event editor
• creating a new event
• linking an event to it’s asset folder(s)
• portrait and landscape events
• editing an event
• transferring events to your iPad(s)

December 22nd: I have updated the section Method 1: Sync via Dropbox adding more detail to make it easier to follow.

Breeze Booth Event Editor v1.0 beta 20181116 works with Breeze Booth for iPad beta build 20, and was released on November 16th, 2018

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.

Do join the beta program and explore Breeze Booth for iPad before using the editor. Play with ‘Designer‘ (the first event) to get a feel for what you can achieve with Breeze Booth for iPad.

New in this release…

• Installer – easier to download and install the Event Editor on your computer
• Sample events are automatically downloaded and copied into PC Documents folder – no need to unzip them
• Menu screens to select styles, mirroring, virtual props etc (less need for profiles)
• Support for choice of up to 10 different virtual props
• Ability to add logos and resize, rotate and position them in the print layout
• Updated sample events

Download and install Breeze Booth Event Editor

Breeze Booth Event Editor runs on a Windows 10, 8 or 7 computer. Download it from here.

You will also automatically download the designs  for nine  sample events we provide for Breeze Booth for iPad. When you install the event  editor, these files will automatically be saved in your Documents folder as shown here

C:\Users\sue\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad\events

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 .

Copy the asset folders from Photos with virtual props

Start by copying the Photos with virtual props folder to a new folder called My virtual props event

Run Breeze Booth Event Editor

Start the Event Editor, and select Open.

Load the list of existing events by selecting events.xml

Initial list of sample events displayed in BBEE

Create a new event ‘My virtual props event‘

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1) Give the new event a name

2) Add a description

3) Select the landscape version of ‘My virtual props event‘, by

4) finding the correct folder, opening it and

5) selecting settings.xml

6, 7, 8, ) Repeat for the portrait version of My virtual props event

 9) Save your new 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.

Editing an event

We will just edit the portrait version of My virtual props event (10) today. Click on the portrait  Edit button:

This brings us to the Photo Booth Settings screen, where you can start to customize your design

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

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

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

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

 

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. You will need to update the list of events (events.xml), the manifest for My virtual props event  (manifest.xml) , and the settings file for the event (settings.xml)

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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

When you make any changes to this folder you must also go back to the Breeze Booth Event Editor and regenerate the manifests

Copying events from a PC to your iPads

There are currently 3 ways to copy events from your PC to an iPad:

Method 1: Sync via Dropbox

• Install the official DropBox app on your iPad (this can be downloaded from the Apple App Store).
• Select Sign in to Dropbox in Breeze Booth for iPad’s app settings and authorize the app. This will create a “Breeze Booth for iPad” folder in your DropBox “Apps” folder.

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• Now on your PC copy the whole Breeze Booth for iPad folder

from C:\Users\yourname\Documents\Breeze Booth for iPad

to C:\Users\yourname\Dropbox\Apps

Note: When you sync the events using Dropbox on your iPad, the program will look for this folder. You must name it correctly, or the App will not find your events.

• As there are several ways to sync events, you need to tell your iPad which to choose. In Breeze Booth for iPad go to Settings and select the Sync via Dropbox.

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Method 2: Sync via a secure https web server

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.

Update Breeze Booth for iPad to use the new event

Before you can run a new event on an iPad, Breeze Booth for iPad needs to update it’s list of events. Once My virtual props event has been added to this list, sync the event to download the new assets and xml files

Syncing the iPad is covered in more detail here

Printing your photos

You can print using AirPrint or Breeze Hub

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 has been quite a marathon post. I have outlined the new features in Breeze Booth Event Editor, how to download and install this program on your PC, how to create your own event based on one of the samples provided by Breeze, and how to download the new event to use on your iPads.

If you found this post useful please share it with others.

Thanks,

Sue

© Breeze Systems 2018