Category Archives: Breeze Booth

Breeze Booth, DSLR Remote Pro, Flipbook Photobooth, Multi-Camera, Tutorial, Webcam Photobooth

New tutorial – Using Touch Screen Actions to customize Breeze screens

Breeze apps offer unparalled creative control over what guests see and experience at your booth. The power and flexibility of touch screen actions are key to this experience.

When Breeze Booth apps are powered by touch screens, touch screen actions control what happens when a guest touches the screen.

I have added a new tutorial to the website to help DSLR Remote Pro, Multi-Camera, Webcam Photobooth & Flipbook Photobooth users use these actions to take control of the guest interface. Find Customizing Breeze Screens here

 

Breeze Booth, Breeze Booth for iPad, Breeze Hub, Tutorial

Using Hub to copy Breeze Booth for iPad images to a PC

Breeze Hub automatically copies images from the iPad to a Windows PC during events.

The latest  website tutorial explains how to set this up, as well as how to automate uploading images to Dropbox while the event is running.

Find Automatic upload of Breeze Booth images to the cloud or a Windows device during events here

© Breeze Systems 2022

Breeze Booth, DSLR Remote Pro

Breeze XML files – Gobbledegook or Important?

A quick note about XML files stored with your photos. Several of you asked recently what they are for and how to get rid of them. These files are not just gobbledegook – they contain useful and sometimes essential information.

Email and text XML

DSLR Remote Pro 3.16 onwards shares emails and texts in the background. To make this work the app stores email addresses, cell phone numbers and other essential information in small XML files.

email_……….xml contains sharing information for emails.

text_….xml holds similar information about texts.

When sharing MP4s these files are stored in the MP4 folder. If you share prints they are stored in the prints folder.

Icon for email xml file Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.16

You need email and text xmls to

  • Send all emails and texts
  • Send emails and texts after the event if processing was interrupted for any reason
  • Create reports of sharing data

Do not delete these files until you are confident they are no longer needed. They use very little space on your computer.

Photobooth Summary XML

Breeze apps create a small file containing information about each photo booth session which is stored alongside the photos. Typically they are called IMG_nnnn.XML

Breeze DSLR Remote Pro PhotoBoothImages folder showing Photobooth summary files for each session

They are not essential for most users, but they take up very little space and we suggest almost all of you keep them.

Who needs the photobooth summary XML files?

We recommend

  • Everyone creates photobooth summary XML unless they cause a specific problem.
  • Retain the XML with your images until you are ready to delete the images, or need to remove personal data.
  • Do not delete these files until you are confident they are no longer needed. They use very little space on your computer.

Photobooth summary data can be suppressed if required. More

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Sue

© Breeze Systems 2021

 

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

Breeze (iPad+iPhone) 2.2 adds Blend Modes for Prints

Booth (iPad+iPhone) v2.2 introduces overlay blend modes for prints, and adds twelve new blend modes you can apply to your prints and GIFs.

This release also fixes issues in the App gallery and Hub.

What’s new?

  • 16 blend modes for print overlays
  • 12 more blend modes for GIF overlays
  • Fix for an issue which could cause the app to crash when displaying a gallery
  • Fix for an issue cropping photos when sending emails through Hub

Overlay blend modes

Blend modes can be used creatively to achieve many different effects. Booth (iPad+iPhone) now includes normal, lighten, darken, overlay, screen, hard light, soft light, multiply, difference, exclusion, color dodge, color burn, hue, saturation, color and luminosity blend modes.

User notes

To use blend modes  with Breeze for iPad

  1. Add your  overlay(s) to the screens folder
  2. Choose your blend mode from the drop down list
  3. Save your changes in the Event Editor
  4. Update the event in the App

Applying blend modes to Prints

Overlay blend modes are applied to print overlays using the Photos tab in the Event Editor. (Image shows applying a multiply blend  to the print overlay overlay.png)

Applying blend modes to GIF Overlays

Overlay blend modes are applied to GIF overlays using the Slideshow and Burst GIF tabs in the Event Editor. (Image shows applying a saturation blend to the sllideshow GIF overlay)

Download Breeze Booth for iPad 2.2 from the App Store, log in and run your first event.

For help getting started see the  online tutorials

Technical Stuff

Platforms Supported (updated October 2021): All iPads and iPhones running iPadOS 15, iPadOS 14, iPadOS 13, iOS14, iOS 13. Versions 15 and 14 are recommended.

Cameras Supported: iPad and iPhone front and rear facing integral cameras. Most Canon EOS DSLR and R series cameras, Canon’s mirrorless M50 Mk II, M50, M200, M6 Mark II PowerShot SX70 HS, G5 X Mark II & G7 X Mark III.

Trial version/While logged out: There’s no need to use a subscription while you test Breeze for iPad or work on new events. Watermarks are added after the first 10 images each day.

Free upgrades: included with all subscriptions.

Download Breeze Booth for iPad 2.2 and try for yourself

Download the latest versions of the Windows companion app Event Editor 2.2 and Hub 1.2.5 with Camera Controller 1.0

© Breeze Systems October 2021

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

Breeze (iPad+iPhone) 2.1 adds Skin Softening & Blend Modes

We are really excited to release Breeze Booth (iPad+iPhone) 2.1 just as many of you are dusting down your booths and running events again. This release adds a fantastic skin softening filter and overlay blend modes for GIF overlays.

Skin softening filter

What party guest doesn’t want to see themself with smooth, flawless skin? Add a touch of glamour  to your photos and GIFs with the new skin softening filter.

Breeze Booth’s new softening filter includes 10 levels of softening.

Original image [left] and with 0.4 strength smoothing filter applied [right]

Same original image [left] and with stronger 0.7 strength smoothing filter applied [right]

Original image courtesy of The Photo Booth Guys

Skin softening is now included in the Props and Filters demo app.

Overlay blend modes

Breeze Booth  2.1 also introduces overlay blend modes for both slideshow and burst GIF overlays.

Blend modes can be used creatively to achieve many different effects.  These examples are kindly provided by The Photo Booth Guys

Breeze Booth Overaly Bend example

Original [left] and Caption blend overlay applied [right]

Breeze Booth blend example Lighten blend

Original [left] and Lighten blend overlay applied [right]

Original [left] and Darken blend overlay applied [right]

More

Breeze Booth for iPad 2.1 also adds

  • alignment options for print captions
  • printing from the gallery sharing screen
  • fixes for issues  sharing images through Hub and from the gallery

Enhancement to QR code based touch free operation

Several users asked for the ability to touch the screen to run a new  session with the previous QR code details, so guests don’t have to scan the same  QR code repeatedly.

This has been included with Breeze (iPad+iPhone) 2.1

Ready to run

Download Breeze Booth for iPad 2.1 from the App Store, log in and run your first event.

For help getting started see the tutorial page

User notes

Applying Skin Softening

Add or remove skin softening in the Event Editor. You can vary the stength of this filter betweem 0 and 1.0. We suggest using the default value (0.4) for most events.

To apply skin softening in a new event, check Apply skin smoothing filter at Step 2 of the Event Creator (Breeze Booth Event Editor)

 

For existing events switch skin softening on or off, and adjust the strength by checking Apply skin smoothing filter in  the Event Editor General screen (Breeze Booth Event Editor)

Applying blend modes to GIF Overlays

Overlay blend modes are applied to overlays using the Slideshow and Burst GIF tab in the Event Editor. (Image shows applying a lighten blend mode to the sllideshow GIF overlay)

Technical Stuff

Platforms Supported (updated October 2021): All iPads and iPhones running iPadOS 15, iPadOS 15, iOS14, iPadOS 14, iPadOS 13, iOS14, iOS 13. Versions 15 and 14 are recommended.

Cameras Supported: iPad and iPhone front and rear facing integral cameras. Most Canon EOS DSLR and R series cameras, Canon’s mirrorless M50 Mk II, M50, M200, M6 Mark II PowerShot SX70 HS, G5 X Mark II & G7 X Mark III.

Trial version/While logged out: There’s no need to use a subscription while you test Breeze for iPad or work on new events. Watermarks are added after the first 10 images each day.

Free upgrades: included with all subscriptions.

Download Breeze Booth for iPad 2.1 and try for yourself

© Breeze Systems October 2021

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

Breeze Booth for iPad Free Email Service

Breeze Booth for iPad 2.0 includes a free email service

Updated April 2022

New Breeze email service

Send up to 1000 emails/month/subscription using the new Breeze email service*. There’s no setup required – use this service as soon as you load your first event.

What you get

  • Your own Reply to address
  • Emails sent in the background
  • Email log
  • Sharing statistics
  • Complete control over email content
  • Include photos and GIFs in the email body
  • Attach MP4s, photos and GIFs to emails
  • Privacy as standard – guests cannot see each others email addressess

Prefer to use your own email host?

There’s no extra charge to use your own email host. Just toggle a switch on the Breeze Booth for iPad settings screen and add your email account details.

What you get – everything included in the free email service, plus

  • Unlimited emails from your own email address
  • Your own From Name & email address
  • Total  control over storage of personal data**

Breeze Booth for iPad no longer supports Gmail.

Switching between email hosts

To switch between the Breeze  email service and your own provider just toggle a switch on the Breeze Booth for iPad settings screen.

What about iOS mail?

The new Breeze email service is a much better solution for photo booth use than iOS mail and works without any set up. iOS mail has been removed from Breeze Booth for iPad 2.0.

What about Breeze Hub?

Most users are now best sending emails directly from Breeze Booth for iPad. You can still send emails from Hub if you wish.

Keep syncing email and text data to Hub to log of email addresses and cell phone numbers used by guests, and generate sharing statistics.

*Is there any limit to the number of emails I can send?

Breeze don’t limit the number of emails sent using your own email service. The Breeze email service includes up to 1000 emails/month/subscription, which is plenty for most customers. If you expect to send more emails than this, just switch to your own email provider.

**GDPR, Personal data and the Breeze email service

Breeze aren’t in business to track your customers, so the Breeze email service does not include any tracking cookies in emails sent from the App.

Our email service provider retains the To address, Subject and body of emails for a limited period.  They do not store attachments ie guesy photos and GIFs- whether sent as attachments or in the boady of emails.  Breeze Systems are allowed access to this data, but would only view this information when it is necessary to provide operational support.

If you need total control over access to and storage of personal data we recommend using your own email host. Full Privacy Policy

Breeze hold no information about emails sent from Breeze Booth for iPad using your own email host.

© Breeze Systems 2022

Breeze Booth, Breeze Booth for iPad

Connecting Canon cameras to Breeze Booth for iPad

Update 2023: Breeze Booth for iPad 3.2 enabled direct USB connection between iPads /iPhones and Canon cameras. This is a free upgrade, and makes the method below redundant for most users. Learn how to connect iPads and iPhones to a camera with a USB cable  here

Breeze Booth for iPad 2.0 let you choose whether to use the iPad’s built in camera, or a separate Canon camera.

What do I get from the extra camera?

Running an iPad booth with a separate Canon DSLR or Mirrorless camera gives you

  • appeal to discerning customers looking for quality
  • better image quality
  • ability to use flash instead of ambient lighting
  • less obtrusive lighting when the booth is not active

Breeze Booth for iPad works in both landscape and portrait. The external camera makes it easier to shoot in landscape, because you can place the camera above the center of the screen.

Which cameras can I use?

You can use most Canon EOS DSLRs , the M50 Mk II and  M50, M200 and M6 Mark II. Breeze for iPad also supports Canon’s PowerShot SX70 HS, G5 X Mark II & G7 X Mark III – that’s every camera supported by DSLR Remote Pro 3.15.5. Full list

Hot tip: Chris ‘s pick is the EOS M50 Mk II or original EOS M50. Both have excellent autofocus and face detect, and are very compact.

What else do I need?

You need external control software connected to the camera by USB and iPad using WiFi or a wired connection. The controller can run on a Windows 10  device  or Raspberry Pi.

Breeze provide the camera control software at no extra cost to Breeze Booth for iPad customers.

Mini Windows PC running the camera controller for Breeze Booth 2.0
Raspberry Pi running the camera controller

Flash is recommended for still photos.

Which is best – Windows or Raspberry Pi?

  • Windows devices are simpler to set up than a Raspberry Pi
  • Our Windows controller can also monitor and control the iPad
  • The Raspberry Pi is compact and require little or no maintenance once it has been set up.
  • Windows devices support virtually all printers, and are much more reliable than AirPrint

Controlling the external camera with a Windows device

A Windows compute stick,  mini computer or budget Windows tablet costing around US $100 to US $150* is fine. You need

  • USB port for the camera
  • Second USB port if you plan to print
  • Ability to power the device and connect to the camera/printer at the same time
  • Sufficient memory to run Windows 10.

Download Breeze Booth for iPad Camera Controller bundled with the other Windows Companion Apps here

What about Windows updates?

Windows 10 updates can be switched off while the booth is in use.

Controlling the external camera with a Raspberry Pi

You will need a Raspberry Pi Model B with 2GB or more of memory and a 8GB micro SD card.

Note: Setting up a Pi based controller is  recommended only for  more technical users. More

How easy is it to switch between the iPad camera and a external camera?

Once you have set up the controller and switched on your camera,  toggle a switch on the iPad App  to switch between the iPad’s internal camera and your external camera.

Switching to an external camera ( Breeze Booth for iPad 2.0)

*Prices correct at time of writing (April 2021)

© Breeze Systems April 2021

Advanced techniques, Breeze Booth, DSLR Remote Pro, Tutorial, Webcam Photobooth

Breeze profiles – Building Multi-Choice Menus and Unexpected Twists

Breeze profiles are unique and powerful building blocks you can use to  create simple multi choice menus through to complex choice based scenarios.

Use profiles to create multi-language booths, choose between different print layouts or add an element of surprise.

Profiles add random animations and effects to mirrors and conventional booths.

The Breeze website has three new tutorials explaining how to use profiles. They are written for Booth (DSLR +Windows) aka DSLR Remote Pro, and can be adapted for use with Booth (Webcam+Windows) aka Webcam Photobooth.

  • Part 1 introduces profiles and shows how to use them to build a simple menu. The worked example creates a menu offering a choice of two print layouts.
  • Part 2 shows how to spice up a booth by randomly mixing different designs.
  • Part 3 covers both troubleshooting and combining a menu with a random ‘surprise me’ option.

Get started – offering a choice of print layouts

Guests can choose between print layouts

Getting started takes you step by step through using profiles to build a menu from which guests choose a print layout.

Use the same approach to offer a choice of green screen experience or background removal.

Find creative approaches to choose between backgrounds for prints and GIFs

Find Getting Started with Profiles here

Random Profiles

Guests are randmoly taken to difference experiences from this screen (Breeze DSLR Remote Pro Prroflies)

Random profiles can be used to add excitment and interest to a booth or mirror. Vary the animations and audible comments in magic mirrors, surprise guests by placing them in different environments (AI background removal or green screen), and build wheel of fortune booths.

Note: You need to use random profiles to randomly change your screens and create menus. There is a simpler way to offer random print and GIF designs, which you can find here

Surprise guests by switching betwen print and GIF designs. More..

Find Part 2 – Random Effects here

Choose and Surprise Me booths & Troubleshooting Profiles

The first two Profiles tutorials explain how to create a menu based booth and one switching randomly between different profiles.

Breeze Profiles Part 3 starts by running through common problems using profiles, then moves on to building a Choose or Surprise Me structure.

Find Part 3 –  Choose and Surprise me & Trobuleshooting Profiles here

Many thanks to Steve Bliesner for sharing the multi-language menu featured at the start of this post.

© Breeze Systems 2021