Tag Archives: Getting started

DSLR Remote Pro, Getting started, Prints, Webcam Photobooth

How to import print templates into Breeze DSLR Remote Pro

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This post explains how to import readymade templates into Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1. Webcam Photobooth 2.4 works in a smilar way.

I have used one of the free templates kindly provided by SMOVE as an example. Import your own templates in the same way.

There are two main ways to import layouts into DSLR Remote Pro.

  • Drag and drop the template directly into DSLR Remote Pro (best for single templates).
  • Copy the templates into your template folder, then import each template into DSLR Remote Pro using the Print Layout Editor when you need it (more effective for collections of templates).

First set up your printer

If necessary, download and install the printer drivers to your computer.

This example will import a 6” x 4” (15cm x 10cm) print layout. Before you start you need to load the printer with 6” by 4“media and set it to 300dpi.

Put the print template(s) into an accessible folder

Whether you download print layouts from a third-party website or copy them from another computer they need to be kept in folder(s) accessible to your booth computer.

In this post I will copy the template into the template folder on my PC. You may prefer to store templates in Dropbox or another cloud-based system accessible to multiple booths.

Download the photo booth layout  and open zipped files

In this example I am using a 6” x4” template with a 1 +3 layout.

To copy this example  on your own computer, download this template from the Breeze website at http://www.breezesys.com/Photobooth/templates6x4.php

Copy the templates to your templates folder

Copy the zipped file to another folder to unzip it. I have copied the file to my templates folder Sue Photobooth Print Templates which is in the same directory as my PhotoboothImages Folder.

Start DSLR Remote Pro and run the Photobooth Setup Wizard

At Step 3

1. Check the printer is set correctly.

2. Choose the print layout closest to the template you are using

3. Click on <Finish>

If you look at the Print Layout Editor now you will see the default 1 + 3 print layout. (Cancel to leave the Layout Editor).

Drag and drop into DSLR Remote Pro

DSLR Remote Pro allows you to drag and drop a print layout into the main screen or into the Print Layout Editor

Shows dragging and dropping a print template into Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Drag and drop a print layout template into Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 main screen
Shows dragging and dropping a print template into DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Drag and drop a print layout template into Breeze DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 Print Layout Editor (also works for Webcam Photbooth 2.4)

You will be asked to confirm whether you want to import the template:

Shows Print Template import confirmation window DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Print Template import confirmation window DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1

Select Yes and the Print Layout Editor will display the template you imported.

Customize and save the revised template

First save a backup copy of the original layout using Export Layout, then customize the layout to meet your needs. This post does not explain how to use the Print Layout Editor; you can find detailed instructions here. In this example I will change the caption.

Editing a caption in the Print Layout Editor DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1
Editing a caption in the Print Layout Editor DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1

The changes are shown immediately in the Print Layout Editor.

When you have finished customising the print layout, export the template to save it.

Alternative:  Use the Print Layout Editor to import templates

There is an alternative to dragging and dropping templates into DSLR Remote Pro. You can copy templates into a folder accessible to your booth, then import the template you need  using the Import Layout (1) button in the Print Layout Editor.

Importing a layout into the Print Layout Editor DSLR Remote Pro 391
Importing a layout into the Print Layout Editor DSLR Remote Pro 3.9.1 (also works with Webcam Photobooth 2.4)

(2) Select the folder containing your layout(s), and then the layout you want to import. (3) Click on  OK to import the layout into the Print Layout Editor. You can edit and save the customized template as before.

Notes

Webcam Photobooth users need to select the “DSLR template compatibility” option at Step 3 of the Photobooth Setup Wizard to use templates designed for DSLR Remote Pro.

Selecting DSLR template compatiblity mode Webcam Photobooth 2.4
Selecting DSLR template compatiblity mode using the Setup Wizard in Webcam Photobooth 2.4 S

Zipped files: many templates are downloaded or copied as zipped (compressed) files, which need to be unzipped before they can be used. The example here uses a zipped file downloaded from the Breeze website.

Printer drivers: you may need to download and install drivers for your printer to the computer you are using.

Using a second computer to edit print layouts. You do not need to create and edit print layouts on the booth computer. Keep a copy of DSLR Remote Pro on an office computer to design, customize and edit your print layouts; export them from the program and either store them somewhere accessible to your booths, or copy the complete layouts to each booth computer.

Download DSLR Remote Pro and try this for yourself

Copyright Breeze Systems Ltd 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!