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PHOYO PHOTO BOOTH SOFTWARE
USER GUIDE

Obsolescence Warning

This guide is obsolete. The up-to-date revision is embedded in the software.


Introduction

Overview

Phoyo is photo booth automation software.

The complete list of its features is available here.

Main windows

The Control Window

This is the main window of Phoyo.

The Configuration Window

The settings of the photo booth devices and the user experience are available in this window.

The Execution window

The photograph sessions are executed through this window.

Configuration Options

General

Language

Allows to select the current language.

Enable update modifications

If this option is enabled then the software will notify the user when new software updates are available.

Enable usage tracking

If this option is enabled then some Phoyo usage data will be sent to the software editor.

Camera

Performance tips

Avoid using laptops integrated webcams. They are usually cheap and slow. Any external webcam should be better.

Do not use high video stream resolutions.
Use high resolutions for photographs only.

Select the device

Allows to select the active camera device.

Digital cameras support (DSLR, ...)

If this option is enabled then digital cameras (Canon, Nikon, …) will be available for selection if connected to the photo booth computer and supported.
According to the software edition, many compatibility modes may be available. The option may be unavailable too.

The list of supported cameras is here.

Resolutions

Video resolution

Allows to select the resolution of the video stream.

Photo resolution

Allows to enable/disable a custom resolution for the photograph images.
Note that for webcams the default resolution of photograph images is the same as the video resolution.

Usually it will be used to get video frames that are displayed faster but with a lower resolution while having good quality high resolution photograph pictures.
If a value different from <auto> is selected then the specified resolution will be used for photographs only (not for the video stream). It may slow down slightly the shooting phase since the device resolution will be changed on the fly.

Brightness/Contrast

These options allow to perform basic color correction (lighting change) of the video frames.

Video

Smooth the image

Allows to use some image processing algorithms that will make the video frames smoother and generally enhance their quality.

Correction filters

Allows to enhance/correct the input video stream by using Image Filters.

Photograph

Custom correction filters

Allows to enable/disable correction filters distinct from the video correction filters for photograph images.
If this option is enabled then the specified correction filters will be used.

Auto-match with video format ratio

If this option is enabled then the raw photographs resolution width/height ratio will be adjusted to match the video resolution ratio. It prevents positioning differences between a video preview and its final photograph.

Smoothing level

Allows to use some image processing algorithms that will make the photograph images smoother and generally enhance their quality.

Face Framing

The face frame is the base for every face-based image processing in Phoyo.

It is used by the identity and the montage formats for their image processings and user guidance.

Size

Allows to change the size of the face frame.

Vertical offset

Allows to change the vertical offset of the face frame.

Simple Photo

This photograph style allows to get pictures without any constraint or decoration.

Enable simple photo

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Image cropping

This option allows to change the cropping mode of the output image.
The image can be cropped to isolate the face or to fill the printable area.
The cropping can also be deactivated so that the image will be scaled to fit in the printable area.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the papers.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Identity Photograph

This photograph style allows to get pictures that conforms to the passport standards and then can be used for official documents.

Enable identity photograph

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Live view mode

Allow to change the way the user can preview its final identity photograph print during a session.

Mosaïc

Allows to change the number of identity photograph copies and their layout on the final print.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the paper.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Photo Collage

This photograph style allows to get pictures with the traditional photo booth multiple pictures layouts.

Enable photo collage

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Layout

This option allows to choose the pictures layout on the print.

Background

This option allows to choose an alternate background for the collage.

Live view mode

This option allows to select different type video live preview for this photograph style.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the paper.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Photo Montage

This photograph style allows to get various customizable decorations (templates) on the final pictures.

Enable photo montage

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Templates

This is the list of templates that will be available for selection during a session.
You can create, edit and remove the entries.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the paper.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Decor

This photograph style allows to get pictures with bodies seemingly transposed in a background scene.

Enable decor

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Templates

This is the list of templates that will be available for selection during a session.
You can create, edit and remove the entries.

Image cropping

This option allows to change the cropping mode of the output image.
The image can be cropped to isolate the face or to fill the printable area.
The cropping can also be deactivated so that the image will be scaled to fit in the printable area.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the paper.

Background detection mode

The boundaries of the bodies need to be detected and isolate in realtime. This option allows to choose between 2 modes:

Automatic detection mode

The actual background will be learned by the software and the acquired knowledge will be used to detect automatically the boundaries of the bodies.
This mode offers options
- to improve the background/foreground detection quality (rendering improvements)
- to tweak the background learning
- to enable/disable the automatic background knowledge update when the field of view is altered because of a camera move or a lighting change, etc.

Chroma key (green screen) detection mode

In this mode the actual background is supposed to have a uniform color that will be detected by the software as part of the replaceable image part.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Video Loop

This photograph style allows to get animated pictures in the GIF format.

Enable video loop

Allows to enable/disable this photograph style.

Image cropping

This option allows to change the cropping mode of the output image.
The image can be cropped to isolate the face or to fill the printable area.
The cropping can also be deactivated so that the image will be scaled to fit in the printable area.

Output / Orientation

This option allows to choose the orientation of the image on the papers.

Recording duration

This option allows to specify the recorded video length in milliseconds.

Replay speed factor

This option allows to change the speed of the animation. The default speed value will be multiplied by this setting value.

Enable the directions screen

This option allows to enable/disable a screen that will be inserted just before the shooting screen. This screen displays a text and an image that will provide specific instructions for the users in order to get the best picture as possible.

Input Device

Input channel

Here you can choose the device that will allow users to interact with the photo booth software during a session.

Mouse buttons

This option allows to interact with the software by using the click signals of the mouse buttons.
Note that this feature does not allow to use the mouse pointer. It is intended for to allow the connection of a physical push button through a mouse device driver.

Keyboard

This option allows to interact with the software by using the signals of the keyboard keys.
Note that this feature does not allow to use the mouse pointer. It is intended for to allow the connection of a physical push button through a keyboard  device driver.

Touch screen/mouse cursor

This option allows to interact with the software by using the mouse pointer or a touch screen device.
This is the default input feature.

Scenario

Some aspects of the execution flow can be controlled from this tab.

Enable the idle screen

Allows to add/remove the idle screen that will be displayed after a period of inactivity.

Always start a session from the idle screen

If this option is enabled then any session will forcibly be started from the idle screen (if the idle screen is enabled).

Inactivity delay before cancelling a session

If a user begins a session and quit before the end of this session, then after a while, the software will automatically cancel the session.

The current option allows to specify the number of seconds to wait before cancelling the session.

Shot countdown

Allows to configure the shooting countdown duration.

Maximum number of attempts

Allows to configure the number of times a shooting can be cancelled and retried.

Enable the print preview screen

Allows to enable/disable the flash print preview screen that is displayed just after the shooting.

Effects

Effects are complex filter combinations that are usually too CPU greedy to be executed in real time. They are then selected and applied on a specific screen after the shooting.

Enable post-processing effects

Allows to enable/edit/disable the effects (sepia, cartoon, ...) selection screen options.

Paper

Size

Allows to specify the paper size.

Margins

Allows to specify the printing margins on the paper.

Printing

Enable printing

Allows to enable/disable printing.

Printer

Allow to select the printing device.

DPI

"Dots per inch" setting (may enhance the quality).

Wait for printing job end

This option allows to synchronously wait for the printing job to end (option enabled) or launch the printing job asynchronously (option disabled, will be faster).

Anti-aliasing

When enabled, this option may enhance the print quality but also cause a slight blur effect depending on the output device.

Printing filters

Image Filters that will be applied to the pictures just before sending them to the printing device.

Email

This feature allows the users to send their pictures by e mail.

Allow to send the photographs by email

Allows to enable/disable email sending.

Message

Allows to specify the details of the message to which the pictures will be attached and sent.

SMTP server

Allows to specify the details of the SMTP outgoing server.

Facebook

This feature allows the users to post their pictures on their facebook account.

Allow to publish to facebook

Allows to enable/disable facebook posting.

Facebook login page zoom

Allows to resize the facebook login page.

Note that the facebook page will display a blocking notice if its area on the screen is not big enough.

You can then use this option to virtually allocate additional area to the facebook login page.

File Transfer

This feature allows to drop the final pictures on the local disk and eventually perform automatically arbitrary tasks.

Allow to drop the photographs in a directory

Allows to enable/disable file transfers.

Target Directory

Allows to specify the directory in which the pictures will be dropped.

File processing command

Specifies a system command to be executed right after the file transfer.

The <FILE> marker will be replace d by the file path.

Example: start <FILE>

Payment

This feature allows to require payments from the users in order to complete a photograph session.

This feature is intended to be used with a coin acceptor.

Enable the payment

Allows to enable/disable the payment.

Driver

The following options are supported for coin acceptor connection to Phoyo.

Keyboard bridge

With this driver, each type of coin inserted in the coin acceptor will send a dedicated key code (also called channel) to the software.

Currently Phoyo handles 6 channels which means 6 different types of coin.

You will find more information about how to use any coin selector with this driver here.

Key associated with the channel n°x

Allows to specify the keys that will activate each channel.

Wafer EU1 coin selector

This driver only works with the following coin selector: EU1-Coin-Acceptor

WARNING: the RS232 adapter is necessary: EU1-Coin-Acceptor-PC_Connector

Serial port

Allows to select the serial port to which the coin acceptor is connected.

Amount associated with the channel n°x

Allows to specify the amount of money associated with each channel.

Currency

Allows to specify the currency of the money.

Prices

Allows to specify the price of each product.

Payment Chronology

Allows to specify when the money should be collected (before or after the shooting).

Voice

Enable

Allows to enable/disable the vocal messages.

Maximum number of vocal repetitions before cancelling a session

This option is similar the option "Inactivity delay before cancelling a session".

Except that it will be used, only in case vocal assistance is active, to count the number of vocal message repetitions before cancelling the session.

Change the audio

Allows to change a specific vocal message.

Text

Default messages

The default messages that are displayed during a session.

Alternative messages

The alternative (modifiable) messages that will be displayed during a session.

Banner

This feature allows to brand the final pictures with a custom image.

Insert a banner in the pictures

Allows to enable/disable the banner.

Change the banner

Allows to change the banner image.

Positioning

Allows to change the position of the banner image on the final picture.

Appearance

Full screen

Allows to display full-screen sessions.

Hide the mouse cursor

Allows to hide the mouse cursor during sessions.

Display the message: Press <ESCAPE> to exit

Allows to hide the message “Press <ESCAPE> to exit” during sessions.

Images

Allows to change various images displayed during the sessions.

Screens

Margins

Allows to change the margins of session screens.

F or example, b y reducing them you can force the screen elements to scatter and then give more space to the video and photo frames.

Transition effect

Allows to specify how to display transitions between session screens.

Fading transition speed

Allows to specify the speed of the fading transition effect.

Font Sizes

Allows to change the font size of different text elements in session screens.

Font colors

Allows to change the font color of different text elements in session screens.

Administration

Unlock password

Allows to lock down the screen during a session. A password is then required when the ESCAPE key is pressed in order to quit the session.

Online administration

This feature allows execute several administration tasks without the need to quit the execution window.

It is particularly useful for closed booths on which the software backend access is difficult.

Enable

Allows to enable/disable the online administration.

Access code

Allows to specify a code that will be required to access online administration.

Custom online administration tools

Allows to specify custom additional tools that will be available from the online administration.

System

Begin a session on the program startup

Allows to enable/disable systematic session execution on the software startup.

Standby when idle

Enable

Allows to enable/disable standby command execution when idle.

Standby when inactive for

Allows to specify the inactivity duration that triggers the standby command execution.

System standby command

Allows to specify the standby command.

Start a session on wakeup

Allows to enable/disable systematic session startup when the standby mode exits.

Verbose logs

Allows to enable/disable detailed logs.

Execution

Start

To start the execution you must click on the “Start” button of The Control Window.

Sessions

When the execution starts, the devices are initialized and if the initialization succeeds then the idle screen is displayed.

You can then either press “Start” to launch a photograph session or “Administration” to launch an administration session.

Stop

To stop the execution you must close The Execution window.

Note that in full-screen mode, you will not have access to the execution window title bar. You can then press the escape button to close the window.

Image Filters

Phoyo uses filters to achieve a variety of effects on images.

There are 2 kinds of filters:

Basic filters

A basic filter takes an input image, applies a mathematical algorithm to it, and returns a modified image.

Ex: blur, brightness and contrast, color temperature, overlay image, etc.

Composition filters

A composition filter does not directly modify an image. It only changes the way the following filters will modify the image.

Ex: chroma key, discriminate region, select channel, etc.

Note that every composition filter name is prefixed by “(composition)”

Chroma Key (Green Screen)

More information about this feature can be found here.

Learn more

To learn more about filters explore the templates in the configuration window and see how they are made.

Procedures

How to import a template

  • Download the template file (*.ifi)
  • Open the configuration window
  • Navigate to “Photograph Styles / Fun / Classical” tab
  • Click on “Add” to create a new template
  • Select the template and click on the “Edit” button to open the template editor
  • Click on “Import”
  • Select the above downloaded template file
  • Click on “Open” to load it
  • Click on “OK” to save the configuration