[photoboothco]

I'm pretty sure it's not possible yet, but was curious if there is anyway to make an overlay for the live view? If not it would be an awesome new feature. That way you'd be able to make a nice border and do some other fun stuff.

[Chris Breeze]

You can display an overlay in the normal live view window with DSLR Remote Pro for Windows but not in photobooth mode. This was added to help lining up id photos etc.

[Shiblum]

Chris,

The problem I have with the text countdown is that its at the bottom of the screen. My camera, and I think many most photobooth cameras, are positioned above the live view LCD to render a more flattering guest image (chin up). Because the countdown text is so far from the camera-we get many guests that don't make eye contact when the shot is taken. I have seen other sofware have a large numerical countdown overlayed on the live view before the photo is taken (photoboof?). Is that a feature that could ever be added to your photobooth software?

Thanks.

[jonmonts]

Hey there. We use photoboof in our booths (sorry Chris) but still keep up with and use BreezeSys software elsewhere. The universal truth is this...as long as there is a preview/postview monitor, photo booth users will be looking at it instead of the camera the majority of the time. There's no way around it, the monitor is just too mesmerizing. Raising the countdown up a bit truly doesn't make a big difference. All I can say is make it work the best you can and don't worry too much about everyone's natural instinct to look where the action is.

-jm

[Shiblum]

jm,

Have you tried blanking out the preview screen in the last few seconds with "look at the camera" text, and maybe an arrow? There has got to be a way to do it.

Maybe we can get a small grant from the hundreds of billions in pork the federal govt is doling out to 'save' our economy to help scientifically solve this recurring photobooth attention deficit problem. I think just a few million would do. ...thats it!...a camera built into the center of the live view screen- i've just got to find the right drill bit...:)

[Chris Breeze]

TV presenters have the same problem reading from scripts. Autocues get around this by putting a piece of glass in front of the camera angled at 45 degrees and projecting the script onto the glass. When setup correctly the camera sees straight through the glass but the presenter sees the script.
It might be possible to come up with a similar arrangement for a photobooth.

[jonmonts]

Shiblum-

The last thing the guest sees (on our booth) is a graphic to directing him/her to look up. Unless you do what Chris just described, people tend to look at the screen. I've heard of at least one photo booth owner creating something like that but can't say I've seen it in person.

-jm

[snapshot]

Like everyone else, I have the issue of people looking at the monitor and not the camera as well. My camera is positioned below the screen, but it still doesn't help.

There isn't much you can do. I do have mine set up so that the screen says to look at the camera right before the picture is taken, and people still look at the screen.

Generally they figure it out on their second run.

[peaceman]

I created a "taking jpeg" that has bid bold letters.....LOOK AT THE CAMERA!
with 2 up arrow buttons. It works almost all the time.