Output Settings

Output Settings

In the output settings, you can choose how you want your layout to be saved, along with configuring other settings for filenames and processing images.

 

In this Guide

• Output
• Filename Prefix
• Filename Suffix
• Rotate to Match
• Optional Command
• JPEG Copy
• Number of Copies
• Image Sharpening
• Image Filters

 

Output

Use the Output dropdown list to specify how the formatted layouts should be output. Layouts can be saved as a JPEG, automatically printed, or both.

 

Print only
Prints the layout using the currently selected printer. The page size is defined by the current printer settings.

JPEG copy only
Saves a JPEG copy of the layout in a subfolder of the folder being monitored named “Prints”. A custom page size can be defined by selecting the custom size checkbox and entering the page width and height in pixels.

Print and save JPEG copy
Prints the layout and saves a copy in the “Prints” subfolder. The page size is defined by the current printer settings.

 

Filename Prefix

An optional prefix can be added to the filenames of JPEG copies of the layout to help identify them. The final filename of the layout will be the prefix plus the date and time of the first image in the form YYYYMMDD_hhmmss (e.g., if the first image was taken at 20:30:05 on 12th August 2012, the filename will be HFP_20120812_203005.jpg).

The prefix can also include tokens. For example. setting the filename prefix to %o will save the JPEG file using the same filename as the first photo in the sequence.

*See the section on Tokens for a list of available tokens.

 

!JPEG copies should be saved in a different folder from the hot folder being monitored, which can be specified using the Subfolder field.

*If there is already a filename of the same name in the folder, an underscore followed by a number will be added to the filename to prevent the existing file from being overwritten.

 

Filename Suffix

The Background/overlay filename suffix setting provides a way to select different backgrounds and overlays for layouts. This setting can use tokens to provide values that are read at runtime (e.g., random numbers or data entered in the survey screens). For example, to add a randomly selected overlay to a print layout, the Background/overlay filename suffix could be set to {random,1,3}.

 

 

The token {random,1,3} evaluates to a random number between 1 and 3, giving a randomly generated suffix. When preparing the print layout, the software will look for an overlay named overlay_random1.png, overlay_random2.png, or overlay_random3.png, depending on the random number. If it can’t find an overlay file with the filename suffix, it will use the standard filename, overlay.png, instead.

 

Rotate to Match

The Rotate output to match first photo option will rotate the JPEG copy of the print output to match the EXIF orientation of the first photo added to the print layout. This option is useful for processing single photos, which may have different orientations (e.g., backend processing for a virtual photo booth receiving photos from cell phones that could be shot in portrait or landscape orientation).

 

Optional Command

An optional command can be run after saving the JPEG copy of the output by selecting the checkbox and entering the command in the text edit area. This command could be used to automatically upload the JPEG to a site such as Flickr or Facebook or to email a copy of the photo to the users. Please see the section on uploading to photo sharing and social networking sites for more details.

 

JPEG Copy

The JPEG copy of the output can also be copied to another folder. To use this, select the “Copy JPEG output to folder:” option and enter the destination folder in the text area. Use the dropdown list to control when the JPEG images should be copied.

*chkbox1 and chkbox2 refer to information read from the XML status file written by our photo booth software.

!The command run on the JPEG output and the JPEG copy options are not available when the output setting is “Print only.”

 

Number of Copies

Set the number of copies to print to the required number or to 0 for automatic. When the automatic option is selected, the number of prints is read from the XML summary file written by Breeze Systems’ photo booth software. This allows the number of prints to be set using the photo booth software. If Hotfolder Prints can’t find the XML summary file, it will print one copy.

 

Image Sharpening

The images can be sharpened by selecting the “Sharpen images” checkbox and specifying a sharpening amount in the range of 0 to 100. The amount of sharpening required depends on personal taste, the camera, and the printer. A value of around 75 is a good starting point.

 

Image Filters

Use the Print photos in: dropdown list to select whether the photos should be printed in color, black and white, or “Auto color/B&W”. The “Auto color/B&W” option will read the tag in the XML summary file written by Breeze Systems’ photo booth software to determine whether to print the photos in color, B&W, or B&W (toned). This will default to color if the XML file is not found or does not contain a tag.

*“Auto color/B&W” is recommended when using Hotfolder Prints with our photo booth software as it ensures Hotfolder Prints processes the JPEGs with the same color/B&W/B&W toning settings as selected in the photo booth software.

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