Welcome to the comprehensive documentation for PICABOT V2. This guide covers every feature, setting, and nuance of the application to ensure you can operate your photo booth at maximum efficiency and customize it to your exact needs.
PICABOT V2 is an advanced photo booth software designed to offer robust control over cameras, printers, custom templates, filters, payment gateways, and sharing options.
To unlock all features (especially Pro/Premium features), you must connect the software to your online account:
1. Navigate to the Settings menu and go to the Account tab.
2. Ensure you have an active internet connection.
3. Log in with your credentials (or scan your Auth Token from picabot.club/manage/devices.php).
4. Device Registration: Upon login, your device is assigned a unique Device ID and Device Name.
5. Subscription Status: Your status (Free, Pro, Lifetime) is synced automatically. Pro users get access to premium features like custom UI headers, white-label sharing screens, and advanced analytics.
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Syncing your account regularly ensures your templates, licenses, and transaction logs are up-to-date with your cloud dashboard.
PICABOT V2 supports two primary camera engines: Standard Webcams (via UWP) and Canon DSLRs (via EDSDK).
In the Settings > Camera tab, use the dropdown to select your connected camera. The list groups connected Canon DSLRs first, followed by available Webcams.
Connecting a Canon DSLR unlocks professional-grade image quality.
1. Connect your Canon camera via USB and ensure it's turned on.
2. Select it from the dropdown (it will be labelled as "Canon DSLR").
3. Advanced Camera Settings: Click the Configure button to open the detailed Camera Settings Window. Here you can adjust:
- ISO: Set the light sensitivity.
- Aperture (Av) & Shutter Speed (Tv): Control exposure settings directly from the software.
- White Balance: Adjust color temperature.
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Ensure your Canon camera is not running EOS Utility in the background, as it will block PICABOT from communicating with the camera via EDSDK.
PICABOT V2 includes an advanced dual-printer profile system, allowing you to configure a single physical printer to output multiple paper sizes (e.g., 2x6 strips and 4x6 prints) without changing settings during an event.
The Secondary Printer is typically used to create a second "profile" for the same physical printer to handle a different paper size.
1. In Windows, you can add your printer a second time to create a new logical printer (e.g., "DNP RX1 - 4x6").
2. Check Enable Secondary Printer and select this second logical printer.
3. Click Configure to save its preferences (e.g., disable the 2-inch cut for full 4x6 prints).
4. Template Routing: In the Template Editor, you can mark specific templates to "Print on Secondary Printer". The app will automatically route the print job to the correct printer profile based on the chosen template!
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Use the Test Printer button to verify communication and ensure that your saved preferences (paper size, margins, and cut settings) are correctly loaded for both profiles.
PICABOT V2 includes a robust built-in Template Editor, allowing you to design beautiful photo layouts without needing external software like Photoshop.
Navigate to Settings > Templates and click "Open Template Editor".
The editor supports a full layer system (similar to Photoshop):
- Image Placeholders: Defines where the captured photos will sit. Ensure your placeholder aspect ratios match your camera's output (usually 3:2).
- Text Layers: Add static text (e.g., "Sam & Emma's Wedding"). Choose custom fonts and colors.
- Text Placeholders: Allows the user to enter text during the session (e.g., typing their name before printing).
- Session Data: Automatically stamps the current Date or Time on the final print.
- Static Images (Overlays): Use this for adding PNG frames with transparency. Simply add a static image and ensure its Z-Index places it above the Image Placeholders.
Customize the interactive guest experience to make your booth stand out.
In Settings > Filters, you can enable specific color effects:
- Beauty Filter: Applies slight smoothing and color correction.
- Color LUTs: Enable Black & White, Sepia, Vintage, Warm, Cool, High Contrast, etc.
- Portrait Mode: Simulates a shallow depth of field (background blur).
Note: The guest will be able to swipe through or tap these filters after photo capture.
Instead of physical props, use digital stickers!
- Enable the Sticker Screen in settings.
- Configuration: Set the default scale and the maximum number of stickers a user can drag onto their photo.
- Usage: Users simply drag a sticker from the tray onto their final photo, use pinch-to-zoom to resize, and twist to rotate.
For unattended or pay-per-use setups, PICABOT V2 supports robust payment integration.
You can configure when the user is prompted to pay in Settings > Payments:
- Before Session: The user pays immediately after selecting their desired template, before the photo session begins.
- After Session: The user enjoys the photo session first, and is then prompted to pay on the final screen before their photos will print.
Once the session is complete, guests need their photos!
If your internet drops, PICABOT V2 handles it gracefully:
- All cloud uploads are queued locally.
- Once internet is restored, the background sync service (TransactionSyncService.cs) automatically pushes all pending items to the cloud, ensuring no guest loses their photos.
Customize the look and feel of your photo booth to perfectly match the event's vibe.
In Settings > Display & Themes, you can customize the UI:
- Themes: Quickly swap between pre-built Light and Dark modes.
- Custom Backgrounds: If you have a Pro license, you can define your own custom background image or gradient colors.
- Custom Header: Replace the default "PICABOT" logo at the top of the screen with your own text or client's logo (Pro feature).
Keep your booth running smoothly and prevent guests from tampering with your settings.
Under Settings > Security, you can lock down the application:
- Auto-Start Kiosk Mode: When enabled, the app will launch in full-screen mode and disable Windows shortcuts (like Alt+Tab or the Windows Key) so guests cannot exit to the desktop.
- Admin Password: Set a PIN code. Anyone trying to open the Settings menu or exit the app will be prompted for this PIN.
If you are running the software on a low-end tablet (e.g., Intel Celeron/Pentium processors), navigate to Settings > Performance:
- Disable UI Effects: Turn off Drop Shadows, Blur Effects, and UI Animations to significantly reduce the load on your GPU.
- Use Web Camera Engine: If you experience lag with a standard USB webcam, toggle this on. It bypasses the native Windows camera pipeline and uses a lightweight Chromium web-engine fallback.
Beyond the Windows app, your PICABOT experience is extended through the cloud via your online account dashboard at picabot.club.
Once logged into your online account, you have access to a powerful suite of management tools via the left sidebar:
- Dashboard: A bird's-eye view of your photo booth operations.
- Transactions / Sales: Real-time sync of all payments made at your booths. If your booth was offline, these will populate as soon as it regains internet access.
- Photos: Access to the cloud gallery of all uploaded photos and GIFs from your events.
- Coupons: Generate and manage discount codes centrally, which instantly sync to your active booths.
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