After creating a Workspace in the PhotoRobot Controls App (further referred to as “CAPP”), the Capture interface grants user control over PhotoRobot hardware and cameras to automate image and video capture.
The CAAP Capture interface consists of 4 main areas:
This section of the CAPP Capture interface provides basic information about the item.
( * ) - Set Item Status Filter to limit results to quickly find and navigate projects.
For example, if responsible for verifying images, limit results to “Edited” to locate & review only items that have already been post-processed. After review, set item status to “Verified” or to “Fix Editing” to approve or reject changes and notify team members. The item status will inform responsible parties when images are ready for publishing, or when more editing is necessary.
All visual assets are organized into Folders, with folders divided to represent different types of outputs. The three types of folders are:
Each Folder contains individual frames. A frame consists of information about the photographed angle (instructions for photographic processes), and one or two versions of the image:
Navigate the Folder interface as follows:
*The Folder menu includes:
Also, within each frame there are additional menu options:
To start a sequence, press the Play button (1) at the bottom of the screen:
Interrupt a sequence at any time via the Emergency stop button (2).
In a stills folder use the Take snapshot button (3) to capture a frame without defining it first. The snapshot will then be captured and included as a new frame in the stills folder.
Along the right hand-side panel of the CAPP interface, configure sequence options. Sequence options include:
In a Spin folder, find options for 360-degree product photos.
Configure Frames (1) to select the number of frames to capture per rotation (e.g. 24, 36, etc). Use Add row (2) to specify capture of additional rows from a different swing angle (the vertical angle from which the camera points at the object).
To define which frames to capture in a stills folder, use Add frame in the top right-hand corner of the interface.
Alternatively, press Take snapshot to simultaneously take a photo and create a new, corresponding frame. Connect a camera over WiFi to take photos by hand and automatically add new frames (close-ups, detail shots) to the stills folder.
Freemask background removal is a process in which two images are captured for each frame:
These two images are then composited to achieve a photo with the background effectively removed around the object:
To enable Freemask, select the Mask checkbox on the right hand side panel:
Depending on the robot (or combination of robots), there are up to 3 types of robotic movements:
Use Set Position status (1) to move the robot. Configure speed of the movement using Speed input (2). Use the Calibration button (3) to set the robot to its starting position.
( ! ) - If configuring movement for the first time, always set the robot to its initial position via Calibration.
Enable one or multiple cameras for a sequence via the Cameras interface:
Click on the Live View icon (1) to enable focus point selection via clicking in a Live View picture. Exclude cameras from the sequence via the Exclude camera icon (2). Any excluded camera will not trigger during the sequence. Typically, this is useful when users have an extra camera connected over WiFi to take photos by hand alongside a predefined spin and stills.
CAPP supports both strobe lights (Broncolor or FOMEI), and any LED lights with DMX support. For instructions on how to install & configure lights in CAPP, see the PhotoRobot manual on setting up a workspace.
In the CAPP Lights interface, assign individual lights a position via the Light position menu (1). Using the drop-down menu, select either a custom position, or one of the predefined positions. Predefined positions include:
To define a custom position, select Custom position from Position list options.
Switch lights on or off via the Power button (2). This is useful for example for a freemask approach, in which it is necessary to switch off front lights to take the mask image.
Move the Light intensity slider (3) from left to right for darker or lighter illumination. Note: Some DMX-controlled lights also provide control over color temperature.
By default, hardware configuration is the same across all folders within an item.
To customize a hardware setup (by folder or by row), use the Add scope button:
After customizing a configuration, load or save settings in the upper, right-hand corner via the drop-down menu for Presets:
Click the file icon to save all image capture settings, and later load configurations to reuse across similar photoshoots.
