FX Home – Photokey Pro
Full Details in User Guide 10 – “How to Import Images Into fotoShout”
Photokey Pro (By FX Home) www.fxhome.com Photo Key is a wonderful event software. It reminds me of the original PC Pro but better, more selections, many options, easier to use.
Direction were originally written for Photo Key 6, but the directions are still the same for Photo Key versions 7 & 8.
There are two methods to export your images, Manual or Automatic.
Manual Export
1) Once you have created your photograph you need to “Export” your image out of Photokey Pro. Click either:
a) “File”, then click “Export Canvas”
b) Or Click “Ctl+E”
2) Browse to the folder file named in the folder dialog box during fotoShout event setup, it is the folder fotoShout is monitoring to find the images. i.e. c:\fs_demo event (you only need to do this once at each new event) PhotoKey Pro will automatically place the name of the image file in the dialog box. Click “save”
3) The composite digital file is now automatically transferred to the fotoShout app on the iPad.
4) **Note – Under Export Options, click on quality, reduce quality level – usually below 50%. (you should only need to do this once for each event setup) You are reducing quality level as there is no need to upload a 1.6 to 6 mg image. It will also slow image transfer down. I like to keep the image around 80k to 120k for viewing over the internet.
Automatic Export
1) Click the Import key in the toolbox. Select “Use Hot Folder”
2) Select the Hot Folder from where PhotoKey 6 Pro will retrieve your images. Photokey Pro will monitor the selected folder automatically importing any images placed into this folder.
3) Select the “Batch” tab, then under “Export Options,” click on quality and reduce – usually below 50%. There is not a need to upload a 1.6 to 6 mg image. I like to keep the image around 80k to 120k for viewing on the internet. Large images take longer to transfer and are not needed for viewing on computers, tablets & phones.
4) Import one image into PK, position the image, crop the image, size the image, position the overlay, etc. with PhotoKey Pro. Select the star button (global settings), it now glows yellow. Now all subsequent images will be positioned and cropped the same way.
5) Click on “Batch Export” in toolbox, then click on “Auto Export”
6) Select the folder where you want the images exported too. Select the same folder you setup for the event on the fotoShout web portal. i.e. c:\fs_demo_event
7) The composited digital file is now transferred to the folder you selected.
8) Now every digital image taken imports into PK6, composited, then automatically transfers to the fotoShout app on the iPad.
Automatic Method – You take a photograph, the image is transferred to the computer, PK6 processes the image (green screen, background, overlay, etc.) automatically exports the image, fotoShout automatically transfers the image to the tablets for processing. Using a Canon camera with a WFT Wi-Fi unit, I take the photograph, the image is processed and placed on the iPad in about 5 seconds. (jpg/small file)
TIPS – With PhotoKey Pro – Click file, Click Options, select General tab. In the dialog box “Open in Editor Path” browse to Photoshop or any editing software you wish to use, select it and click open. You’re done. When you wish to edit an image in PhotoKey 6, right click on the images thumbnail and select “Open in Editor…”