Composer - Profoto StyleShoots Vertical & Horizontal

Navigation

Creating a new Session | Using Composer | Light Controller | Exposure | Focusing | Taking photos | AutoAlpha™ Background removal | Adjusting the zoom | Inspecting Framing names | Overlays | Viewing photos and Star rating | Quickshare | Deleting Photos

Creating a new Session

Tap the Plus button in the Sessions screen to create a new Session.

1. Place your product in the machine, using the live view as a positioning guide.
2. Type the product name, or scan its barcode by tapping Scan.
3. Choose which Photo Presets you want to use for the Session. The system  remembers your selections from the previous product to save you time.
4. Tap Start to enter the Composer screen.

Tip: Use the Live View to position your products consistently every time, for a consistent look and feel on your online store.

Using Composer

The Composer screen is where you spend most of your time when using StyleShoots. It is here that you take photos and review captured content.

Left side: Gallery

On the left side of the screen is the Gallery.

Each Photo and Auto Alpha Preset has its own section, marked by a vertical line in the left margin.

The content of each preset appears within its section, so you always know what’s what.

Right side: Live View

On the right side of the screen is Live View.

Live View changes appearance depending on the aspect ratio you have chosen.

When you review captured photos, they appear on top of Live View.

Light Controller

StyleShoots machines come with a world class lighting system where you can adjust light and exposure with a touch of your finger.

To adjust the lighting:

1. Tap and open the control panel, tap the Lights tab to reveal the light controls.
2. Tap the preset number you want to modify - or go directly to step 3.
3. Slide your finger within the rectangular fields to modify the light. Move your finger along the middle of the rectangle to keep the balance straight and only modify intensity. Move your finger towards the ends of the rectangle to modify the balance.
4. The top and side lights can be altered for both intensity and balance. The bottom light can be altered only in intensity.
5. Use the exposure tab in the control panel to alter the camera exposure.
6. To prevent accidental changes, tap the Lock icon. Locked presets are marked with a white outline in the light drawer at the top of the screen.

Tip: Make and save a few light presets and use them again and again for consistency.

Exposure

There are two modes for exposure, one called Simple which consists of a single slider to control camera ISO. There is also now a Manual exposure panel where you can control ISO, Shutter Speed and F-Stop independently. There is also a histogram displayed in Manual mode to help guide exposure.

Focusing

StyleShoots Vertical will automatically focus whenever the camera has moved to a new View preset. The camera in Vertical uses AI focus to automatically locate the subject, and focus on it.

To manually focus:

1. Tap anywhere on Live View to focus on that area. Agreed square appears to indicate the camera has focused.
2. If the system can't focus, you will se a red square appear, try tapping again on a nearby area with more contrast to get a green focus square

Taking photos

Select a photo preset in the Gallery to start taking photos. Live View updates to reflect the list of Views and the aspect ratio.

Use the Framings feature to quickly move the camera between predefined zoom positions. You can fully configure your own Framings in Settings, and adjust them in the control panel.

1. Tap a View preset in the View bar on the right side of Live View. The camera quickly zooms to the preset position. 
2. The system will auto focus after zooming. To focus manually, see the section above.
3. Tap the Photo button to take a photo. You will see the photo appearing in the Gallery on the left side of the screen.

Tip: Tap-and-drag the Photo button to place it in a comfortable position for you to easily tap it repeatedly, even without looking at the screen.

AutoAlpha™ Background removal

To activate the background and caddy fixture removal feature, AutoAlpha™, select an AutoAlpha™ Preset in the Gallery. You can tap on its name, or on the vertical line in the left margin. Live View changes to the right aspect ratio and indicates, (in green), that for the shots taken in this preset, the system will take a number of consecutive photos and use these photos to calculate what parts of the image should be kept and what should be removed.

1. Tap a View in the Views bar on the right side of Live View. The camera automatically zooms to the right position.
2. Tap the green AutoAlpha™ shutter button. The system takes a number of photos, with the lights on and off. During this short process it’s important to stay clear of the shoot area so you don’t end up with unwanted items in your photo.
3. Once the shots have been taken, a green check mark appears once AutoAlpha™ has completed the background and fixture removal.

Adjusting the zoom 

If a photo View needs to be tweaked, you can adjust camera zoom by using the Motors tab in the control panel.

1. Select the View you want to adjust. Let the camera zoom into its predefined position.
2. Unlock and use the Zoom slider in Motors to manually move the zoom.
3. A Save Changes button will appear and the new zoom positions will be highlighted in yellow. Tap the yellow Save to have your changes saved as the new default for that View.

* Gestures can also be used to control the motor positions:

Tip: You can do a one-off adjustment without saving your changes. Just tap the record button or photo button and select a new framing or shot without saving your changes.

Tip: To avoid changing Framing, release your finger on the Framing that was already selected. The already selected Framing has a darker background.

Overlays

Overlays are graphic elements or a photo layer that can be superimposed onto the Live View to provide a helpful guide that helps to enhance visual consistency. Using an Overlay will help you stick to your style guide when shooting multiples of the same product type.

ProStudio Overlays Settings page

Overlay settings

• Press any overlay to access its information.

In this window you can manage your Overlay attributes.

• Upload a new Photo
• Modify Name/Keywords
• Long press on keywords to Edit or Delete.
• Delete the Overlay

Don’t forget to tap on “Save” button after making any changes you want to keep.

Using Overlays in Live view

• Press on the Overlay icon in the top right corner.

To enable a grid Overlay:

• Toggle Grid on.

To enable an image Overlay:

• Toggle Overlay on.
• Select the overlay you want to use from the Gallery.

To change an Overlay’s intensity:

• Use the slider to adjust the image transparency.
• To disable an Overlay:
• Toggle Overlay off.

Add new overlay from Library

You can add a new image to Overlays from the Photo Gallery.

Tap on “+” icon in the top right corner.

• Tap on the prompt to upload an image from your Gallery
• Select a photo
• Insert name and keywords
• Confirm by pressing the “Add” button

Add a new overlay from the Gallery

• Press Share icon
• Select “Add to Overlays”

If you want to remove the photo, tap on “Remove from Overlays”

Delete multiple overlays

• Press “Select” button in the top right corner
• Select the overlays you want to delete
• Tap on “trash” icon in the top right corner
• Confirm

Overlays image aspect ratio

Please, note that images uploaded from the Photo Gallery are resized to a 2:3 aspect ratio.

Below is a template to help you adjust your overlay to the desired size.

Viewing photos and Star rating

1. Tap a photo in the Gallery on the left side of the screen. It will then appear on the right.
2. You can pinch to zoom in and out.
3. Swipe left or right on the large photo to browse.
4. Use the star rating feature to mark your favourite images: 1-5 stars.
5. Tap-and-slide across images in the Gallery to quickly scan through many photos.
6. Swipe down on the right side of the screen to exit review mode.
7. Tap the eye icon in the top right corner of AutoAlpha™ images to view the photo without the background.

Note: When you star rate an image, the star rating gets added to the image's metadata. Upon export this star rating is retained so you can find and sort your favorite images with ease.

Quickshare

You can easily share content you have shot using the Quickshare sheet.

1. Choose the *image in the gallery you wish to share.
2. Tap the share icon in the top right of the preview.
3. Share via Airdrop or to any other share service set up on you iPad.

*The images shared via Quickshare are not the final quality, but are great for sharing on social media or as a medium res example.

Deleting Photos

After taking a lot of photos during a session, you can select which ones to keep and which ones to discard. Images marked for deletion will be permanently deleted once you do an Export.

1. Tap a photo in the Gallery to view it.
2. Tap the blue checkmark in the lower right hand corner to mark it for deletion.
3. Use the select all and deselect all buttons up top for speed and convenience.

Images marked for deletion are shown as faded out in the Gallery.