Composer - Profoto Elevate

NAVIGATION:

Creating a new Session | Using Composer | Light Controller | Exposure | Focusing | Recording Videos | Recording videos when you’ve marked multiple products | Glancing at the product thumbnail | Taking photos | Remote shutter release | Adjusting video and photo framings | View Framing names | Overlays | Viewing videos and Star rating | Viewing photos and Star rating | Quickshare | Deleting Photos

Creating a new Session

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

1. Have the model stand in a neutral posture and tap the Photo button.
2. Select a model. If the model is not yet in the system, you can add a model in Settings.
3. Draw loosely around each product you’d like to feature in the Session. If you want to re-draw or delete a product, swipe left on the product row to delete and try again.
4. Type a name for each product, or scan a barcode by tapping Scan.
5. Choose which Video Presets and Photo Presets you want to use for the Session. The system  remembers your selections from the previous outfit to save you time.
6. Tap Start to enter the Composer screen.

Tip: If you are shooting a series of pants and the model is wearing the same top, you might want to only mark the top in one of the outfits. This will save time and avoid duplicate content.

Using Composer

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

Left side: Gallery

On the left side of the screen is the Gallery.

Each Photo and Video 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 whether you are shooting videos or photos, and depending on the aspect ratio.

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

Light Controller

Elevate uses the world class lighting system from Profoto, you activate / deactivate lights, control light power and modelling light with a touch of your finger.

To adjust the lighting:

1. Open up the control panel at the bottom of the gallery and tap on the Flashes tab.
2. Tap the preset numbers you want to modify - or go directly to step 3.
3. Slide your finger across the numerical value to modify the light. Use the +/- buttons for fine control.
4. The lights can be activated or deactivated using the switch at the top.
5. The modelling light can be toggled on and off using the sun icon on each light control stip.
6. Use the exposure tab also in the control panel to alter the camera exposure.
7. 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 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

Elevate will automatically re-focus on the center of the image whenever the camera has moved to a new framing preset or has prepared for a video recording.

To manually focus:

1. Tap anywhere on Live View to focus on that area. Once you tap, a white square will appear during focus, and turn green when focus is done.
2. If the system can't focus, try tapping a nearby area with more contrast.

Recording Videos

To record videos, select a Video 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 shows the list of clips in the preset.

1. Tap a shot in the Shot List on the right side of Live View. The section expands to reveal details about camera framing and camera behavior. The camera automatically moves to the right starting position.
2. Tap the red Record button. The system counts down and  starts the recording. The model should start moving prior to the start of the recording for a natural appearance in the final video.
3. Once the shot has been recorded, a green check mark appears and a dot on the video strip is filled in.

Tip: If you are unhappy with a particular shot, you can re-record it. Tap and hold the green checkmark to toggle it into a record button. Then, tap the Record button to discard the original recording and make a new one.

Recording videos when you’ve marked multiple products

If you have marked multiple products during Session Creation, you will see multiple versions of the same Video Preset in the Sessions screen. In the upper right corner of each preset you can see the name of the product that will be featured in the video (see section below). 

1. Video strips in the Gallery show a dot for each shot in the video.
2. When you select a shot in the shot list in Live View, the corresponding dot will be highlighted on the video strip.
3. If a shot is going to be reused across multiple videos, it will be highlighted in both video strips (see example image above). This depends on which video template you are using, and only applies for shots that don’t change depending on the product’s location in the scene.

Glancing at the product thumbnail

It can be hard to remember each product by name. When you have multiple product in each outfit, it’s important to know which video belongs to which product.

1. Tap and hold the product name at the top right above a video strip.
2. A thumbnail of the product appears so you can see which product is in focus.
3. Release your finger to close the popover.

Taking photos

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

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

1. Tap a framing preset in the Framings list on the right side of Live View. The camera quickly moves, tilts and zooms to the preset positions.
2. Tap the model to focus. You must re-focus whenever either the camera, lens or model have moved.
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.

Remote shutter release

Elevate supports remote shooting of photos using a compatible Bluetooth shutter release button.

To activate this feature:

1. Go into the iPad Settings app and find Bluetooth
2. Make sure Bluetooth is switched on and the search for new devices
3. Once you see your Bluetooth shutter button appear in the device list, tap on it to pair it with the iPad

Return to the ProStudio app and in photos mode you will now be able to shoot using the remote button when in Bluetooth range of the iPad. Perfect for selfies!

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.

Adjusting video and photo framings

If a photo or video framing needs to be tweaked, you can adjust camera elevation, tilt and zoom by using the Motor controls in the control panel.

1. Select the photo framing or video shot you want to adjust. Let the machine move the camera into its predefined position.
2. Use the 3 motor controls to manually move the camera:
   Height slider to move the camera vertically.
   Tilt slider to tilt.
   Zoom slider to zoom.
3. Changes will appear in blue and a Save Changes button will appear. You can also make accurate changes by tapping on the numerical values at the top of each slider and typing in the desired numerical value. Tap it to have your changes saved as the new default for that photo framing or video shot.

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

• Two finger swiping up or down controls the tilt
• One finger up or down controls the height
• Pinch in and out controls the zoom

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.

View Framing names

You can see the names of all your framings, so you know which one to select before making the camera move into position. You can change the names of framings in Settings > Framings.

1. Tap and hold on any of the framing icons to make the labels appear.
2. While holding down your finger, slide to the framing you want to select.
3. Release your finger on the desired framing.

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 videos and Star rating

Once all the shots for a video have been recorded, the video will auto-complete and become available for review.

1. Tap the video you want to view. The video auto plays in a loop on the right side of the screen.
2. Use the star rating feature to mark your favourite videos: 1-5 stars.
3. Use the ‘X’ icon in the top corner to exit review mode or tap another item in the Gallery.

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. Use the ‘X’ icon in the top corner to exit review mode.

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.

Tip: Swipe up on the large image to toggle it between marked for deletion and marked for export. So you don't have to tap the checkmark in the lower right hand corner.