====== Creating A Gallery ======

This walks you through setting up a gallery for a single event.


===== 1. Create the event =====

Log in at [[https://app.imgbooth.photos/pbadmin|app.imgbooth.photos]] and
click **New Gallery**.

Give the event a name your client will recognize — guests see this at the
top of the gallery. Wedding galleries usually read best as the couple's
names, for example ''Kim & Alex''.

==== Gallery settings ====

^ Setting ^ What it does ^
| **Gallery Code** | A six-letter code that identifies your gallery. Assigned automatically. |
| **Display Name** | Name of the Event or Gallery (Example: Tom's 60th Birthday) |
| **Event Date** | Display only. It does //not// control when the gallery goes live. |
| **Style** | The visual theme guests see when they open the gallery. |
| **Media Types** | Which formats get uploaded. Defaults to //Strips & Singles//. |
| **PIN Code** | Set a PIN code that users need to have to view the gallery. (optional) |

Set Media Types to match what your booth actually produces — if you're only
running strips, leaving singles on means uploading photos nobody asked for or blank gallery tabs.

==== Sharing the gallery code ====

Every gallery gets its own six-letter code, and guests can enter it directly.
In practice, most won't. Use the **QR code** at the booth instead — guests
scan and land in the gallery without typing anything.

If you need something spoken aloud or printed on signage, run the gallery URL
through a link shortener.

You can enter the six-letter code @ https://app.imgbooth.com/

See [[gallery:sharing|Share Links & QR Codes]] for placement tips.

===== 2. Point imgbooth at your output folder =====

Open the imgbooth uploader from dashboard and click **Choose Folder**. Select the
folder your booth software writes finished photos to. You can select if you want strips, singles, or gifs in the gallery settings. 

You will get a popup when you select the first folder asking if you want to allow this site to access file folders. CLICK "YES"

>**YOU MUST USE CHROME TO UPLOAD & WATCH FILES/FOLDERS**


Pick the folder holding the **final composited prints**, not the raw
camera captures, or print files. Most booth software keeps these in separate folders, and
guests want the finished layout with your overlay on it.


Once settings are saved, press the start button, the app shows a status line confirming it's watching.

===== 3. Run a test shot =====

Take one photo through your booth exactly as a guest would. Within a few
seconds the desktop app's counter should tick up, and the photo should
appear in the gallery and in the onscreen log. If the photo already exist it will skip that photo. 
>**:WARNING: Uploading a test photo will cause the gallery's status to change to LIVE:**

If nothing happens after 60 seconds, see
[[help:photos-not-uploading|Photos aren't appearing]].

===== 4. Share the gallery =====

From the event page, grab the share link or QR code. See
[[gallery:sharing|Share links & QR codes]] for where to put the QR at the
booth. We suggest ordering bussiness cards with the QR code, or printing signage.

===== Next steps =====

  * [[gallery:slideshow|Put the gallery on a TV with slideshow mode]]
  * [[gallery:branding|Add your logo or the client's colors]]