Cameras

Use a webcam

Choose a webcam, install it, allow access and get the best images for the photobooth and the videobooth.

A USB webcam is the simplest way to get started with BoothX, and the natural camera for the videobooth. Just plug it in: it works without any special driver.

Choose a webcam

Criterion	Advice
Resolution	Full HD (1080p) at minimum; 4K for sharper prints.
Focus	Autofocus, for groups at varying distances.
Field of view	70 to 90°: wide enough for a group, without distorting faces too much.
Microphone	Useful for the videobooth; a separate USB microphone is still better in a venue.
Mounting	Standard screw thread (1/4") to mount it on a stand or in the booth.

A webcam is perfectly fine for the screen and the online gallery. For quality paper prints in evening lighting, a Canon camera remains far superior.

Install the webcam

Plug it into a USB port on the computer, preferably USB 3, without a hub.
Open the Cameras page: the webcam appears under Devices labeled USB webcam.
Open the session and start the preview.

The first time, the system asks for permission to use the camera:

macOS: accept the camera access request for BoothX;
Windows: check Settings › Privacy & security › Camera: access must be turned on for desktop apps.

If the Camera access screen appears (“BoothX needs the camera to work.”), click Allow. See Camera access denied.

The computer's built-in webcam

A laptop's built-in camera works, but it is often of modest quality and poorly placed (too low, too close). Prefer an external webcam placed at eye level.

Several webcams

If several cameras are connected (for example the built-in camera and an external webcam), check on the Cameras page which one is in use. Unplug or disable the one you don't need to avoid any confusion on event day.

Get great images

Lighting: a webcam has a small sensor; light is what makes the quality. A ring light around the webcam changes everything.
Distance: 1 to 1.5 m for one person, 2 m for a group.
Height: at eye level, slightly above. A camera that is too low flatters no one.
Background: a plain backdrop or a photo backdrop hides the clutter of the venue behind the guests.
Manufacturer software: some webcams come with software to adjust exposure and white balance. Adjust them, then close the software: a webcam can often be used by only one app at a time.

Common issues