Digital guestbook
Export the guestbook as a PDF and hand over the keepsakes
Generate the guestbook PDF, choose its layout, print it or have it bound, and hand the keepsakes over to the hosts.
Mode being rolled out. Depending on your version of BoothX, the PDF layout options may differ from this description.
At the end of the event, all the guestbook pages are gathered into a PDF. It's the keepsake you hand over to the hosts: to read on screen, print or have bound. The export happens on the booth, without internet, and it's free.
Generate the PDF
- Open the guestbook area and choose the event.
- Review the pages and delete any that shouldn't be in the book.
- Choose the layout (see below).
- Click Export as PDF and choose the destination folder (USB drive, shared folder…).
- The PDF is generated in the background; you can keep using BoothX. The folder opens when it's done.
You can export during the event, for example to show the hosts a preview, then again at the end: each export includes all the saved pages.
Layout
Depending on your version, you'll choose from:
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cover | A first page with the book's title, the date and optionally a photo of the hosts. |
| One or two guest pages per sheet | One per sheet for an airy book, two for a compact one. |
| Order | Chronological (the order of the evening) or another available order. |
| Format | The PDF page size (A4, A5…), chosen according to how you plan to print. |
| Theme | Colors and fonts matching the event's design. |
Do a test export with a few pages to validate the result with your client before the event.
Print the book
At home or at the office
The PDF prints on any office printer. Choose thick paper and double-sided printing if your layout calls for it.
At a print shop
For a beautiful bound book, send the PDF to a print shop or a photo book service:
- check the format the printer requires and export in that format;
- ask for a proof before the full run;
- factor production times into your quote.
On the booth's photo printer
The booth's dye-sublimation printer prints photo prints, not book pages. It is, however, used for the keepsake cards handed to guests during the evening, if you've turned them on.
Other keepsakes
In addition to the PDF, you can hand over:
- the selfies on their own, in the event folder (Storage page and Open folder button);
- the signatures and messages as images, depending on your version;
- a slideshow of the pages at the end of the evening on a second screen (see The live photo wall).
Hand over the guestbook
| Method | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| USB drive | Free | Simple and private; include the PDF and the selfies. |
| Share link from your own storage | Depends on your service | You stay in control of who gets it. |
| BoothX online gallery | Pay-as-you-go | Selfies can join the event gallery if you turn it on. |
| Email from the booth | Pay-as-you-go | See Send photos by email or text. |
See Free forever or pay-as-you-go.
After the handover
The guestbook contains personal data (messages, signatures, faces). Once it's been handed over to the hosts and the claims period has passed, delete the pages from the booth, or the entire event after backing it up. See Retention periods, export and purge.
Common issues
- The PDF is very large: full-resolution selfies make the file heavier. Choose a lighter image quality if your version offers it, or compress the PDF before emailing it.
- Some characters display incorrectly: emojis or rare characters typed on the keyboard; they may be replaced by a generic symbol in the PDF.
- A page is missing: the guest didn't confirm the page (abandoned partway through), or it was deleted.
- The export fails: check the free space on the destination (full USB drive) and the folder's write permissions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export only some pages? Delete or hide the others before exporting, depending on the options in your version.
Can the PDF be regenerated later? Yes, as long as the pages are on the booth. That's why you need to back up before any purge.