pibooth-picture-template 0.0.3

Pibooth plugin to customize the final picture layout using Flowchart Maker.

pibooth-picture-template is a plugin for the pibooth application.

It permits to define the captures/texts positions and sizes using a template. The template file (XML based on mxGraphModel definition) can be easily created/edited using the free online diagram software Flowchart Maker.

Default templates can be found on GitHub:

• pibooth.xml : the default layout of the pibooth pictures factory

• fancy.xml : the default layout installed by this plugin

Below are examples of the pictures generated using the fancy.xml template (learn here how to Create a template):

Install

$ pip3 install pibooth-picture-template

Configuration

Here below the extra configuration options that can be added in the pibooth configuration:

[PICTURE]

# Pictures template path, it should contain 8 pages (4 capture numbers and 2 orientations)
template = picture_template.xml

Note

Edit the configuration by running the command pibooth --config.

Create a template

The steps below will show how to create a basic template file from scratch using the Flowchart Maker application.

This file may contain several templates to define the picture layout for 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 captures and 2 orientations (portrait and landscape).

Step 1: create a new file

	Click on Create New Diagram.
	Choose a blank diagram. Modify the name of the diagram, it will be the name of the exported file. Click on Create.
	Select the appropriated paper size. A custom one can be defined in inches.

Note

It could be easier to start from an existing file. Click on Open Existing Diagram to load the default template file located in ~/.config/pibooth/picture_template.xml (this file is generated at first pibooth startup).

Step 2: placeholder for captures

	Choose a rectangle to define a capture placeholder. Other shapes have no effect and will be considered as rectangles.
	Resize the rectangle to fit the desired size. The rectangle can overflow the border of the page to make design effects. Up to 4 rectangles can be drawn.

Step 3: placeholder for texts

	Choose a text box to represent a text placeholder.
	Resize the text box to fit the desired size. Up to 2 text boxes can be drawn depending on the pibooth configuration.

Step 4: picture resolution

	Extra properties can be set to the template. Click on the button Edit Data (close to the paper size settings). Type dpi in the entry box and click on Add Property.
	By default a resolution of 600 DPI is used. It means that the picture size will be 2400x3600 pixels for a resolution of 4x6 inches. Set it to the desired value and click on Apply.

Step 5: add new a template

	Once the template is created. A new one can be defined for an other captures number or other orientation. Click on + to add a new page.
	The captures and texts placeholders can be numbered to define the order of the caputres/texts. Colored shapes give a better overview of the layout but they are not rendered on the final picture.

Step 6: save the template file

	Generate the XML file by clicking File, Export as, XML....
	Click on Export (unselect Compressed if you want to edit the file manually later).

Note

Instead of running pibooth each time you want to test the result of your template, use the command pibooth-regen. It will regenerate the existing pictures present in ~/Pictures/pibooth using the new template.