Foto Master

Configuring PMWall Templates in Foto Master Cloud

Updated 5 days ago · 5 min readBeginner

PMWall templates let you prepare a Photo Mosaic Wall event from Foto Master Cloud before the event computer is on site. The template controls the mosaic target image, grid, event behavior, blending, tile matching, and board output that PMWall receives when the event is synced.

Use this workflow when you are preparing a physical Photo Mosaic Wall activation that will run in the PMWall Windows app.

Before You Start

Prepare the following:

  • A Foto Master Cloud account with an active event.
  • A PMWall license assigned to the event or available to the operator account.
  • The main image the mosaic should reveal, such as a logo, portrait, or campaign artwork.
  • The intended output format, including display aspect ratio and approximate tile count.
  • A few test photos so you can run a full sync and placement test before guests arrive.

Create or Edit a PMWall Template

  1. Log in to cloud.fotomaster.com.
  2. Open Templates.
  3. Select PMWall.
  4. Click New Template, or open an existing PMWall template.
  5. Give the template a clear name that includes the event type, grid, or client name.

After saving, the template can be assigned to a Cloud event and synced by PMWall.

The PMWall preset editor is organized into these tabs:

  • Main Image & Grid
  • Event Behavior
  • Blending & Colorization
  • Tile Matching
  • Virtual Mosaic

Main Image and Grid

The main image is the artwork PMWall reveals as guest photos fill the mosaic.

Configure:

  • Template Name -- Use a clear name that identifies the client, event, grid, or output type.
  • Main Image -- Upload or select the image that should become the mosaic target.
  • Columns -- Number of tile columns across the mosaic. The default is 24.
  • Rows -- Number of tile rows down the mosaic. The default is 24.
  • Cell Output Size -- Pixel size of each accepted tile saved by PMWall. The default is 600 px, which matches a 2x2 inch tile at 300 DPI.

Choose a grid that matches the display or print format. For a 16:9 screen, use a grid with a similar ratio, such as 64x36 or 80x45. For a square board, use equal rows and columns.

Board Generator

Use the board generator when the event needs a physical printed board. The board should use the same rows, columns, and tile sizing as the PMWall template so the software output and physical board stay aligned.

For the print-house workflow, see Creating a PMWall Print Board File for Your Print House.

Event Behavior

Event behavior controls how PMWall fills the mosaic during the live activation.

Review these settings before assigning the template:

  • Event Duration -- Runtime countdown used by PMWall after Start Mosaic is pressed. The default is 180 minutes.
  • Freeze When Full -- Stops updates after every cell is filled. Keep this enabled when the event needs a stable final image.
  • Process Existing Photos on Start -- Processes photos already in the raw event folder before PMWall begins live monitoring.
  • Participation Mode -- Choose how guest photos are placed:
    • Best Match -- Photos are placed only when they improve the mosaic match. Some photos may not appear.
    • Guaranteed Visible -- Every valid photo appears for at least the minimum visible time, then may be replaced by a better match.
    • Permanent -- Every valid photo is placed once and is not replaced.
  • Minimum Visible Time -- How long a placed photo remains protected before it can be replaced in Guaranteed Visible events.
  • Allow Duplicate Relaxation -- Lets PMWall relax duplicate avoidance only during critical timing states when the wall may not fill in time.

Use Guaranteed Visible when guest participation matters most. Use Permanent when every guest tile should stay in its first placement. Use Best Match when mosaic quality matters more than showing every submitted photo.

Blending and Colorization

Blending controls how strongly guest tiles are guided toward the main image. PMWall supports separate blending zones so logos, portraits, and background areas can be treated differently.

Configure the blend mode and strength for:

  • Background -- Areas behind the main subject.
  • Body & Clothing -- The main subject, clothing, hair, logo, product, or silhouette areas.
  • Skin -- Skin-tone regions in portrait-based mosaics.
  • Face -- Face areas that need careful handling.

Each zone has a Blend Style and Portrait Visibility value. Common blend styles are Soft Light, Overlay, and Multiply. Soft Light is more subtle, Overlay increases contrast, and Multiply darkens the zone.

The global controls are:

  • Colorization -- Master strength for how much the main image influences the final mosaic.
  • Alpha Look -- Adds a traditional alpha-overlay look on top of the zone blending. Use it carefully because high values can reduce tile clarity.

Use stronger blending and colorization for small boards where the target image needs to remain recognizable. Use lighter blending for large boards where individual guest photos should remain more natural.

Tile Matching and Cropping

Tile matching controls how PMWall chooses the best grid position for each guest photo.

Review:

  • Color Accuracy -- How strongly tile colors should match the target image.
  • Detail Matching -- How much texture and structure matter.
  • Variety -- How strongly PMWall avoids similar adjacent photos.
  • Face Area Preference -- How much PMWall prefers face-rich photos in important mosaic regions.
  • Crop Mode -- Choose Smart for face-aware crops, Center Crop for a simple center crop, or Safe for an upper-third biased crop.
  • Face Crop Bias -- Controls how strongly Smart crop centers on detected faces.
  • Upper-Third Bias -- Controls how far Safe crop shifts the crop upward.

Run a test after changing matching settings. Small changes can affect both the recognizability of the main image and how clearly guests can see themselves.

Assign the Template to an Event

  1. Open the Cloud event.
  2. Assign the PMWall template to the PMWall software/license used for the event.
  3. Open PMWall on the event computer.
  4. Sign in with the Cloud account.
  5. Select the event.
  6. Click Sync Event.
  7. Confirm the main image, grid, and runtime settings in PMWall before starting the live mosaic.

If the event will also use an online Virtual Mosaic, configure the Virtual Mosaic settings in the same PMWall template before testing.

Pre-Event Test

Before guests arrive:

  1. Sync the event in PMWall.
  2. Confirm the correct event is selected.
  3. Confirm the main image downloaded successfully.
  4. Add a few raw test photos.
  5. Start the mosaic.
  6. Confirm photos appear in the expected positions.
  7. Stop the test and clear test media if needed.

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