Configuring PMWall Virtual Mosaic in Foto Master Cloud

Updated 5 days ago · 5 min readBeginner

Virtual Mosaic is the online, interactive version of a PMWall mosaic. It can show the mosaic in multiple viewing modes, accept guest contributions, highlight new tiles, display contributor stories, and send notifications when a participant's photo appears.

Configure Virtual Mosaic from the PMWall template in Foto Master Cloud before assigning the template to an event.

If the Virtual Mosaic should show photos processed by the PMWall event computer, PMWall must upload those results back to Cloud. In PMWall, open Settings > Cloud Settings and enable Upload Final Photos before the live event. Enable Upload Raw Photos only when the raw incoming photos should also be stored in the Cloud gallery.

Before You Start

Prepare:

A Cloud event that will use PMWall.
A PMWall template with the main image and grid already configured.
The guest contribution requirements, including which fields are visible or required.
Any terms, privacy, marketing, or notification consent text required for the event.
The public event branding, accent color, and preferred fonts.

Layout and Views

Open the PMWall template and select the Virtual Mosaic settings.

Configure:

Available Modes -- Choose which viewing modes guests or operators can use. The current player supports Classic, Living Wall, and 3D Wall views, with additional experimental modes available only when enabled.
Default Mode -- Choose the mode that opens first.
Mode Switcher -- Allow visitors to switch between enabled views.
Header and Sidebar -- Show or hide the event chrome and tile activity panel.
Search Bar -- Let visitors search for matching contributor details where search data is available.
Zoom and Fullscreen Controls -- Enable controls for large displays and kiosk screens.
Contribute Button -- Show a contribution button when the event should accept guest uploads.

Keep public-facing controls simple for unattended displays. For operator-led screens, enable the controls the operator needs during the event.

Playback and Tile Highlights

Use playback settings to control how the mosaic feels during a live event.

Common settings include:

Auto-Pop -- Automatically open or highlight tiles at a regular interval.
Intervals -- Choose how quickly highlights rotate.
Pause While Searching -- Prevent auto-pop from interrupting search results.
Pause While a Tile Is Open -- Keep the current tile visible while a guest or operator is reading it.
Reset After Interaction -- Restart the timer after manual interaction.
Story Mode -- Cycle through highlighted or featured tiles when contributor stories are available.

Use slower intervals for presentations and faster intervals for casual gallery browsing.

Contribution Form

Enable contributions when guests should upload directly into the Virtual Mosaic.

Configure:

Photo Upload -- Allow guests to submit an image from the contribution form.
Display Name -- Show or require the contributor name.
Story -- Let guests add a short caption or story.
Email and Phone -- Collect contact details only when needed for notification or follow-up.
Terms and Privacy Consent -- Require acceptance when the event uses legal or privacy terms.
Marketing Opt-In -- Keep marketing consent separate from operational participation.
Notification Opt-In -- Let guests choose whether they want to be notified when their photo appears.
Accepted File Types and Size Limit -- Control the image formats and maximum upload size accepted by the player.
Crop Strategy and Tile Quality -- Choose how uploaded photos are prepared for the mosaic.

Only make fields required when they are genuinely needed. Shorter forms usually produce more guest submissions.

Notifications

Notifications can be sent when a submitted photo is accepted or appears on the wall, depending on the event setup.

Review:

Enable Notifications -- Turns notification handling on for the Virtual Mosaic.
Trigger -- Choose whether notifications are sent immediately or after the photo becomes visible.
Channels -- Enable email and/or SMS where the event account supports them.
Deep Link -- Opens the mosaic directly to the participant's tile when available.
Animation on Open -- Animates to the participant tile from the notification link.

Guests should receive notifications only when the notification consent option is shown and accepted, or when your event's privacy workflow allows it.

Branding and Display

Use branding settings to make the Virtual Mosaic match the event:

Accent Color -- Controls highlights and primary interface accents.
Fonts -- Applies event-specific display and body fonts where supported.
Contributor Name -- Show or hide the name attached to a tile.
Story in Dialog -- Show or hide contributor stories when a tile is opened.

For sponsor or brand activations, confirm that names, stories, and contact fields match the privacy expectations for the event.

Performance and Motion

Performance settings control how often the player checks for updates and how much animation is used.

Review:

Poll Interval -- How often the player checks for new mosaic data.
Manifest Refresh -- How often the wall structure is refreshed.
Tile Detail Cache Time -- How long tile details can remain cached before refetching.
Reduced Motion -- Respect device or browser reduced-motion preferences.
Live Drop Effects -- Configure new-tile badges, particles, confetti, parallax, hover effects, and 3D wall motion.

For low-powered devices, kiosks, or unstable venue internet, reduce animation and use a slower refresh interval.

Test the Virtual Mosaic

Before publishing the event link:

Save the PMWall template.
Assign it to the Cloud event.
In PMWall, sync the event and confirm Upload Final Photos is enabled if PMWall will populate the online mosaic.
Open the Virtual Mosaic link on desktop and mobile.
Confirm the default view opens correctly.
Submit a test contribution if contributions are enabled.
Confirm required consent fields behave as expected.
Confirm search, tile details, story display, and notifications if enabled.
Remove test submissions if they should not remain in the live event.

Was this helpful?