FMX for iPad: Camera Settings

The Camera tab in FMX iPad Global Settings controls which camera is used, how images are captured, and how the camera feed is displayed to guests. Since iPad uses its built-in cameras rather than external devices, the settings focus on camera position, lens selection, image quality, and iPad-specific features like screen flash.

Camera Position

• Front camera (TrueDepth) -- The most common choice for guest-facing photo booths. The front camera allows guests to see themselves on screen while posing, providing a natural selfie-style experience.
• Rear camera -- Higher resolution on most iPad models. Useful for specific booth designs where the iPad faces toward guests with a separate preview monitor, or when maximum image quality is the priority.

Select the camera position that matches your booth hardware setup. FMX remembers the selection and uses the same camera on subsequent launches.

Camera Device Type

On iPad models with multiple rear lenses, you can select which lens to use:

• Wide -- The standard wide-angle lens, available on all iPads. Best for most booth setups as it captures a broader field of view.
• Telephoto -- Available on iPad Pro models with dual-camera systems. Provides a tighter crop and slight compression that can be flattering for portraits.

Aspect Ratio and Fill Mode

• Aspect ratio -- Choose the capture aspect ratio. Common options include 4:3 (native iPad sensor ratio), 16:9, 1:1 (square), and others. The selected ratio determines how the camera feed is cropped during capture.
• Fill mode -- Controls how the camera preview fits within the display area. Options typically include filling the screen (cropping edges) or fitting the full frame (with letterboxing).

Mirror Settings

Mirror settings control whether the camera preview and captured image are flipped horizontally:

• Mirror per camera position -- Front and rear cameras have independent mirror settings. By default, the front camera preview is mirrored (as guests expect from a selfie view), while the rear camera is not.
• Preview vs. capture -- You can configure mirroring independently for the live preview and the saved photo, giving you control over whether the final image matches the preview or is flipped.

Mirroring the front camera preview feels natural to guests because it matches what they see in a mirror. The captured image can be saved unmirrored (true orientation) or mirrored to match what the guest saw on screen.

High-Resolution Capture

• High-resolution toggle -- When enabled, FMX captures photos at the camera's maximum available resolution rather than the preview resolution. This produces higher-quality final images suitable for large prints.
• Performance note -- High-resolution capture may introduce a brief delay between the shutter trigger and the photo being available for processing. On older iPad models, this delay may be more noticeable.

Screen Flash

Screen flash is an iPad-exclusive feature that uses the iPad's display as a light source during capture. When triggered, the screen briefly flashes white (or a configured color) at maximum brightness to illuminate the subject.

• Useful for low-light environments where no external lighting is available
• Supplements but does not replace proper booth lighting -- it provides a soft fill light from the front, similar to how smartphones handle low-light selfies
• Configurable -- Can be enabled or disabled depending on your lighting setup

JPEG Quality and Compression

• JPEG quality -- Controls the compression level of captured photos. Higher quality produces larger files with more detail; lower quality produces smaller files with some loss of fine detail.
• Recommended range -- 80-95% for most booth applications. This balances file size with visual quality. Values below 70% may show visible compression artifacts, especially in areas with gradients or fine textures.

Test Mode

• Test Mode toggle -- When enabled, FMX cycles through a set of built-in test photos instead of using the live camera feed. This is invaluable for workflow testing and event setup.
• Use cases -- Test your workflow sequence, layout composition, sharing flow, and printing without needing to position someone in front of the camera. Test Mode images behave identically to real captures throughout the entire workflow.