Getting Started with PMWall

This guide walks you through setting up PMWall and running your first photo mosaic event.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 x64 or later
• Foto Master Cloud account with a Photo Mosaic Wall license
• A large display screen or projector for showing the mosaic
• At least one photo source (FMX booth, Selfie Wi-Fi, or manual photo import)
• Internet connection for Cloud sync and licensing

Step 1: Install PMWall

Option A: Installer

1. Download PMWall-Setup.exe from your Foto Master Cloud dashboard
2. Run the installer and accept the license agreement
3. PMWall installs to C:\Program Files\Foto Master\PMWall
4. Launch from the Start menu or desktop shortcut

Option B: Portable

1. Download the All-Inclusive ZIP package
2. Extract to any folder
3. Run PMWall.exe directly -- no installation needed

Step 2: Log In

1. On launch, PMWall shows the login screen
2. Enter your Foto Master Cloud email and password
3. PMWall authenticates with the Cloud and validates your license
4. If you have multiple licenses, select the Photo Mosaic Wall license

Tip: PMWall caches your license locally for fast startup. On subsequent launches, it can start without waiting for Cloud verification (it validates in the background).

Step 3: Create Your Event in the Cloud

Before using PMWall, create an event in Foto Master Cloud:

1. Log into cloud.fotomaster.com
2. Go to Events > Create Event
3. Set the event name, date, and duration
4. Configure the Photo Mosaic Wall settings:
   • Target image -- Upload the image that the mosaic will reveal
   • Grid size -- Number of columns and rows (e.g., 50x50)
   • Participation mode -- Best Effort or Guaranteed Visible
   • Tile processing -- Crop mode, blending settings, matching parameters
   • Event duration -- How long the mosaic will accept photos
5. Save the event

Step 4: Sync the Event

1. In PMWall, go to the Dashboard tab
2. Your Cloud events appear in the event list
3. Select your event and click Sync
4. PMWall downloads the event configuration, target image, and any existing gallery photos
5. The sync progress bar shows download status

Step 5: Configure Local Settings

Go to the Settings tab to configure:

• Printer -- Select your label printer and configure dimensions
• Storage -- Set auto-delete policy for old events
• Cloud sync -- Toggle which media types to sync (raw photos, final photos)
• Advanced -- Fine-tune matching algorithm parameters (optional)

Step 6: Start the Mosaic Runtime

1. Go to the Dashboard tab
2. Click Start Runtime (or the equivalent button)
3. PMWall validates the event configuration and begins accepting photos
4. The mosaic display activates on your connected screen

Step 7: Feed Photos

Photos can arrive from multiple sources:

• FMX booth -- Photos from any connected Foto Master booth sync to the event automatically
• Selfie Wi-Fi -- Guests upload photos via QR code
• Local folder -- PMWall monitors C:\PMWall\Events\{EventId}\raw\ for new image files (JPG, PNG, BMP)
• Cloud download -- Gallery photos from Cloud events

Step 8: Monitor and Manage

During the event, the Runtime tab shows:

• Live mosaic progress (percentage filled)
• Photo ingestion stats (received, accepted, skipped)
• Print queue status
• Time remaining
• Capacity projections

Use the Queue Management tab to:

• View pending photos
• Approve or reject photos (if moderation is enabled)
• Monitor upload/download status

Step 9: Export the Final Mosaic

When the mosaic is complete:

1. Click Export High-Res in the Runtime tab
2. Choose your export resolution
3. PMWall stitches all tiles into a single high-resolution image
4. Save or print the final mosaic

Troubleshooting

Event not syncing

• Check internet connection
• Verify Cloud login is active
• Ensure the event exists and has a target image configured

Photos not appearing in mosaic

• Check the raw folder path: C:\PMWall\Events\{EventId}\raw\
• Verify file format is supported (JPG, PNG, BMP)
• If moderation is enabled, check the Queue Management tab for pending approvals

Mosaic looks wrong

• Verify the target image was uploaded correctly in Cloud
• Check grid size matches the display aspect ratio
• Adjust blending settings if tiles don't integrate well

Read Next

• PMWall Overview
• PMWall Settings Guide
• PMWall Dashboard & Runtime