Getting Started with PMWall

Updated 2 weeks ago · 3 min readBeginner

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

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

Step 2: Log In

On launch, PMWall shows the login screen
Enter your Foto Master Cloud email and password
PMWall authenticates with the Cloud and validates your license
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:

Log in to cloud.fotomaster.com
Go to Events > Create Event
Set the event name, date, and duration
Add the desired PMWall Preset to the Event, which determines:
- 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
Save the event

Step 4: Sync the Event

In PMWall, go to the Dashboard tab
Your Cloud events appear in the event list
Select your event and click Sync
PMWall downloads the event configuration, target image, and any existing gallery photos
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 -- Toggle which media types sync, including Upload Mosaic Tiles (Virtual Mosaic)
Runtime -- Moderation, the device models folder, and debug artifacts

Step 6: Start the Mosaic Runtime

Go to the Dashboard tab
Click Start Mosaic in the window header
PMWall validates the event configuration, switches to the Runtime tab, and begins accepting photos
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:

Click Export Hi-Res on the Runtime tab
PMWall stitches every placed tile into a single high-resolution TIFF
Click Open output folder to collect it from the event's Prints folder

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