PhotoRobot Workflow Demonstration - Video Recap

00:00

INTRO: PhotoRobot + Presentation Overview

02:22

Import Shooting List

03:07

Inventory Management

05:26

Workflow Management

06:49

Robotized Capture & Output Types

08:42

Automated Post Production

10:03

Cloud-Based Quality Control

11:53

Automated Delivery & Publishing

14:53

Outputs, Shooting Times, Production Times

15:31

OUTRO: Summary & Unique Features

00:00 Hello. First and foremost, Thank you for the time spent with us during the joint presentation of PhotoRobot technologies!

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00:09 Often, our demonstration focuses on the primary advantages of the technology as they apply to your business’s unique needs.

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00:16 However, this means that sometimes we may overlook or not entirely cover certain solutions that will provide equal benefits to your business.

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00:25 This is why we have created an overview of the presentation in video format, with everything in one place for your review.

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00:33 Alternatively, the demo is available as a standalone file in the link provided, so feel free to explore each topic further at your own convenience.

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00:42 Now, please join me for a complete recap of the PhotoRobot Workflow.

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00:46 Since 2004, PhotoRobot has been designing and manufacturing automated photography systems for customers worldwide -- helping to speed up, standardize, and simplify their business’s photography.

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00:59 Our line of software-driven photography robots are available in multiple sizes, and serve as an all-in-one solution to support every stage of object photography, from: prep, to capture, post-processing, and publishing.

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01:13 Further, all systems feature serially produced components for long-term operations, and software automation to make every stage of production faster, simpler, and more scalable.

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01:25 Outputs of PhotoRobot take the shape of still images, 360-degree spins, 3D images, 3D models, animations, and also video.

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01:33 Then, at the heart of each system, carefully developed automation enables our customers to realize the highest levels of accuracy, consistency, and photo standardization – from one project to the next, time-and-time again.

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01:48 To demonstrate, this presentation showcases the advantages of a traditional PhotoRobot production workflow in six stages.

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01:56 We start with shooting list import and inventory management, covering along the way also: studio stock-in & stock-out; sorting items of similar categories to software shelves (or carts); and weighing & measuring objects with CubiScan.

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02:11 Afterwards, we deep dive into the advantages of robotized capture, followed by automatic post-production, quality control features, and finally, automated content delivery.

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02:22 Now, at the very start of any photoshoot, we can import shooting lists directly into a new project as a CSV file.

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02:30 CSV files can contain product information with a name and barcode, as well as settings for an object’s automated photo-shooting.

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02:38 This helps teams organize shooting lists by projects, products, names, tags, presets, workspaces, notes, and links.

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02:46 Shooting lists will then also often contain capture presets to automate camera and light settings, and editing presets that contain settings to automate post-processing.

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02:58 Users can then customize or modify shooting lists at any time, such as to add more rows, products, columns, or additional parameters.

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03:07 After shooting list import, PhotoRobot has numerous features to support the easy tracking, sorting, weighing, and measuring of physical inventory.

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03:17 This includes a user-friendly barcode system for streamlined inventory management, which supports three stages for receiving items.

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03:25 First, there is: Studio stock-in & stock-out, with full barcode reader support.

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03:30 Second, users can sort items to shelves with corresponding presets.

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03:35 This is a way to visually assign presets before the item arrives at the robotic workspace.

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03:40 Third, and finally, there is weighing & measuring items with CubiScan, which also allows for automated metadata assignment for hardware setup and photo export.

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03:50 To demonstrate, we can automatically mark an item’s inventory status as received in the software by simply scanning its barcode.

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03:58 Alternatively, we could do this manually by using the search feature.

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04:02 Received and Sent items are then easily monitored in the software as

soon as scanned in, or scanned out.

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04:09 This allows for both efficiency and transparency in the product flow, while also making it easy to sort items with the same photography settings into groups.

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04:18 Also, if CubiScan is present in the workflow, studios can automatically record product weights and dimensions in the system by scanning the item with the device.

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04:28 CubiScan has full integration within PhotoRobot software, with barcode reader support as well as numerous integration features.

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04:36 These include tools for immediate import of weights & dimensions in metric or imperial measurements.

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04:42 The system can also automatically configure robot settings according to object dimensions, and export items with metadata containing their information.

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04:52 After scanning an item, the item’s inventory status automatically

changes in the system to "Measured".

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04:58 Finally, sorting items to software “shelves” (or “carts”) is another

way we ensure high-speed photoshoot prep.

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05:04 This stage of inventory management enables users to associate presets for the photography and post-processing of different types of items to various shelves.

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05:14 Users can then group items with the same presets to their corresponding shelf for more organized, systematic, and efficient prep before photoshoots involving multiple categories of objects.

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05:26 When ready to begin shooting, PhotoRobot workflow management features help to ensure highly productive photoshoots.

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05:33 The software organizes images into projects, items, and folders – with projects the highest level data entity.

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05:40 Projects will include items from a single photoshoot, or from a one-day or even one-week session.

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05:46 Single items are typically a specific, photographed object, and can include one or more folders such as to separate the spin image from the still images.

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05:56 Note that the focus is on organizing items by their robotic workspaces rather than human talent.

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06:02 We assign an item to its workspace, and then sort it to a corresponding shelf with presets if any.

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06:08 This is easily specified in the system either in the CSV file, or manually with barcode reader support.

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06:14 Robotized capture of outputs is then possible with total control over the entire studio from one software interface.

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06:22 Software integration of cameras, camera settings, lights, strobes, DMX lights, and post production means it often requires only one click to run entire photography sequences.

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06:33 There are also convenient tools for automatic download and file-naming, and features completely unique to PhotoRobot, such as non-stop image capture, which takes advantage of powerful strobes to technically freeze the object in place for photos.

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06:49 As for PhotoRobot outputs, robotized capture is possible for still images (including GS1 compliant images), 360 spins, 3D spins, 3D models, and video.

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06:59 In the software, we can configure and save presets for the operation of different robots, the capture of specific angles, control over studio lights, and running post-processing operations.

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07:12 Presets are all reusable once configured, and also customizable for quick adjustments when shooting similar but slightly different objects.

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07:21 Additionally, when using PhotoRobot with strobes, robotized capture is possible in Fast Shot Mode.

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07:28 Fast shot mode is completely unique to PhotoRobot, and enables the extremely fast, non-stop capture of images without stopping the rotation of the turntable.

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07:38 After capture, whether in traditional start-stop or fast shot mode, the software automatically changes the status of the item to Captured.

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07:48 And here, users can configure & save all of these settings as presets to repeat capture and editing settings for similar types of objects, outputs, and style guide requirements.

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07:59 Presets tell the system for example: which folders to create for images; turntable stops and angles to photograph; camera & light settings; robotic processes; editing settings; and basic to advanced automated post-processing operations.

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08:16 This way, teams create presets to streamline the photography for any category of item.

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08:21 It might be small & complex objects like jewelry and accessories, fashion products like clothing and footwear, or large and heavy items like automotive parts, bicycles, motorcycles,

furniture, and even automobiles.

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08:36 Post production is then often fully automated to ensure the fastest time to market possible.

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08:42 Automated post production in PhotoRobot software can minimize or even completely eliminate the need for manual retouching.

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08:50 Project-driven settings are configurable to set once and forget, process images without asking, backup automatically, and deliver files instantly.

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08:59 The software automates basic to advanced post-processing operations, from auto cropping images and centering spins, to background removal

by level, flood, or freemask.

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09:10 There are also limitless operations to further optimize images, with the ability to save any configuration of enhancements as a preset.

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09:18 This is why so many PhotoRobot clients do not retouch manually. It simply isn’t necessary.

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09:25 But, nonetheless, we have developed support for companies who do use

internal or external talent for manually retouching.

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09:32 When the need arises, we can simply change the status of an item to “Ready to retouch” in the system.

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09:38 Changing the item status this way then enables 3rd parties to download images from PhotoRobot Cloud, work their magic, and upload the retouched photos back for quality control.

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09:49 On upload, the software then automatically labels the item as “Retouch done.”

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09:54 In this way, collaboration is completely frictionless between team members and external talent, even remotely from anywhere around the world.

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10:03 Next, cloud-based quality control ensures effective collaboration from anywhere, anytime.

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10:09 PhotoRobot software allows for remote studio access on top of photoshoot and re-shoot control, with tools for streamlined client communication and review.

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10:20 These include the ability to add notes for feedback, additional instructions, style guides, item statuses, downloads, and approval.

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10:29 Additionally, to mark an item for quality assurance, users can select any item with the edited status, and change its status to: “Verified”, “Recapture”, or “Fix edit”.

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10:41 It is also possible to do this with images with the “Captured” status, and mark them to “Send for retouch” or to “Recapture”.

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10:49 Clients can then log into the PhotoRobot Controls Cloud, and only view items with the “Verified” status.

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10:56 They can change this status to “Approved” to accept the image, or to “Rejected” to automatically send the image back.

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11:04 It is then possible to grant users roles in the app to enable talent from anywhere in the world to access different tasks remotely thanks to PhotoRobot Cloud.

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11:14 For this, the app provides four user roles, starting with the Production User.

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11:20 The Production User is the team member responsible for capturing and editing images.

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11:25 They are also the only user role who use PhotoRobot Controls App.

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11:30 All other user roles access the system over the web – with no need to install anything.

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11:35 This includes the Backstage user role, which grants user access for planning and review; and the Retoucher role, which provides access to download images, retouch images, and upload images back.

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11:49 The Client role is then used to grant customer access to verified images for final review & quality assurance.

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11:56 Now, for delivery and publishing, manually copying files and creating different filename structures with every output is a worry of the past.

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12:06 PhotoRobot’s Automated Content Delivery system supports a wide range of features and rich API connectivity for fully automated, secure and feed-based XML or JSON format delivery.

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12:19 This includes various export formats available for the same content,

download, and client review.

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12:26 Also, users are able to customize a long list of template variables.

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12:30 These include filenames with template variables, such as for project

& item names as well as custom metadata with named tags.

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12:39 It is possible to configure image format, quality, and resolution, with images downloadable in jpeg, PNG, WebP, and Tiff formats.

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12:48 There is also the option to save any export format for later reuse.

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12:53 Further, automatic attachment of metadata is possible by item-level,

image, camera, and custom configuration.

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13:01 For example, item-level metadata stores information like barcodes, tracking codes, dimensions, presets, custom tags, and notes.

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13:10 Image metadata contains information such as angles or labels of images.

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13:15 Both item-level and image metadata, we can assign manually in the system, or via API connection.

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13:22 Then, camera metadata contains info like locations, times, and camera settings; while custom tags enable users to modify at the item-level.

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13:31 PhotoRobot’s automated content delivery system makes publishing instantly possible using PhotoRobot Hosting, or API connection to third party systems.

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13:42 It’s possible to integrate PhotoRobot Viewer with any webpage to serve complete still image galleries, detailed images, 360 spins with hot spots, object animations, video, and more.

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13:54 There is automatic image resizing, as well as instant availability for customers to view newly published outputs thanks to a global CDN.

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14:03 There are features for publishing to third party systems like Shopify or WooCommerce, and also the ability for customers to write their own

integration using our REST APIs.

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14:14 For user-friendly publishing, all outputs have links and codes for easy access and embedded content to the web, with direct links or embedded image HTML codes.

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14:25 It’s really as easy as copying and pasting a snippet of code for instant delivery of stills, galleries, and 360s to any web page or image hosting tool, like PhotoRobot Viewer.

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14:36 Everything is designed for complete ease of use, including the API integrations.

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14:41 Our API allows you to create projects with names, access changes, download new files, and generate custom reports about user activity.

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14:50 This way, no matter the system requirements and reporting needs, PhotoRobot rises to the occasion.

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14:57 In the end, see the outputs for yourself.

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15:00 This example was captured, post-processed, and web-ready in only 1 minute 25 seconds.

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15:06 The 360 spin consists of two rows of elevation, with 24 photos around the object in each row.

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15:13 For this, we photographed the item using the Case 1300 in combination with a Robotic Arm.

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15:20 The same parameters are true for the following example.

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15:24 Our workflow provides a 360 spin, and 24 x 2 still images -- all automatically post-processed, and web-ready in extremely little time.

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15:34 That’s the productivity we speak of when we present PhotoRobot.

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15:39 We aim to support every stage of production, with customizable solutions to meet wide ranging use cases.

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15:45 Our toolbox includes solutions completely unique to PhotoRobot, from Fast-Shot mode to automation for 3D object modeling or product video production.

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15:55 All the while, ongoing software updates, new features, and regular communication ensure that all clients in the PhotoRobot ecosystem have access to the latest innovations.

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16:06 Take for example advanced tools such as background removal by Freemasking, or our many optimizations like Auto Crop & Auto Centering.

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16:14 There are also tools like Fix Tilt for items that may have a wobble-effect in 360 spins, quick navigation features for easier digital asset management, and the list is far from complete there.

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16:27 Really, is there anything else you can ask for in a system to speed up and simplify your business’s photography?

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16:33 We hope this presentation has helped you see how PhotoRobot can help, and we can look forward to tailoring a solution to your business's specific needs together.

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16:44 The next step will be configuring a robotic module, which you will demo live to test and judge by the production speeds.

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16:51 Our solution specialist will consult with your team on the types of objects you need to photograph, and then create your unique demonstration.

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17:00 Just contact us again when ready to proceed, or should you have any more questions about our technology.

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17:07 We thank you for your attention. Our team at PhotoRobot looks forward to continuing the discussion soon!