Step-by-step: Create Mini Movie Posters with Darkroom Booth AI
Reference Video/Article:
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Prep 1. Download the sample templates (includes 6×8 poster and retro DVD cover templates). Save
the files where you can easily find them when building templates.
2. Open Darkroom Booth 2025 and either create a new event or open the event you’ll use for the
posters.
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Build the print template (6×8 poster or DVD) 3. Open the Template Editor: In your event, open the
template you want to use (or create new). If you want a 6×8 poster, either import the sample 6×8
template you downloaded or set the print template size to 6×8 (or choose the DVD template for the
retro look).
4. Add a photo placeholder: Use Add Photo (or place the photo object) where the guest photo will sit on
the poster. Size/position this photo cell to match the aesthetic of the poster.
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Enable and configure Darkroom AI on the photo 5. Edit the Photo Object: Double-click the photo object
and open its properties. Under the Advanced options, check Apply AI Effect. This lets you choose from
AI models and preset AI effects.
6. Choose an AI effect/preset: Click the Edit (or the drop-down) next to the AI option to open the
Darkroom AI Effect window. Pick an effect (for example a “retro movie poster” or an artistic style) and
use the Test button to preview how the person’s photo will be transformed. Click OK to apply.
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Offer multiple AI styles on the touchscreen (optional but recommended) 7. Edit the screen to add
on-screen buttons: Open Edit Screen and create a button for each AI style you want guests to choose
(you can create buttons using Add Shape + Add Text to label them). The template editor’s screen items
let you place buttons that trigger Booth commands.
8. Make each button set the AI style or a variable: With the button selected, under Advanced → Booth
Command, choose Set Text Field (or other relevant command). For example you can set a field named
style to vintage or horror — then in your photo object AI settings read that field (or have separate
templates/effects tied to that field).
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Add gender/variation buttons (to influence results) 9. Create Male / Female buttons (optional): Add two
small shape/text buttons labeled “Male” and “Female.” In each button’s Booth Command, choose Set
Text Field and set gender = male (or gender = female). This value can be used by the AI preset to
nudge the generated result.
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Configure printing / alternate templates 10. Set the print template / Print Alternate: If you want different
output sizes (e.g., one template for 6×8 and another for DVD cover), configure Print Alternate in the
event output so the correct print template is used for each session or option. The UI shows where to
add templates and how to prompt for the print size.
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Test, run, and refine 11. Run tests: Use the Test button in the Darkroom AI Effect dialog to preview
results and Test with template if available. Run a full dry-run (start booth, take photo, choose options)
and confirm alignment, cropping, and text placement before an event.
12. Best practices: - Darkroom AI processes on a remote PC — it requires internet. - A single-person
image gives the best AI results; group shots may not transform as cleanly. - Green screen is not
required for AI effects (but you may still use it if you want different backgrounds).
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Quick checklist (before event) - Download sample templates and import / set up the 6×8 or DVD
template. - Add Photo object, enable Apply AI Effect, choose presets. - Add on-screen buttons for
style/gender and set Booth Command → Set Text Field. - Configure Print Alternate templates for the
desired print size. - Test multiple faces and lighting conditions; make final alignment tweaks.