Retrobooth

January 25, 2025

RetroBooth Documentation

A retro photo booth with NFC filter selection

Gallery

Quick Start

Repository: GitHub - RetroBooth
Current Status: Project completed, in documentation phase
Key Feature: NFC-based filter selection with Polaroid-style reveal
Privacy: Photos automatically deleted after printing

Overview

RetroBooth modernizes the classic photo booth experience by combining vintage aesthetics with contemporary technology. Users select filters using physical NFC cards, creating an interactive and tactile experience. Following the Polaroid philosophy, photos remain hidden until printing, adding an element of anticipation and surprise.

Team and Contributors

Hardware Team

Javier Donate
- Role: Hardware Design Lead
- Responsibilities: System architecture and hardware implementation
José Gil (Genio del Mal)
- Role: Integration Specialist
- Responsibilities: Component assembly and system integration

Software Team

Ignacio Delgado
- Role: Software Development Lead
- Website: ignaciodelgado.com
- Responsibilities: Software architecture and control systems

System Architecture

Hardware Components

Core Processing

Raspberry Pi (3B+ or higher)
Raspberry Pi-compatible camera module
NFC reader (MIFARE Classic compatible)
Industrial-grade capture button
Integrated LED lighting system
Stabilized power supply

Physical Structure

Retro-inspired booth design
Public-use grade materials
Maintenance access panels
Integrated component housing

Software Stack

Operating System

Raspberry Pi OS (latest stable release)
Python 3.7+ runtime environment

Core Libraries

RPi.GPIO: Hardware control interface
MFRC522-python: NFC communication
Pillow: Image processing and filters

Key Features

Real-time filter processing
Temporary local storage
Privacy-focused photo management
NFC card detection and mapping

Implementation Guide

System Initialization Flow

sequenceDiagram
    participant System
    participant Hardware
    participant Camera
    participant NFC
    
    System->>Hardware: Initialize components
    System->>Camera: Activate and configure
    System->>NFC: Start reader
    Hardware->>System: Confirm readiness
    Camera->>System: Ready state
    NFC->>System: Reader active

User Interaction Flow

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant System
    participant Camera
    
    User->>System: Present NFC card
    System->>System: Read filter selection
    System->>Camera: Apply filter settings
    User->>System: Press capture button
    System->>Camera: Trigger photo
    Camera->>System: Return image
    System->>System: Process filter
    System->>User: Print result

Troubleshooting

NFC System Issues

Problem	Solution
No card detection	Check reader power supply
Intermittent reads	Verify cable connections
System freeze	Perform full system restart

Camera Problems

Issue	Resolution
No preview	Check physical connections
Poor image quality	Verify lighting system
System crash	Restart camera module

Future Development

Hardware Enhancements

Touch screen integration
Advanced lighting system
Improved print quality

Software Features

Web-based administration
Custom filter creation
Email delivery system
Usage analytics dashboard

References

project upcoming