INK-007
TARS - INTERSTELLAR
A gesture-controlled digital photobooth that captures a photograph, processes it into a print-friendly format, and produces a physical image using a compact thermal receipt printer.
Overview
This project was developed as an interactive photography experience combining computer vision, custom interface design, image processing, and thermal printing. Users can position themselves using the live camera preview and trigger the photograph without touching the device. A hand gesture activates a visible countdown, after which the image is captured, processed, and prepared for printing. The entire experience is presented through a custom full-screen interface designed to resemble a physical photobooth.
The Requirement
The objective was to build a compact and engaging photobooth that could operate without traditional buttons or touchscreen controls. The system needed to: * Display the complete camera frame within a fixed opening in the physical enclosure * Preserve the custom graphical interface around the camera preview * Allow users to capture photographs using a simple two-finger gesture * Provide clear visual feedback before the photograph was taken * Maintain a smooth and responsive live camera feed * Produce a printable monochrome image suitable for a thermal printer * Function reliably as a self-contained interactive installation
What We Built
A complete photobooth system was created with: * A live camera preview displayed inside a custom PNG interface * Gesture-based photo capture using hand and finger detection * A visible 3–2–1 countdown before capturing * Automatic image capture and processing * Image conversion suitable for monochrome thermal printing * Integration with a 58 mm thermal receipt printer * A responsive full-screen interface designed around a physical display cutout * Performance improvements for smoother camera playback and gesture recognition
Outcome
The final solution delivers a touch-free and intuitive photobooth experience. Users can see themselves clearly within the interface, trigger the camera using a hand gesture, follow the on-screen countdown, and receive a physical printed photograph. The project successfully combines software and hardware into a playful installation that can be used at events, exhibitions, pop-ups, brand activations, and public experiences.
Core Features
Live Camera Preview
The camera feed is automatically resized and cropped to fit precisely within the interface opening while keeping the complete custom PNG overlay visible.
Gesture-Based Capture
Computer vision is used to detect a two-finger gesture, allowing users to activate the camera without touching the device
Custom Photobooth Interface
A branded PNG interface surrounds the live preview and creates the appearance of a purpose-built physical photobooth.
Automatic Image Processing
Captured photographs can be resized, converted to grayscale, contrast-enhanced, dithered, or transformed into an ASCII-style image before printing