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Textbook

Workspace Configuration

75 min·BASIC·Operator|Studio Manager

In PhotoRobot, every photoshoot starts with a workspace. The workspace is the list of hardware — robots, cameras, lights, accessories — that you’ll use for this shoot. Configure it right once, and every subsequent capture-edit-publish cycle inherits that quality. Configure it wrong, and you’ll spend the day fighting your own setup.

1. What a workspace is

A workspace in PhotoRobot Controls (CAPP) is a saved list of hardware that will be used for a specific photoshoot. It binds together:

You can have multiple workspaces saved (for different studio setups), but only one is active at a time. The active workspace determines which hardware CAPP talks to when you start capturing.

Why this matters: in a busy studio with 3 photoshoot bays running different products (cube for handbags, carousel for cars, multi-cam for apparel), each bay has its own workspace. Switching workspaces takes seconds and switches the entire setup.

2. Sample Workspace — risk-free practice

Before you connect real hardware, CAPP includes a Sample Workspace with virtual hardware. Use it to:

Sample Workspace contains virtual robots and virtual cameras. You won’t get actual images, but the workflow — Add Robot → Configure → Add Camera → Configure Lights → Capture (in simulation) — runs exactly as it would with real hardware.

Use it. Every new operator should spend 30-60 minutes in Sample Workspace before touching a real Control Unit.

3. Creating a workspace — the canonical flow

In CAPP local desktop:

  1. Navigate to Workspaces (in the main menu / settings area)
  2. Click the create button — opens new workspace dialog
  3. Name your workspace descriptively (e.g., “Bay-1-CUBE-CarryCamera” not “Workspace 3”)
  4. Save the empty workspace, then proceed to populate it

The next sections cover what you add into the workspace — in canonical order: Robot → Fast-Shot → Lasers → Cameras → Lights.

4. Add Robot

A “robot” in workspace terminology = any PhotoRobot module with a Control Unit (Cube, Carousel, Robotic Arm, MultiCam, Centerless Table, Frame, etc.).

Prerequisites before clicking “Add robot”:

The flow:

  1. Click “Add robot” — CAPP displays a list of available robots (units discovered on the local network)
  2. Select the robots you want in this workspace (multi-select allowed)
  3. The selected robots appear in the workspace’s hardware list

If a robot you expect isn’t on the list:

5. Configure Fast-Shot mode

Fast-Shot = capture mode that triggers the camera shutter during continuous turntable rotation (no stop-and-shoot for each frame). Result: dramatically faster spin capture.

Prerequisites: The camera must be connected to the robot’s Control Unit via a shutter cable (physical wire — not Wi-Fi).

The flow:

  1. In the workspace’s robot list, find the robot whose camera you want in Fast-Shot mode
  2. Click the three vertical dots (kebab menu) on the right side of the robot row
  3. Select “Add shutter cable for camera”
  4. Choose the output slot:
    • Slot 2 — for shutter cables manufactured by PhotoRobot (canonical / default)
    • Slot 1 — for shutter cables from other manufacturers

Common mistake. Operators sometimes use Slot 1 with a PhotoRobot cable, or Slot 2 with a third-party cable. Mismatch causes silent failure (no error, just no camera triggers). Verify the cable origin → match the slot.

Fast-Shot is optional. If you don’t enable it, the camera triggers between stops in the rotation (slower but functional). For high-volume production, Fast-Shot is the difference between 30-second spins and 10-second spins.

6. Configure Lasers

Lasers are used for positioning (object centering on the turntable, axis alignment for Robotic Arm spins). Configuration depends on which laser hardware you have.

6.1. Built-in lasers — zero configuration

Case 850 and C1300 both have laser systems designed into the robot itself. No configuration needed in the workspace. The laser is wired internally; CAPP detects and uses it automatically.

If you have these robots, skip to Section 7.

6.2. 20-port LaserBox — standalone device

The 20-port LaserBox is a separate piece of hardware that controls multiple lasers via network connection. From CAPP’s perspective, it’s another “robot” — even though physically it’s a laser controller.

The flow:

  1. Power on the LaserBox and verify it’s on the same LAN as the rest of the workspace
  2. Click “Add robot” in the workspace (same flow as Section 4)
  3. Select the LaserBox from the discovered units list (it shows as a LaserBox model)
  4. The LaserBox now appears in the workspace and can be assigned lasers per individual robot

6.3. 4-port LaserBox — connected to a specific robot

The 4-port LaserBox is a smaller laser controller, physically cabled to one specific robot (not network-connected like the 20-port version).

The flow:

  1. In the workspace’s robot list, find the robot to which the 4-port LaserBox is cabled
  2. Click the three vertical dots on the robot’s row
  3. Select “Add laser cable” — assigns the 4-port LaserBox to this robot

For built-in lasers (6.1) — no action. For 20-port (6.2) — add as separate robot. For 4-port (6.3) — assign to parent robot via 3-dot menu.

7. Add Cameras

Cameras connect to the computer via USB (not the LAN). Each camera appears in CAPP after it’s plugged in and turned on.

Prerequisites:

The flow:

  1. In the workspace, navigate to the Cameras section
  2. CAPP auto-detects USB-connected cameras
  3. Add the cameras you want in this workspace

Important: Camera angle setting (for non-swing robots)

If you’re using a robot without swing capability (no Robotic Arm or Frame), you must set the angle at which the camera targets the table. This is mandatory for features like auto-centering to function.

Without correct angle:

Swing-capable robots (Robotic Arm, Frame) handle this automatically because they move the camera through known geometry. Fixed-mount cameras (typical for Cube, simpler setups) need the operator to define the angle once at workspace setup.

8. Configure Lights

Lights are the second-most-important hardware in a workspace (after cameras). CAPP supports three lighting categories:

The workspace dialog has a Lights section. Click Select light manufacturer to begin.

8.1. Broncolor strobe lights

For Broncolor (typically Siros series):

  1. Select BRONCOLOR in the manufacturer dropdown
  2. Choose the Studio group (set of lights physically grouped in your studio) you want to control
  3. Lights appear in the workspace

Broncolor’s wireless ecosystem (Studio app, RFS transmitter) is referenced in B09 Lighting Broncolor module.

8.2. FOMEI strobe lights — two control paths

FOMEI strobes have two control options. The first is the modern preferred path.

FOMEI LAN Transceiver (preferred):

  1. Ensure the FOMEI LAN Transceiver is online and connected to the network
  2. In the workspace Lights menu, select LAN
  3. From the LAN dropdown, select Fomei LAN Transceiver
  4. Lights connected to the transceiver appear in the workspace

This is the canonical modern setup. Network-based control = no driver installs, works across macOS / Windows updates, no per-computer dongle.

FOMEI USB dongle (legacy):

The older path uses a FOMEI USB dongle plugged directly into the computer.

Be aware — this method is no longer recommended. Reasons:

  • Requires additional drivers to be installed on your computer
  • FOMEI no longer supports newer MacOS systems for the USB dongle
  • Driver compatibility breaks with macOS updates

If you have an existing USB-dongle setup, plan to migrate to LAN Transceiver. New installs should always use LAN Transceiver.

Full FOMEI workflow in B10 Lighting FOMEI module.

8.3. DMX LED lights

For any LED light with DMX protocol support (covers many third-party LED panels, RGB pixel lights, etc.):

  1. Connect the lights to the robot via RJ45 or USB cable (depending on DMX adapter)
  2. In workspace Lights menu, select Light manufacturer DMX
  3. Lights are added at the workspace level; you’ll configure individual lights at the Capture screen later (channels per light)

Two configurable channels per DMX light:

DMX is the most flexible category — works with any compatible manufacturer. Trade-off: requires understanding DMX addressing if you have multiple lights on one DMX universe.

9. Workspace = your studio’s photographic identity

Once configured, a workspace captures:

Save and version workspaces by purpose, not by date. Examples of good names:

Bad names: Workspace 1, Test, New Workspace (3).

When a new operator joins, they should be able to load a workspace and immediately understand what setup they’re working with.

10. When to create a new workspace vs. modify existing

Create new when:

Modify existing when:

Avoid the trap of “I’ll just modify the production workspace temporarily.” Test changes in a copy. Production workspaces should be stable.

11. For full reference

This module is the operational workflow summary. The canonical references on photorobot.com:

When in doubt during workspace setup — open the canonical manual. Screenshots there show the exact UI you’ll see in current CAPP.

Module check

When you’re ready, take the module knowledge check for this module. It’s not graded for certification — it’s for you and your instructor to identify any gaps before moving on.

→ Take the module check  ·  5 questions, immediate feedback