11 KiB
Schnappix
Schnappix is a tablet-optimized Photobooth application built with React Native and Expo. It provides a full-featured, interactive photo capturing experience, complete with external hardware support, image editing, and an administrative interface.
Features
- Photobooth Experience: Intuitive flow from start screen to countdown, photo capture, and final preview.
- Multiple Photos & Collages: Capture single or multiple photos and review them in a generated collage.
- Sticker / Emoji Editor: Add emojis, date/time stamps, and event text as draggable, resizable, rotatable stickers on your photos — just like on social media.
- Photo Frames: Overlay transparent PNG frames on photos. Admin can set frames to off, always-on, or user-selectable.
- Continuous Shooting (Burst Mode): Automatically capture multiple photos in sequence (2–5 shots, configurable interval) for collage printing.
- Date/Time Overlay: Optionally stamp the date and/or time on every photo, with configurable position.
- Camera Flash Effect: Full-screen white flash animation on every capture for an authentic photo booth feel.
- Direct Printing: Built-in support for IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) network printers to instantly print captured moments.
- Kiosk Mode: Custom native Android implementation to lock the tablet down to the Schnappix app, preventing users from exiting the photobooth.
- USB Camera Support: Extends standard camera capabilities to support external USB cameras for higher quality photos.
- Admin Dashboard: Secure administrative screen (protected by an admin password) to configure all settings on the fly.
- Offline Storage: Saves captured photos directly to the device's local storage and gallery.
Tech Stack
- Framework: React Native (v0.81.5) & Expo (SDK 54)
- Language: TypeScript
- Key Libraries:
expo-camera: Camera interfaceexpo-media-library&expo-file-system: Photo storageipp-encoder: Network printing integrationreact-native-view-shot: Capturing collages as imagesreact-native-gesture-handler: Sticker drag, pinch, and rotate gestures@fortawesome/react-native-fontawesome: All in-app icons via Font Awesomereact-native-svg: SVG rendering for icon support- Custom native Expo plugins (
withKioskAdmin,withUsbCamera,withSettingsRepositories) for extended Android capabilities.
Getting Started
Prerequisites
- Node.js (v18+)
- npm or yarn
- Expo CLI
- Android Studio / Android SDK (for building the native Android app, as it uses custom native modules)
Installation
-
Clone the repository:
git clone <repository-url> cd Schnappix -
Install dependencies:
npm install -
Prebuild the native Android project (required due to custom native plugins):
npx expo prebuild --clean --platform android -
Run the app on an Android device or emulator:
npm run android
Project Structure
Schnappix/
├── App.tsx # Main entry point, navigation, GestureHandlerRootView
├── Icon.png # App icon (neon synthwave photo booth)
├── app.json # Expo configuration and plugin registration
├── assets/
│ └── frames/ # Photo frame PNG overlays (user-provided)
├── plugins/ # Custom Expo config plugins for Android features
├── modules/ # Custom native modules (kiosk-mode, usb-camera)
└── src/
├── components/ # Reusable UI components
│ ├── Icon.tsx # Font Awesome icon wrapper
│ ├── DraggableSticker.tsx # Gesture-based sticker (pan, pinch, rotate)
│ ├── StickerTray.tsx # Emoji/sticker picker tray
│ ├── FrameOverlay.tsx # Frame PNG overlay renderer
│ └── FramePicker.tsx # Frame selection UI
├── data/
│ └── frames.ts # Frame asset registry
├── screens/ # UI Screens (Camera, Preview, Admin)
├── services/ # Core logic (printer.ts, settings.ts, storage.ts)
└── styles/ # Global theme (neon synthwave palette)
Configuration
When the app is first launched, you can access the Admin Dashboard by tapping the settings icon (⚙️) on the Home screen and entering the admin password (default: 1234).
Admin Settings Overview
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Drucker IP-Adresse | Local IP of the Canon CP1300 printer | 192.168.1.100 |
| Countdown-Dauer | Seconds before photo capture | 3 |
| Admin-Passwort | PIN to access admin panel | 1234 |
| Begrüßungstext | Welcome text on the home screen | Willkommen zu unserer Feier! |
| Event-Name | Event text for the date sticker (e.g. Jannik's Party) |
(empty) |
| Serienbild-Anzahl | Number of photos per burst (1 = single shot) | 1 |
| Serienbild-Abstand | Seconds between burst shots | 5 |
| Fotorahmen-Modus | Aus / Immer an / Verfügbar |
Aus |
| Datum-Einblendung | Aus / Nur Datum / Datum + Uhrzeit |
Aus |
| Datum-Position | Placement of the auto date stamp | Unten rechts |
| Kiosk-Modus | Lock the tablet to the Schnappix app | Aus |
Kiosk Mode (Device Owner) Setup
To use the true Kiosk Mode (Lock Task Mode) without system confirmation prompts, the Schnappix app must be set as the Android "Device Owner". This requires connecting the tablet to a PC via USB and using adb.
Prerequisites:
- The Android tablet must have no other accounts (like a Google Account) configured. It is highly recommended to start with a factory-reset device.
- Developer Options and USB Debugging must be enabled on the tablet.
- The Schnappix APK must be installed on the tablet.
Setup Command: Run the following command in your terminal/command prompt while the tablet is connected:
adb shell dpm set-device-owner de.orfel.schnappix/expo.modules.kioskmode.AdminReceiver
If successful, the terminal will output Success: Device owner set to package de.orfel.schnappix. You can now safely disconnect the tablet and toggle the Kiosk Mode in the app's Admin Dashboard.
Note: Once set as Device Owner, the app cannot be uninstalled normally. You must either factory reset the device or implement a programmatic way to remove the active admin status.
Photo Frames — Setup Guide
Schnappix supports custom photo frame overlays. Frames are transparent PNG images that are layered on top of photos before saving or printing.
Frame Requirements
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Format | PNG with alpha channel (transparency) |
| Resolution | 1500 × 1000 px (3:2 landscape ratio, matches landscape tablet display and print output) |
| Color mode | sRGB, 8-bit |
| Transparency | The photo area must be fully transparent (alpha = 0) |
| Safe zone | Keep transparent "window" at least 60 px inset from edges |
| File size | Keep each file under 500 KB for fast rendering |
| Naming | frame_<name>.png (e.g. frame_balloons.png, frame_neon.png) |
Frame Layout Example
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ 🎈🎈 🎈🎈 │ ← Decorative artwork (opaque pixels)
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ TRANSPARENT │ │ ← Photo shows through here (alpha = 0)
│ │ (alpha=0) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ★ EVENT NAME ★ │ ← Bottom text / artwork (opaque pixels)
└──────────────────────────┘
1500 × 1000 px
How to Add Frames
-
Create your frame PNG according to the specifications above. Use any image editor (Photoshop, GIMP, Figma, Canva) that supports transparency export.
-
Place the file in the
assets/frames/directory:assets/frames/frame_balloons.png assets/frames/frame_party_name.png assets/frames/frame_neon.png -
Register the frame in
src/data/frames.ts:export const FRAMES: FrameDefinition[] = [ { id: 'balloons', name: 'Luftballons', asset: require('../../assets/frames/frame_balloons.png') }, { id: 'party_name', name: 'Party Name', asset: require('../../assets/frames/frame_party_name.png') }, { id: 'neon', name: 'Neon Glow', asset: require('../../assets/frames/frame_neon.png') }, ]; -
Rebuild the app (asset changes require a rebuild):
npx expo prebuild --clean --platform android npm run android -
Select the frame mode in the Admin Dashboard:
- Aus — No frames
- Immer an — A specific frame is always applied (admin picks which one)
- Verfügbar — Guests can choose a frame from the picker in the preview screen
Tips for Designing Frames
- Test at print size: The Canon CP1300 prints at 6×4 inches (roughly 1500×1000 px at 250+ DPI). Make sure your frame elements are sharp at this resolution.
- Leave enough transparent space: Guests' faces should not be covered. Keep decorative elements on edges and corners.
- Use subtle borders: A thin border or vignette effect around the transparent window helps frames look polished.
- Match the event: Create themed frames for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc.
Sticker Editing
The preview screen includes a social-media-style sticker editor. Guests can:
- Add emojis: Tap the "Sticker" button to open the emoji tray with 30 curated party emojis
- Drag stickers anywhere on the photo
- Pinch to resize stickers
- Two-finger rotate stickers
- Tap to select, then press × to delete
- Add date/time stickers: Always available — tap "Datum" or "Datum + Uhrzeit" in the tray
- Add event sticker: Shows event name + date (if configured in admin)
All stickers are rendered inside the capture area, so they appear in the saved and printed output.
Design Theme
The app uses a neon synthwave aesthetic matching the app icon:
- Primary: Electric magenta
#ff2bd6 - Accent: Cyan blue
#28dfff - Background: Deep navy/black
#050510 - Effects: Neon glow shadows, glassmorphism overlays
- Icons: Font Awesome (solid) with neon coloring
License
See the LICENSE file for more information.