CHDK Capabilities?

uphid

13

CHDK Capabilities?

« on: 14 / March / 2012, 18:54:59 »

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I'm an experienced photographer and programmer, but I have no history with either CHDK or Canon. As such, please forgive my somewhat basic questions...

It is possible for CHDK to execute a script immediately on boot? I'm interested in using something like this discussion:

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=6430.0

I want to use something like a G12 to run a pseudo photo booth. My printer is capable of putting a border on the print automatically. I'd like to go sans-computer. That's why I'm checking out CHDK.

Basically, I want to trigger the camera by corded shutter release (probably a foot switch)... have the camera shoot the picture, and immediately order a pictbridge print like the example above.

Is CHDK able to load a script immediately on boot? Or would I be forced to run it manually each time?

Since I don't have hardware to test it myself, I thought it best to ask the experts.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

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waterwingz

12138

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #1 on: 14 / March / 2012, 20:08:17 »

Quote from: uphid on 14 / March / 2012, 18:54:59

Is CHDK able to load a script immediately on boot?

Yes

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

uphid

13

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #2 on: 15 / March / 2012, 15:43:17 »

Thanks for your quick reply. I have now purchased a G12, and have gotten scripts running on it.

All looks pretty good thus far. I'll try the printer this evening.

The original script that I worked from was triggered by the "display" button. I've tried changing it to trigger from a full-press of the shutter. However, I've been getting "Interrupted" messages from the script. I gather that scripts can be interrupted by additional input...

I'd like to use a foot-switch shutter release for my project. Do you think this will pose a problem for me? / Is there a better method? Secondarily, is there a way to have the scripts ignore additional input? I could see people getting impatient when waiting on their photo to print.

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waterwingz

12138

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #3 on: 15 / March / 2012, 15:55:03 »

Quote from: uphid on 15 / March / 2012, 15:43:17

The original script that I worked from was triggered by the "display" button. I've tried changing it to trigger from a full-press of the shutter. However, I've been getting "Interrupted" messages from the script. I gather that scripts can be interrupted by additional input...

Scripts are started and stopped by a full press of the shutter. That's hard coded into CHDK and would be quite a bit of work to change.

Quote

I'd like to use a foot-switch shutter release for my project. Do you think this will pose a problem for me? / Is there a better method?

I assume the G12 has a remote input (much like my G-10) ? If so, CHDK probably does not work with it. However, you can build something like this :
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/USB_Remote_Cable
and make it interact fairly easily with your script.

Quote

Secondarily, is there a way to have the scripts ignore additional input? I could see people getting impatient when waiting on their photo to print.

I don't recall off hand if buttons are ignored when a script is running. The shutter button obviousl is not. But if people can "play" with the camera buttons, I suspect you are going to have problems no matter what you try to make the script do.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

uphid

13

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #4 on: 15 / March / 2012, 16:07:54 »

Thanks once more for your quick reply.

I've looked through the plans for the USB remote. I could certainly do it.

However... I need to have the USB available for the printer. I presumed that I wouldn't be able to use the USB for both switch and printer.

Perhaps I could use the "half press" from a wired remote to start the process...

What do you think?

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waterwingz

12138

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #5 on: 15 / March / 2012, 17:33:00 »

Quote from: uphid on 15 / March / 2012, 16:07:54

Thanks once more for your quick reply.

I've looked through the plans for the USB remote. I could certainly do it.

However... I need to have the USB available for the printer. I presumed that I wouldn't be able to use the USB for both switch and printer.

Perhaps I could use the "half press" from a wired remote to start the process...

What do you think?

Darn - I forgot about the printer part. That makes it tricky.

As far as I know, nobody has looked at integrating CHDK with the Canon remote control used on (among others) the G series cameras. Probably because most of the Canon P&S line does not use those controls. So I'm not sure if it integrated as a simple switch input (in which case we could add it to the kbd.c code) or a more complicated protocal.

But what you really want to do (I think), is use a script to press the "Print" button automatically after each picture is taken - right ? Might be easier to let the switch take the picture normally, detect the presence of a new picture file and simulate the pressing of the print button with the script. Would that do it ?

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

uphid

13

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #6 on: 15 / March / 2012, 18:01:44 »

Should it be of interest, here's what I've found since my last post:

I've bought one of the 2.5mm audio-style remote controls. It's a promaster clone of a Canon rs-60 remote. It's detecting just as I would expect.

I'm very new to the scripting, but I'm able to have it react as both half and full press. As you mentioned earlier, full press is pretty much off limits as it interrupts. However, I think that I'll be able to trigger my script from the remote using half-press as the trigger.

Let me give you the whole story, so it makes more sense.

I run a bunch of photo booths for weddings and whatnot. They're really popular. I'm one of the least expensive in our market, at around $800. This includes an attendant, and the whole deal.

I've been trying to find a way to crack into the budget space. Here's my plan:

A unattended rental booth, priced really inexpensively, targeted at birthday parties and lesser events than our wedding crowd. You pick it up, you drop it off.

The basic pieces:

Canon G12 with a flash, triggered by a foot switch, linked to a dye-sub printer. I'm using the script listed here as my basis:

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=6430.0

The flow, as I see it:

Trigger with the foot switch
Take a photo
Switch to display mode
Order up a print
Switch back to capture mode

I think I'm on the right path. The script that I'm working from has a lot of copious delays. I'm presuming it's because the scripts execute immediately, even if the hardware hasn't caught up?

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waterwingz

12138

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #7 on: 15 / March / 2012, 18:42:38 »

Quote from: uphid on 15 / March / 2012, 18:01:44

I think I'm on the right path. The script that I'm working from has a lot of copious delays. I'm presuming it's because the scripts execute immediately, even if the hardware hasn't caught up?

Yes - although a 6 second delay between key presses seems somewhat excessive. You can probably turn that down a lot with a little trial and error.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

uphid

13

Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #8 on: 16 / March / 2012, 11:16:35 »

I had things almost completely working, but I've since run into a problem with the USB connectivity. It appears that the USB connection to the printer is preempting the script from running. Any ideas if CHDK can be configured to boot with USB disabled?

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waterwingz

12138

Re: Re: CHDK Capabilities?

« Reply #9 on: 16 / March / 2012, 11:27:38 »

Quote from: uphid on 16 / March / 2012, 11:16:35

I had things almost completely working, but I've since run into a problem with the USB connectivity. It appears that the USB connection to the printer is preempting the script from running. Any ideas if CHDK can be configured to boot with USB disabled?

Try enabling the USB remote.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16