Articles on: Capture

Boomerang Mode

Boomerang mode captures a short video clip and plays it forward and backward in a loop — the kind of fun, shareable content guests love.



What Is a Boomerang?


A boomerang is a short looping video that plays forward, then reverses. Think of it like a GIF with motion — a hair flip, a confetti toss, or a jump caught mid-air. It's quick, fun, and made for sharing.


In ALIVE, boomerang is a dedicated capture effect. When selected, the booth records a brief video clip and the server processes it into a smooth forward-and-backward loop.



How to Enable Boomerang Mode


  1. Open your event and go to the Effects selection screen
  2. Find Boomerang in the effects list
  3. Select it as the active effect for your event
  4. The booth is now set to capture boomerangs instead of standard photos


[screenshot: Selecting the Boomerang effect]



How Guests Use It


From the guest's perspective, the experience is simple:


  1. The booth displays the camera preview
  2. A countdown begins (based on your event's timer setting)
  3. The booth records a short video clip
  4. ALIVE's effects server processes the clip into a boomerang loop
  5. The finished boomerang appears on the share screen


Boomerangs work best with big, exaggerated movements — encourage guests to toss props, jump, or strike dramatic poses.



Output Format


Boomerang videos are processed and exported as MP4 files at high quality. The default processing settings use:


  • 4 Mbps video quality
  • Portrait orientation (1080x1920) — optimized for social media
  • Smooth forward-and-backward playback loop


The processed video is uploaded to cloud storage and available immediately on the share screen.



Sharing Boomerangs


Guests can share their boomerangs using all the same sharing options available for other media:


  • QR Code — Scan to view and download
  • SMS — Text the boomerang link directly
  • Email — Send it to their inbox
  • Native Share — Use the device's built-in share sheet



Tips


  • Keep it short and punchy — Boomerangs are at their best when the action is quick and dramatic
  • Good lighting matters — Since it's a video, consistent lighting prevents flickering in the loop
  • Props help — Confetti, bubbles, and scarves create great boomerang moments
  • Set expectations — Let guests know it's a video capture, not a still photo, so they move during the shot



What's Next?


Updated on: 04/06/2026

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