Key Concepts: Workflows, Steps, Edges, and Triggers

This article covers the four core elements of every FMX for iPad workflow: Workflows, Steps, Edges, and Triggers. Understanding these concepts makes it easy to read, build, and troubleshoot any flow in FMX and Foto Master Cloud.

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Workflow

A workflow is the complete experience a guest goes through from beginning to end.

What It Represents

• The entire path: from the initial screen to the final action
• All steps, transitions, and conditions that define the experience

Examples

• Standard Photo Booth: Welcome → Disclaimer → Capture → AI → Preview → Share
• Video Booth: Welcome → Live View Start → Record Video → Live View Stop → Save Final → QR Code

In the Builder

• Displayed as the full canvas containing steps and edges
• You can maintain multiple workflows for different events or use cases

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Step

A step is a single action, screen, or operation inside the workflow.

Typical Step Categories

Capture & Media
Take Photo, Record Video, Live View, Video from Photos

AI & Effects
AI Headshot, AI Cartoon, AI Oldify, AI Modify, AI Style Pop, AI Line 2 Life, AI Background Removal

User Interaction
Selection Screen, Games, Sign & Draw, Draw Me Offline, Survey

Information & Compliance
Disclaimer, Access Code, Animation screens

Output & Sharing
Print Copies, Save Final Photo, Email, SMS, QR Code

iPad-Specific
iPad LED Light (screen flash), LED Strip V180 (V-Motion 180 lighting), V180 (180-degree video mode)

In the Builder

• Each step appears as a box (node) on the canvas
• Selecting a step opens its configuration panel
• Steps usually have one or more incoming and outgoing connections

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Edge (Connection)

An edge is a connection line that defines what happens after a step completes.

Common Edge Types

Navigation Edge (NavEdge) — Standard: "continue to the next step."

Skip Edge / Skip on 0 Prints — Skip a step based on specific conditions (e.g., no prints requested).

Retake Edge — Return to a capture step for another attempt.

Disagree Edge — Alternative path when a guest declines a disclaimer.

AI Error Edge — Fallback path if an AI request fails (timeout, cloud error, etc.).

In the Builder

• Displayed as arrows connecting two steps
• Different edge types may appear with distinct colors or labels
• A step can have multiple outgoing edges (e.g., Continue vs Retake vs Error)

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Trigger

A trigger is an event or condition that advances the workflow from one step to the next.

Available Triggers on iPad

Trigger	When It Fires
Time	After a set duration (seconds)
Touch	When the guest taps the screen
AI Processed	When Cloud AI processing completes
Media Saved	When the photo or video is saved to the device
Volume Changed	When the guest presses the iPad volume button — a common shutter trigger
Playback Ended	When a video or animation finishes playing

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How These Concepts Work Together

• Workflow = the full map
• Steps = the locations on the map
• Edges = the roads connecting those locations
• Triggers = what moves you from one location to the next

Example Flow

Step 1: Disclaimer

• Guest agrees → Continue edge → Live View Start
• Guest declines → Disagree edge → "Cannot continue" screen

Step 2: Live View Start → Take Photo

• Touch trigger → guest taps to capture
• Or Volume Changed trigger → guest presses volume button

Step 3: AI Headshot

• On success → AI Processed trigger → Preview
• On error → AI Error edge → Fallback screen