How to Use a Receipt Printer to Instantly Share Event Photos via QR Code

by | Aug 6, 2025 | Booth, How To, Photo booth, Video Tutorials Archives

How to Use a Receipt Printer to Instantly Share Event Photos via QR Code

Hi everyone — Eugene here with Darkroom Software!

In this post, I’ll show you how to use a receipt printer to print a QR code alongside your usual 2×6 or 4×6 photo prints using Darkroom Booth. This QR code links directly to the individual image uploaded to Event Gallery, making it super simple for guests to access, download, and share their photos right from their phones — no typing, no guesswork.

 

🔧 What You’ll Need

Here’s what’s required for this setup:

  • ✅ A receipt printer (we used the Epson TM-T88III, but other models may work similarly)

  • ✅ Darkroom Booth software

  • ✅ An active Event Gallery account, properly authorized

  • ✅ A configured Print Alternate layout with a QR code (keep reading for download link)

🖨️ Step 1: Configure the Receipt Printer

We’re printing to a credit card-sized layout (72 x 100 mm) using the Windows driver for the Epson TM-T88III. You’ll need to:

  1. Set your printer driver to this size.
  2. Assign that size to the receipt printer in Darkroom Booth so it knows which device to use.

💡 Tip: You can also use a credit card printer or another printer that handles similarly sized paper. The credit card size was chosen because it closely matches a typical receipt strip.

🖼️ Step 2: Set Up the Print Alternate Template

This workflow uses Print Alternate to output two items per session:

  • A standard 4×6 print

  • A receipt-style print with a QR code

Here’s how to set it up:

  • In Print Alternate, choose to print for every session

  • Select a template that includes the QR code

  • Save the QR layout under a clearly labeled folder (e.g., QR Codes)

🔗 Step 3: Configure the QR Code Template

To create a direct link to each guest’s image:

  1. Insert a QR code element in your layout.
  2. Use the following variable string as the URL:
    %gallery%/p/%photo1filename%

    • %gallery% links to the gallery domain

    • /p/ specifies a direct link to the output file

    • %photo1filename% grabs the unique filename for each image

Download version of this template to make setup even easier at Darkroom Support

🖨️ Step 4: Assign Print Sizes to Printers

  • Assign the credit card size to your receipt printer

  • Assign 4×6 to your dye-sub or photo printer

This ensures each printer receives only the format it supports — no confusion or misprints.

▶️ Step 5: Test the Workflow

When a session runs:

  1. One photo is captured (this also works with multiple images).
  2. A 4×6 print is produced.
  3. A receipt prints with the QR code.

Scan the QR code with a phone and boom — it opens directly to that guest’s image in Event Gallery, ready to view, download, or share.

✅ Why This Works So Well

  • Fail-proof sharing — no need for email addresses or phone numbers

  • Fast and seamless — images upload to Event Gallery instantly

  • Touch-free delivery — great for high-volume or contact-conscious events

  • Easy to rescan — guests can revisit the QR code anytime from the receipt

Even if the guest loses the receipt, their photo is still stored in Event Gallery for backup access.

🚀 Start Sharing Smarter with QR Code Receipts

If you’re looking for a quick and professional way to deliver digital images at events, combining receipt printers, QR codes, and Event Gallery gives you a powerful, streamlined workflow. Set it up once, and every guest walks away with both a print and a simple, scannable link to their photo.

Want to try this at your next event?
👉 Download the QR Code Template Here

Check out the YouTube video here:

Thanks for reading — and happy shooting!
— Eugene
Darkroom Software

Questions or comments? Please leave a comment below or email us support@darkroomsoftware.com