# Countdown Settings

Adjust the timing and on-screen behavior during photo capture so participants know when a photo is about to be taken and have time to prepare.&#x20;

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#### Capture Timing

Control how much time guests have to pose before the camera fires.

* **Countdown Seconds**: A visible countdown shown on the screen (1-10 seconds). This helps participants know exactly when the camera will fire and applies between every frame in multi-photo layouts.
* **Pre-Delay Seconds**: A hidden countdown that runs only before the first frame (0-10 seconds). This gives participants extra time to get into position before the visible countdown and capture sequence begin.

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#### Layout Preview

Layout Preview changes what the participant sees on the screen while their photos are being taken.

* **When Enabled**: Participants see a live preview of the full layout during capture. This is helpful if your design includes graphics, frames, or text that overlap the photo area, as it allows guests to position themselves so their faces aren't covered by design elements.
* **When Disabled**: Each frame is captured individually, and the full layout is only shown once all frames in the sequence are finished.

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#### Adjusting Countdown Settings

Follow these steps to customize your capture flow:

1. Open the **Countdown** settings card in your [Experience Designer](https://app.simplebooth.com/presets).
2. Adjust the **Countdown** or **Delay** seconds to your preference.
3. Toggle **Layout Preview** on or off.
4. Save your changes.

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## **Plan Availability**

✅ All Plans
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