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Photomaly Field Guide aperture markPhotomaly Field Guide

Photomaly How-To: Photos, Film & Frames

For a normal customer order, read the tracker on the right, capture a photo that earns the green acceptance indicator, match the requested print size, copy count, and color mode, then put the finished prints in an envelope and hand it to the customer. Film orders add chemical processing and drying before the envelope step.

How to Complete a Photo Order in Photomaly (Day 1)

Section titled “How to Complete a Photo Order in Photomaly (Day 1)”

1. Read the order tracker before changing settings

Section titled “1. Read the order tracker before changing settings”

The right-side tracker is the job specification. Check all fields that appear: photo orientation, print size, print count, and color output. The computer window and the tracker can show different values while you are still configuring the job, so compare them before selecting Start.

Photomaly print setup with the customer order tracker circled on the right
Day 1 · Order trackerThe right-side tracker requests landscape format, 3×4 prints, and three copies in this recorded order.
Photomaly order tracker showing a color film-print job with four frames
Day 1 · Persistent HUDThe active order remains visible outside the computer, so re-check it before processing or packing the result.

2. Wait for the green acceptance indicator

Section titled “2. Wait for the green acceptance indicator”

Frame and rotate the customer as required. In the tested order, an unsuitable composition has no green indicator in the upper-right corner; the indicator turns green when the current framing satisfies the photo requirement.

Portrait camera view in Photomaly without the green acceptance indicator
Not acceptedNo green status appears in the upper-right corner, so do not commit this framing yet.
Landscape camera view in Photomaly with a green acceptance indicator
AcceptedThe green indicator appears in the upper-right corner after the framing matches the order.

3. Match every print setting

Section titled “3. Match every print setting”

Open the selected photo on the studio computer and check the three controls shown below:

  1. Size — choose the dimensions written in the order tracker.
  2. Copies — print the requested count, not the current default.
  3. Color / B&W — match the requested output mode.
Photomaly print setup with size, copies, and color controls annotated
Day 1 · Print setupSize is marked in green, copy count in red, and the Color/B&W choice in blue. The screenshot shows the controls before they are fully matched to the tracker.

4. Put the prints in an envelope and deliver it

Section titled “4. Put the prints in an envelope and deliver it”

Once the required prints are ready, pack them into an envelope and carry the envelope to the correct customer. A completed delivery removes the order from your inventory and leaves the payment on the counter.

Player holding an envelope of customer photos before delivery in Photomaly
Before deliveryThe completed order is packed and selected in the player inventory before it is handed over.
Customer leaving the Photomaly studio with payment left on the counter
Delivery confirmedAfter the customer accepts the order, money appears on the counter and the interaction continues.

How to Develop Photos in Photomaly (Day 2)

Section titled “How to Develop Photos in Photomaly (Day 2)”

Quick answer: move each film print through Developer for 10 seconds → Stop for 5 seconds → Fixer for 5 seconds, hang it on the drying line, and collect it only after the status marker turns green.

5. Follow the processing station in order

Section titled “5. Follow the processing station in order”

Film prints cannot go directly to the computer. The in-game tutorial says to process the photo, hang it on the drying rack after the fixer, then collect it only after it is dry. The signs above the recorded trays show Developer: 10 sec, Stop: 5 sec, and Fixer: 5 sec.

Photomaly developing tutorial explaining the fixer and drying rack
Day 2 · TutorialThe tutorial confirms the transition from the fixer to the drying rack and then into an envelope.
Photomaly darkroom trays below signs for developer, stop, and fixer times
Day 2 · Chemical stationUse the station labels as the timing guide: developer first, then stop, then fixer.

6. Wait for the drying marker to turn green

Section titled “6. Wait for the drying marker to turn green”

Hang each processed photo on the drying line. The white marker shows that a photo is still drying; the marker changes to green when the finished print can be collected and packed.

A freshly processed Photomaly photo hanging on the drying rack
Still dryingLeave the print on the line while its status marker remains white.
Several Photomaly film prints hanging below a green ready indicator
Ready to collectThe green marker confirms that the dry prints can be collected and put into the customer envelope.

How to Give Frames in Photomaly (Frames: 4)

Section titled “How to Give Frames in Photomaly (Frames: 4)”

Quick answer: “Frames: 4” asks for four developed prints in one envelope. Do not buy or use the decorative wall frames.

7. Treat Frames as the number of developed prints

Section titled “7. Treat Frames as the number of developed prints”

The Day 3 tracker can read Film Prints · Output: color · Frames: 4. In this order, “Frames” means that the roll must produce four color prints. It does not ask you to buy or use four decorative wall frames.

Day 3 Photomaly order tracker reading Film Prints, Output color, Frames 4
Day 3 · Frames: 4The final tracker field is the required number of developed photos for the envelope.

8. Pack all four prints in one envelope

Section titled “8. Pack all four prints in one envelope”

Collect the four dry photos, place all four into one envelope, and hand that envelope to the waiting customer. The recorded customer accepts this package and leaves payment, confirming that no decorative frame is required.

Photomaly player holding an envelope containing four developed prints for the Day 3 customer
Correct packageAll four developed photos are inside the selected envelope before handoff.
Day 3 Photomaly customer leaving after accepting the film-print order
Order acceptedThe customer leaves and payment remains on the counter, verifying the envelope route.
A customer photo placed inside a decorative wall frame in Photomaly
Wrong destinationThe decorative frame is a studio display item, not part of the customer handoff workflow.
Player holding a removed decorative frame while the customer photo remains unavailable
Photo cannot be recoveredRemoving the wall frame does not return the inserted customer photo to the inventory.

Fast order checklist

Section titled “Fast order checklist”
  1. Read every field in the right-side order tracker.
  2. For camera orders, wait for the green acceptance indicator before taking the final photo.
  3. Match size, copies, and Color/B&W on the computer.
  4. For film, use developer, stop, fixer, and the drying line in sequence.
  5. Wait for the drying status to turn green.
  6. Put every required print in one envelope.
  7. Give the envelope to the correct customer and confirm that payment appears.

Hardware baseline

Section titled “Hardware baseline”

Steam lists Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i5-6500 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, a GTX 1050 Ti or RX 560, DirectX 12, and 2 GB free storage as the minimum. The recommended listing raises memory to 16 GB, GPU to GTX 1660 or RX 580, and storage to 4 GB.

Order still will not complete?

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