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TechSoup Sweden's Andreas Ericsson shared a cool weekend project on TechSoup's Digital Engagement forum that any organization can adopt for their next event. He printed photos posted on Instagram to document a large gathering in Sweden. Additionally, he wanted to make TechSoup Sweden's booth stand out from the crowd — and it worked!
Instagram is a photo-sharing app (for Android phones and the iPhone) that has a built-in social network. Like Twitter, you can add searchable hashtags (like #event2012), and then view all photos with that particular hashtag.
It is a useful social media tool for events and conferences, but being able to actually print these photos takes Instagram's usefulness one step further. While there is an automated Instagram printer for sale in the United States, it is pricey and not available globally.
Andreas decided to build his own using a basic photo printer (he used the Canon Selphy CP800, which retails between $75 and 90) and a script that can download photos from your phone to a computer.
He used a program called If This, Then That to create a script that downloaded all of the Instagram photos with his event's hashtag to a specific Dropbox folder.
Here is a link to his script that anyone can use for their own Instagram printer project (you'll have to sign up for an account with IFTTT.com). He also set up a script that triggered the print function from his phone to his laptop.
Andreas used this workflow from Digital Inspiration to get his printer fully automated.
Check out Andreas's thread in TechSoup's Digital Engagement Forum to share feedback and tips or to ask questions about setting up your own Instagram printer.
TechSoup Sverige, the IT donation program of the National Forum for Voluntary Social Work, donates technology and provides knowledge and support to nonprofits. The Swedish donation program was launched in May 2010.
Ginny Mies is a Content Curator at TechSoup Global.