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Feature Updates

Big News: NowCandid's Capture App Version 4.0 is Here! 🌟

Big News: NowCandid's Capture App Version 4.0 is Here! 🌟

🌟 Big News: NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version 4.0 is Here! 🌟

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Hey there, amazing photographers! Candy here with some exciting news – the NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version 4.0 is live! 🎉

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This is a big update packed with new features, performance improvements, and UI enhancements to make your photo-taking experience even smoother.

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Test Your Setup 🧪📲

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But first things first: it’s crucial to test the new app version on your setup well before your next event. This ensures there are no issues with your particular combination of equipment and settings, and we have time to help troubleshoot any problems that may arise. 📸✨

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Before diving into the new features, make sure to test the updated app on your usual tablet/phone and camera setup. Doing this well ahead of your next event ensures everything runs smoothly, and you'll have time to address any potential issues. This proactive step is key to a successful and stress-free event. 🚀
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New Features for both iOS & Windows🌟

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Check out the fantastic new features designed to enhance your user experience:

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  • Dark OLED Theme: This new theme on the info page will help save battery life on OLED devices – up to 42% less power consumption at max brightness!
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  • Advanced Participant Search: Now you can search for participants by email or phone in addition to name.
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  • Custom Offer Positive ID Events: We’ve added app support for new Custom Offer Events.
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  • Toast System: Added a toast system to display error messages and other notifications promptly, without disrupting your workflow with pop-ups.

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Windows and iOS Specific Updates 🍏💻

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Windows:

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  • New Engine: Uses a new engine behind the scenes for better performance.

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iOS:

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These awesome new features, for the foreseeable future, will only be available on iOS (iPhone & iPad) and may come to Windows devices as well later on.

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  • Pre-Highlighted Faces: Automatically detect and highlight faces on the app, and Tap-A-Face will use the center of detected faces for accuracy - no more missed taps!
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  • Notifications: The app can now push important notifications to your device, and all notifications auto-dismiss when the app is opened.
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  • Nikon Camera Support: Image review is enabled while tethered if image review is enabled on the camera.
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  • Upload Reminders: Get notified if you still have images left to upload when the app goes into the background of your device.
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  • Enhanced Tap-A-Face: Shows selected face in email/number/name popups, helping ensure the correct face is chosen (so subjects can easily notice if they tapped the wrong face before entering their info).
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  • iOS 18 Support: Full support for the latest iOS version.
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  • UI Improvements: Fixed issues with group photo labels, brought back borders for selected images, and added workflow icons in event dropdowns for more Event Selection clarity.

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Performance Enhancements ⚡️

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Version 4.0 is loaded with behind-the-scenes magic to boost performance and efficiency:

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  • More Efficient: We’ve completely redone a variety of app systems to enhance speed and reliability.
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  • Instant Updates: Header stats and image gallery statuses update even quicker now.
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  • Improved Filtering and UI Interactions: Enjoy much faster image gallery filtering and quicker UI interactions.

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UI Enhancements 🎨

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We’ve made numerous UI improvements to make your experience more enjoyable:

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  • Tap-A-Face UI: Tap-A-Faces are now cyan instead of yellow, and will zoom/scale based on image scroll/zoom for a more intuitive and smooth experience.
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  • Dark Mode Tweaks: Dark dropdowns, input fields, and more cyan text for a sleek look.
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  • Refined Controls: Checkmark & X symbols instead of yes/no for service indicators, updated image gallery UI, and improved secondary/cancel buttons.
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  • Improved Email Input: Email inputs now include space, dot, and @ on the keyboard for easier entry when collecting email addresses via the app.

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Thank you for being incredible users of NowCandid. Your feedback drives these improvements, and we’re excited to see how version 4.0 enhances your photography business. 🌟

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Cheers and sparkles,

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Candy 🍬

Related articles

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Photo Release Features, Merged Participant Clarity & More!
Feature Updates
January 10, 2025

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Photo Release Features, Merged Participant Clarity & More!

5
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographer friends!

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Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our latest Weekly Recap! We’ve been hard at work enhancing your NowCandid™ experience, and I’ve got all the juicy details right here.

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Let’s dive in!

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1. Photo Releases & The New Image Release Gallery

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Collecting Releases

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Before using the pictures you take of your subjects in things like portfolios, websites, flyers, samples, and more - the best practice is to get a record of consent from your subjects before using photos of them for such things!

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So... we've made some additions to NowCandid™ that will expedite this process for everyone involved!

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  • Enabled via Retail Site Settings: Head to your Account Profile, open the “Retail Site Settings,” and toggle whether to ask participants for a photo release when they complete Selfie Check-In™.
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  • Future Expansion: We plan to someday add this consent request to other locations in our Workflows, such as Scanner ID™ Check-Ins or after retail site checkout, so stay tuned!

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Found under "Retail Site Settings" in your account profile

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The post-Selfie Check-In messaging

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Image Release Gallery

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Once you’ve enabled Photo Releases, we’ve made viewing those fully released images a snap with the new Image Release Gallery!

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  • Fully Released Photos Only: This gallery shows images where every primary face in the picture has opted in for marketing use.
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  • Opt-Out Procedures: If someone changes their mind, NowCandid™ support can remove their release, and those images will disappear from the gallery.
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  • Easier Marketing & Inspiration: Enjoy a reliable stash of images for portfolios, websites, flyers, or sample products, all with peace of mind!

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This major addition simplifies the entire release process and keeps your marketing efforts on the right side of consent!

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Starting next week, this feature will be enabled by default for all NowCandid accounts! If you wish to disable it, that's up to you!

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An example of some images with only released faces in the new Image Release Gallery

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2. Improved Merged Participants Clarity

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We have also improved the photographer's experience and clarity when it comes to Merged Participants!

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  • Multiple Names, One Contact: When two or more participants share a phone number, they now visibly merge under one participant in the Participant Manager, with all names separated by commas.
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  • Reduced Confusion: Parents with multiple kids at an event won’t be an enigma anymore. You’ll see each kid’s name instead of a single ambiguous participant.
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  • Same Smooth Experience for Families: Consumers won’t notice much change, but you’ll breathe easier knowing your records more clearly show who’s who.

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No more wondering why two kids keep “replacing” each other in the backend—our improved merging UI has your back!

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Example of multiple merged participants wrapped into one participant

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3. Group Photo Filter in Manage Images

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  • Just Group Photos: We’ve added a toggle to the Manage Images page that shows only images flagged as “Group Photos.”
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  • Sports & GroupTags™: Perfect for organizing big team shots or verifying no single-person images slipped in by accident.
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  • Future Tweaks Coming: We’re cooking up more ways to polish Group Photo and GroupTags™ functionalities, so watch this space!

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If you handle big groups (like sports teams or large gatherings), this quick filter simplifies your event workflow.

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New toggle button to switch between showing All Images and just Group Photos

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4. All Images Gallery Pagination

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  • Page-by-Page Browsing: We replaced the endless scroll in the NowCandid™ retail site’s All Images Gallery with a paginated view—complete with arrows to move between pages.
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  • Jump to Page: Customers can type or select a page number if they already know where to look.
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  • Less Scrolling, More Finding: Makes returning to a specific photo (especially one not in a personal gallery) a breeze.

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This update ensures customers spend less time hunting and more time admiring—or purchasing—the images they love.

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New retail site page navigation tools

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5. New Events List Filter

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One last small addition to mention... we added a way to filter down your Events list!

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This should make it easier than ever to browse through your upcoming Events as you plan and prepare for them.

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New Events list filter options

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That’s it for this week’s recap!

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We hope these changes help you manage your events more smoothly, give you extra confidence in your marketing, and offer your customers a cleaner, faster photo-browsing experience.

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As always, we love your feedback, so feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.

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Thank you for being an essential part of the NowCandid™ community. Keep capturing those unforgettable moments and creating smiles! 📸✨

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Cheers and sparkles,

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‍Candy 🍬

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Overlay Artwork in the Product Gallery 🎨✨
Feature Updates
January 3, 2025

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Overlay Artwork in the Product Gallery 🎨✨

2
 minutes read
Hello again, my wonderful photographers!

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Candy here, and welcome to another Weekly Recap. This time, we’ve got one exciting improvement to share—overlay artwork now appears by default on product previews in the product gallery!

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Let’s take a closer look. 🌟

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Overlays Rendered by Default in Product Gallery 🎉

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We’ve introduced a fun change for anyone using Banner Overlays or Full Frame Overlays in their NowCandid Events:

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  • Visible Overlay Art
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    Items in the retail site’s product gallery will now display your Event’s overlay artwork right away. Customers can see exactly how their images look on each product, with that extra creative touch of your Event's Overlay Art.

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Theme: Marshmallow - Watermarking: Heavy

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Theme: Liquourice - Watermarking: None

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  • Use Overlay by Default
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    When customers go to customize or add a product to their cart, the “Use Overlay” option will already be selected. This makes it simpler to highlight your unique event designs or branding. But they can still view & order the product without the overlay art.
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  • Easy Toggle in Settings
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    If you prefer to keep products overlay-free by default, no worries! Head to the “Retail Site Settings” in your Profile and uncheck “Use Artwork By Default.” That way, product images will display without your Event overlay art unless customers choose otherwise.

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Find this option in your Profile settings

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Enabling Use Artwork By Default will feature your Event's Overlay Art on the renders in the product gallery page. Guests can choose to view and order products without the art, but "with overlay art" will be the default selection.

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That’s all for this week’s short-and-sweet recap!

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We hope this feature adds a little extra flair to your retail experience.

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As always, let us know what you think or if you have any feedback.

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Candy 🍬

Big News: Introducing Photo Booth Mode in iOS Capture & Upload App 4.13! 🎉
Feature Updates
December 30, 2024

Big News: Introducing Photo Booth Mode in iOS Capture & Upload App 4.13! 🎉

6
 minutes read
Hello, my wonderful photographers!

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Candy here with exciting news for you on this festive Monday. We’re launching Capture & Upload App Version 4.13, and it comes with a massive new feature: Photo Booth Mode.

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Let’s dive into what it is, how it works, and why we think you’ll love adding it to your events!

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What Is Photo Booth Mode? 🤳

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Photo Booth Mode is a brand-new option inside the Capture & Upload App (Version 4.13 on iPad). When you log in to your Event, you’ll see a shiny new “Photo Booth” button alongside the usual options.

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Tap that button, and your iPad transforms into a fun, self-serve photo booth station, perfect for:

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  • Weddings & Parties: Encourage guests to capture memorable group shots and instantly send them to their phones.
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  • Sports & Corporate Events: Provide interactive experiences that keep people engaged and excited.
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  • Holiday Gatherings: Add some festivity and help guests create themed keepsakes right on the spot.

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Whether you tether a Nikon, Sony, or Canon camera or just use the iPad’s built-in camera, Photo Booth Mode gives you a convenient, autonomous way to let guests take pictures without any manual work from you (aside from set up and takedown of course).

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How It Works ⚙️

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  1. Tap to Begin Screen
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    • Guests see a dimmed live view with “Tap to Begin.” Once tapped, the booth takes three pictures in quick succession, each with its own 3-second countdown.
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  2. Real-Time Overlays
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    • If your event has Bottom Banner Overlays or Full Frame Overlays, they appear in the live view. This lets guests see exactly where the art will sit, so no one’s face gets covered.
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  3. On-Device Styling
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    • Background Removal & Custom Backgrounds: If you’ve uploaded backgrounds for your event, they’ll be available for selection.
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    • Filters: Guests can apply classic filters like Noir, Sepia, or Clarendon before sending off their images.
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    • Reshoot: Not happy with a pose? Subjects can tap “Reshoot” and start over, easy-peasy.
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  4. Instant Delivery
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    • Both QuicPics or PartyPics Workflows deliver images in real time:
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    • If it’s QuicPics, your subjects will get the image files directly via MMS, with Overlay Art applied, if your Event has any. They'll also receive a link to their personal gallery. Reminder, with QuicPics we charge a small fee per uploaded image.
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    • It it's PartyPics or any of our other Programs, your subjects will only receive a link to their personal gallery. And there is no additional charge or fee.
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    • When visiting their personal gallery, they can buy prints & downloads of these images with various product & customization options.
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  5. Positive ID vs. Face Matching
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    • Face Matching: Prompts appear to tap faces, then gather contact info for those individuals.
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    • Positive ID: Participants just enter their info before sending images, no face-tapping required.

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All images are uploaded to your NowCandid Event like normal, so no matter your usual Workflow, things will still function seamlessly!

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Key Requirements & Limitations ⚠️
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  • Camera Orientation
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    • Nikon cameras support both horizontal and vertical orientation.
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    • Sony and Canon are currently limited to horizontal orientation.
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  • iPad-Only Launch
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    • Photo Booth Mode works on iPad (and only in vertical orientation), not on iPhone or Windows at this time.
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  • No Built-In Strip Printing
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    • If you need to provide prints, set up a separate print station and use quic.pics/portal to download images with or without Event Overlay Art and print them on-the-spot!
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  • Strong Internet Connection
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    • Ensure your iPad has solid Wi-Fi or LTE, as the app needs to log into the event, download overlays/backgrounds, and upload images in real time.

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Why You’ll Love Photo Booth Mode ❤️

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  1. Interactive Fun
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    Guests choose their own backgrounds, overlays, and filters, creating a memorable activity at any gathering.
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  2. Seamless Feature Integration
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    Images will show up in LiveLoop slideshows, appear alongside subject's other images in Personal Galleries, be managed using NowCandid's typical image and participant management tools, and more!
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  3. Seamless Workflow Integration
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    The images flow right into your existing event Workflows—Tap-A-Face, Selfie Check-In, Type & Take, and more—without any additional setup.
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  4. Effortless Setup
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    Whether you opt for a tethered DSLR or the iPad camera, it’s a simple tap away in Capture & Upload App 4.13.

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Download Capture & Upload App 4.13 Today! 📱

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With Version 4.13 now live for iPad (iOS only at the moment), you can start offering Photo Booth Mode at your next event.

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We’ve tested it extensively, but with so many different devices and use cases out there, we encourage you to try it out ASAP.

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If you spot any quirks, let us know, and we’ll work on improvements swiftly.

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Thank you for joining us in this Big News blog post.

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We can’t wait to hear your success stories with Photo Booth Mode!

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Candy 🍬

Let’s get in touch

If you’re a photographer looking to add NowCandid services to your wheelhouse – set up a call by clicking the button below.

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text
How to customize formatting for each rich text

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What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

  • List One
  • List Two
  • List Three
  • List Four
  • List Five

This is a link

This is bold text

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