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Weekly Recap: Express Checkout Confirmations, Capture App Speed Testing, and a New Lightroom Classic Plugin

Weekly Recap: Express Checkout Confirmations, Capture App Speed Testing, and a New Lightroom Classic Plugin
Hey photo friends! 👋


This week’s updates are all about clearer customer actions, smoother retail performance, and new tools that speed up upload workflows. Plus, a strong round of Capture App polish (iOS & Android OTA) and some important Dashboard + Marketing fixes.

Let’s jump in. ✨

🛍️ Retail: Fewer Mis-clicks, Better Previews, Faster Feel

✅ Express Checkout confirmation (all express checkouts)

All express checkout flows now show a confirmation popup that clearly displays the shipping address selected, with options to place the order or go back. It also includes an invalid address popup.

Previously, people would sometimes purchase without double checking their express-checkout-method's default shipping address. So, this change is designed to reduce address mistakes and improve customer experience!

Confirmation popup now clearly displays shipping address confirmation.

🧠 Better UI + performance improvements

  • Improved local rendering (performance, memory usage, and task handling) — originally aimed to improve the retail experience on low-end devices, but it should make most devices feel faster!

  • Native “leave page” confirmation on supported browsers/devices (desktop + Samsung back button) when navigating away from an event page (refresh/back).

Leave page confirmation

🖼️ Clearer package download expectations + better pickers

  • Personal Gallery Downloads on store sheet and package editor now show “+X Images” in the configurator when there are more than 4 images—so customers don’t think they only get what’s previewed.

Personal Gallery Download "+X Images"

    • Personal Gallery Download products inside packages can now be clicked to preview contents.

    • Desktop product/package image pickers are now two columns (like mobile), allowing larger image preview during selection.

    Larger two column image previews

      • Image Filters landing popup now includes “Browse all photos without a filter” so customers who think they must pick a filter know they can also just browse!

      Image Filters landing popup

      🧩 Retail fixes worth noting

      • Fixed a slashed discount amount showing on week 3 when there is no higher amount.
      • Fixed a GalleryGuard edge case that could close the retail site on some Android devices that support mobile context menus when long-pressing.
      • Fixed a race condition where a Group-by-Face gallery loaded from URL params could show default results instead of the filtered view.
      • Fixed an edge case where manually assigned images marked as group could behave like non-group images on retail.

      📱 Capture App OTA: 5.6.1 & 5.6.2 (iOS & Android)

      🌐 NEW: Network Speed Test (5.6.1)

      A new Network Speed Test button is available in Resources. Tap Run Test to check download speed, upload speed, and latency to NowCandid servers (so results may differ from Google/Ookla). It’s a quick test (downloads 5 MB, uploads 2 MB) and is useful for diagnosing weak or congested service during events.

      Mbps is a standard measurement for connection speeds, and 1 megabit per second (Mbps) is 0.125 Megabytes per second (MB/s). So 8 Mbps is 1 Megabyte per second, max. For example, with images that are 10 Megabytes in size, a speed of 8 Mbps would take a minimum of 10 seconds to upload. When speeds are very slow, image uploads may be impossible due to uploads timing out and restarting. In these cases, open the app when you have a stronger connection and all your images will start going up!

      Network Speed Test

      🎪 Photo Booth + Selfie Check-In Station UI upgrades (5.6.2)

      • Photo Booth landing page updated to be more user-friendly (always-visible scrollbar, updated text, sticky go back/continue buttons, red/green emphasis, and a popup explaining why Continue is greyed out).
      • Selfie Check-In Station landing page updated with red/green Go Back / Begin buttons.
      • New dropdown icon beside Group Photo toggle (when an event has PhotoTags) to better display there are additional options to assign PhotoTags.
      • Fixed edge case cancel/continue behavior on Selfie Check-In Station when no contact info was entered.

      🧩 NEW: Lightroom Classic Plugin (Official)

      We’ve launched an official Lightroom Classic plugin to upload images to NowCandid events directly from Lightroom Classic.

      Key notes:

      • Lightroom Classic only
      • Same image rules apply (color profile, DPI, etc.)
      • Uses Capture App login
      • Only events within 60 days of event start date show in the selector
      • Image Details → Logs will show “Uploaded from NowCandid Lightroom Plugin”
      • Docs include guide/download/installation: https://app.nowcandid.com/docs/tools-more/lightroom

      Lightroom Classic Plugin

      Upload from NowCandid Lightroom Plugin

      🖥️ Dashboard: Upload & Roster Clarity + Small UX Wins

      • Event roster upload and PhotoRoster upload now warn about every unrecognized column, making it easier to spot misspellings (especially for optional columns).
      • Participant list page download now puts additional contacts into columns instead of rows.
      • Participant list download now puts merged contacts into their own row if they have different first/last names.
      • Image upload naming cleanup:
        • spaces/parentheses now automatically become underscores (e.g., Image (2)Image_2)
        • names ending in z now get a trailing underscore (e.g., ImagezImagez_)
      • Candy got even better at using the new Docs for responses.
      • Password reset now shows a clear “Your link has expired” screen (links expire after 24 hours).
      • Fixed participant filter inside another participant’s manual assign/unassign page not working properly.
      • Participant Details PhotoTag assignment UI: merged participants no longer incorrectly show PhotoTags as assigned.

      Upload Roster now warns about every unrecognized column.

      📣 Marketing Fixes

      • Fixed edge cases where galleries that were only AI-edited images could cause follow-up email marketing issues and show as 0 images on Participant List.
      • Fixed Day0 marketing edge case not starting if gallery is just AI-edited images.
      • SMS gallery links now include “View photos:” before the gallery URL to reduce confusion where some users thought the gallery link was an unsubscribe link.

      That’s the week! 💫

      Between the Lightroom Classic plugin, the Capture App’s new Network Speed Test, and retail improvements that reduce confusion (and improve performance), this week was packed with practical wins you’ll feel right away.

      Keep it sparkly,

      Candy

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      Weekly Recap: Simple Check-In™, New Products Report, and Lots More ✨
      Feature Updates
      February 7, 2025

      Weekly Recap: Simple Check-In™, New Products Report, and Lots More ✨

      9
       minutes read
      Hello, my fabulous photographers!

      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’m thrilled to share all the juicy new features. Let’s dive in!

      1. Simple Check-In™ for Positive ID Events 🤳

      We’re introducing a brand-new way to make your Name Lookup and Scanner ID™ Workflows even smoother:

      • Single QR Code: Print just one QR code for the entire event. Participants scan it, enter their name and contact info, and a “blank” participant is instantly created—no selfie required.
      • Photographer & Wallet Benefits: Photographers can now quickly search by name if the event uses Name Lookup, or if the participant adds the pass to Apple Wallet (Google Wallet coming very soon), you can scan them later for Scanner ID™.
      • No More Bulk Scan Cards: Skip printing individual codes for everyone—one event code can do it all!

      Scan Cards are still great in many situations, so this isn't a replacement - just an addition! Something to make the Name Lookup & Scanner IDWorkflows even more flexible!

      Accessible by clicking the QR code within a Positive ID Event's Management Page

      2. New Products Report 📈

      We’ve introduced a new Products Report on your NowCandid™ web dashboard:

      • Most-Purchased & Highest-Revenue Products: See which items or packages your clients love most.
      • Standard Filters: Use the same powerful search options you know—by event, date range, program type, Event Tag, and more.
      • Data-Driven Decisions: Identify your top performing items and make more informed Custom Offer adjustments!

      If you’ve been curious which prints, downloads, or merch are hot, this is your new go-to spot!

      Accessible from the Home tab of the web dashboard

      3. Image Management Additions:

      Multi-Select Enhancements 🛠️

      We’ve expanded multi-select capabilities in Manage Images to handle even more tasks at once:

      • GroupTags: Now you can edit or remove GroupTags™ for all selected images simultaneously.
      • Select All Visible: Quickly grab every image on the current page to speed up those bulk actions.

      Accessible using the multi-select button within an Event's Manage Images page

      New Folder-Wide Options 📂

      We also added a new Edit Folder button when a folder is selected:

      • Change Folder Visibility: Toggle an entire folder’s images between visible or invisible.
      • Group Status: Mark them as Group Photos or individual images in one go.
      • GroupTag: Apply the same GroupTag™ to every image in the folder—super handy for sorting large event albums.

      Mass management, simplified!

      Accessible using the Edit Folder button within an Event's Manage Images page

      4. Face Matching™ Formula Switch 🧩

      We added a new toggle in Edit Event to adjust how strict or lenient our Face Matching™ algorithm is:

      • Stricter Matching for Kids: If you’re dealing with lots of little ones who keep popping up in the wrong gallery, flip this switch for fewer “extra” matches.
      • Default Remains Flexible: Our usual method still works great for most events. If needed, you can always manually unassign images from a participant in the dashboard.

      Less confusion, more accurate galleries—everyone wins!

      Accessible when editing a Face Matching type Event

      5. Manage Images: New Filter Menu 🖼️

      We’ve reorganized the Manage Images page with a dedicated menu for filters:

      • Cleaned-Up UI: Too many filters were crowding the page; now they’re in one easy-to-access spot.
      • Clear Active Filters: It’s easier to see what’s on and what’s off, plus you can remove filters with a single click.

      Navigating your images should feel more intuitive and less cluttered than before.

      Accessible using the Filters button within an Event's Manage Images page

      6. Image Timeline Screenshot Download ⏱️

      Our Image Timeline feature now has a handy Download Screenshot button:

      • Quick Sharing: Snap a chart of your shooting pace or AI analysis and send it to your photographers or team.
      • Easy Feedback: Show them exactly where the busy or slow spots were without extra steps.

      A small detail that can make a big difference for team communication.

      Accessible using the Camera-icon button on an Event's Image Timeline page

      7. Event Tag Add Popup Improvements 🏷️

      When adding events to a tag from the Event Tags page:

      • Select Multiple Events at Once: No need to add them one by one.
      • Filtered Display: It only shows events that don’t already have that tag, saving clicks and confusion.

      A quicker way to keep your events organized and ready for deeper insights.

      Accessible using the Add Events to Tag button on the Event Tags page of the Web Dashboard

      8. Marketing Tweak: Day0 with Group-Only Galleries ✉️

      If a participant’s personal gallery only contains Group Photos, Day0 marketing won’t trigger:

      • Fewer Unnecessary Texts/Emails: Prevents those “here’s your gallery!” messages when there’s not much for them to see yet.
      • Smarter Outreach: Focus your marketing on participants who have individual images waiting.

      This slight change can tidy up the user experience for your SportsPics™ or GradPics™ events.

      9. Capture App 4.13.71 (iOS Only) 🍏

      Some app updates for iPhone/iPad users:

      • iPad UI Fix: Addresses a bug when launching in portrait mode.
      • Photo Booth Mode Backgrounds: Hidden on iPads running iOS < 17.
      • Event Number: Now appears next to the event name, so you’re less likely to shoot under the wrong event.
      • Volume Trigger Fix: The internal camera capture now works again for devices that had issues after recent iOS changes—great news for those using volume-based triggers!

      That’s it for this Weekly Recap!

      We hope these upgrades help you handle your events faster, deliver better experiences to your clients, and keep the momentum going all year long.

      As always, let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or just want to say hi.

      Cheers and sparkles,

      Candy 🍬

      Did You Know? NowCandid™ Offers Retail Background Generation! ✨
      NowCandid 101
      February 5, 2025

      Did You Know? NowCandid™ Offers Retail Background Generation! ✨

      2
       minutes read
      Hello, fabulous photographers!

      Candy here, bringing you another “Did You Know?” feature highlight. Today’s spotlight is on a super-fun (and sometimes overlooked) part of our NowCandid™ retail site: AI-Generated Backgrounds for background-removed images. Let’s dive in!

      AI Background Generation

      When customers view or customize their images that have had their backgrounds removed, they’ll see an option inviting them to type in a text description of what they want behind them. Maybe it’s a colorful beach scene, a dreamy sunset, a whimsical forest—whatever the imagination conjures up! Our site will generate a fresh design tailored to that text prompt, giving them a truly unique final product.

      Why It Matters

      • Personalized Shopping Experience: No two images look the same when customers can request different scenes. It’s perfect for capturing each individual’s tastes and vibes.
      • Boosts Sales: The novelty factor of typing in a text prompt and watching a new background appear can encourage customers to experiment—and buy more customized images.
      • Booking Tool: Using this feature as a sales tool to help you book parties, sports leagues, or anything else can be a way to get a gatekeeper's attention!

      How It Works

      1. Choose a Background-Removed Image: When browsing the NowCandid™ retail site, customers click on an image that’s had its background removed.
      2. Enter a Text Prompt: A simple text field awaits—“sunset on a calm lake,” “abstract rainbow swirl,” “comic book city,” etc.
      3. Watch It Appear: The site blends the subject with the newly generated backdrop. Customers can finalize it right there, or try another prompt until they’re happy.

      Retail Theme: Liquorice

      That’s your little “Did You Know?” tip for today!

      We hope you’ll tell your clients about this magical customization option—it might spark new ideas (and more sales!) for their photos.

      As always, if you have any questions or feedback, let us know.Until next time, keep capturing those unforgettable moments! ✨

      Cheers and sparkles,


      Candy 🍬

      Weekly Recap: Multi-Select, Event Tags & More! ✨
      Feature Updates
      January 24, 2025

      Weekly Recap: Multi-Select, Event Tags & More! ✨

      9
       minutes read
      Hello, my fabulous photographers!

      Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our newest Weekly Recap. We’ve been hard at work improving your NowCandid™ experience, and I’m excited to share all the juicy details. Let’s dive in!

      1. Select System in Manage Images 🖼️

      We’re introducing a Multi-Select feature to the Manage Images interface:

      • Multi-Select Button: Highlight multiple images at once.
      • Bulk Actions: After choosing your set, tap “Select” at the bottom. You can:
        • Mark them Invisible or Visible
        • Download them all in a single zip file
        • Toggle them as Group Photos or Individual all at once
      • Speedy Management: No more one-by-one adjustments. This should help you power through large batches of images in a fraction of the time!

      2. Event Tags 🏷️

      There’s a brand-new Extras tab in the Web Dashboard navigation, featuring our new Event Tags tool:

      • Creating Tags: Assign tags to your events (e.g., “Prom,” “Winter Formal,” etc.).
      • Filtering by Tag: On the Events List or in your Events Report, choose an Event Tag to instantly see only those events.
      • Performance Insights: Group your events by theme and get a quick view of how each set is performing all at once.

      Tagging is perfect for photographers juggling multiple event types, letting you spot patterns and trends with ease.

      Just two Events on this Event tag, but you can add lots!

      3. Updates to the Faces Report 👥

      Our Faces Report—released last week—has already received some polish:

      • New Revenue Line: Alongside face counts in the chart, you’ll now see a revenue line.
      • Compare Image Types & Sales: See whether couples, solos, or big group shots bring in the most orders.
      • Informed Future Shooting: Focus your time at events on what sells best—maybe it’s the big friend groups or the sweet one-on-one moments.

      This view helps you refine your event coverage strategy for max impact.

      Ignore the low sales, it was a test Event!

      4. Image Details Page 📝

      While managing images in your events, you’ll notice a “Details, Logs, and more” link on each image:

      • Expanded Meta Data: Discover camera settings, image size, camera type, and more.
      • Face Matching™ Logs: See if and when a face got paired to a participant; even jump directly to that participant’s gallery.
      • Advanced Troubleshooting: Ideal for debugging customer issues or satisfying your own curiosity about each shot.

      It’s more info than we’ve ever provided, so have fun geeking out over the details!

      So much image file info and image history now!

      5. Big Improvements to the Web Dashboard Image Uploader

      Finally, a behind-the-scenes upgrade that’ll make your day-to-day life easier:

      • Upload Up to 5000 Images: Jumping from 1000, so you can batch bigger events in fewer steps.
      • Faster Transfers: As long as you have decent upload speeds, the process should feel snappier overall.
      • Lower CPU Demand: Less strain on your computer, letting you multi-task without slowing to a crawl.

      Sometimes it’s the quiet changes under the hood that make the biggest difference.

      6. Tiered Pricing Now Live 🎉

      After last week’s preview, Tiered Pricing is officially rolled out to SportsPics™, PartyPics™, GradPics™, and other sales-driven events:

      • Upgraded Text & Email Campaigns: We’ve refined the promotional messages to match your Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3 pricing tiers, giving your buyers a clear sense of each week’s small price bump.
      • 365-Day Marketing SMS Replaced with 180: We’ve shortened the final reminder’s timeline from a year to 180 days, aligning better with your event marketing cycle and typical follow-up patterns.

      If you haven’t explored Tiered Pricing yet, check it out in your Offer Creator and see how these incremental price changes (and updated marketing) might boost your sales!

      That’s all for this week, my wonderful NowCandid™ community.

      I hope these new features and improvements empower you to breeze through event management and deliver an even better experience to your clients. As always, if you have questions or feedback, give us a shout.

      Until next time—keep capturing those unforgettable moments! ✨

      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.

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      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

      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.

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