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Weekly Recap: Faster Background Removal, Smarter Digital Downloads & New AI Editing Tools 📸✨

Weekly Recap: Faster Background Removal, Smarter Digital Downloads & New AI Editing Tools 📸✨
Hey photo friends! 👋

Last week, we were busy hosting our annual Summer Seminar in Denver, Colorado—and we had a great time with everyone who joined us!

That means this week’s recap includes two weeks of updates. Nothing too wild, but plenty of useful improvements across Retail, the Dashboard, Auto Editor, Capture App, and more while we continue working on some bigger changes behind the scenes.

Let’s catch up!

⚡ Faster Background Removal

✂️ Background Removal processing is faster

  • We made multiple speed improvements over the past two weeks to help cutouts finish sooner, especially during higher-volume periods.

📥 Smarter Digital Download Delivery

Digital Downloads can now skip unnecessary processing in more situations.

Some downloads are now available immediately

  • If a customer selects No Overlay, the Event has no artwork, and/the image is not a BGR image, the customer will skip the cropping step on the retail site and receive the full-resolution image without waiting for an 8×12 rendered version.

🖼️ Full aspect ratio is preserved

  • These downloads bypass the cropping step and work more like Personal Gallery Download products.

🆓 Also applies to Medium Res and Free Downloads

  • This includes cases where those downloads are automatically upgraded to full resolution.

📧 Clearer receipt messaging for custom renders

🧾 Order Details now identifies each download type

  • Digital Downloads can now show a Rendered Download or a Full Aspect Ratio Download badge, making it clearer which version was delivered to your customers.

🎨 Auto Editor & Candy Image Studio Updates

🧩 Auto Editor now supports image-input nodes

  • You can now use nodes such as:
    • Custom Image
    • Copy Style
    • Diploma Fix

🙈 Auto Edit originals won’t be texted too early

  • QuicPics and QuicPortraits will no longer send the original image by MMS when it belongs to an active Auto Edit with Hide Originals enabled. The system will wait for the edited version instead.

🕺 New Retro Pop node

  • Give images a colorful, retro-inspired treatment.

🂡 New Ace Card node

  • Turn subjects into a bold playing-card-style design.

💬 QuicPics & Marketing Improvements

👥 QuicPics can now send to multiple contacts on merged participants

  • If merged participant records contain different phone numbers or email addresses, regular QuicPics can now send to each unique contact.

✉️ Marketing startup fix for BGR cutouts

  • Fixed an edge case where marketing would not begin if the only visible images were cutouts from the newer Background Removal system.

🔗 Hot Links now better respect Hide Originals

  • Fixed an issue where the preview could temporarily show the original image before an Auto Edit finished generating.

📱 Capture App Updates

Capture App 5.8.1

iOS and Android OTA updates

🎨 Updated Event artwork is refreshed at login

  • If artwork changed, the latest file is pulled when logging into the Event normally.

🛠️ Small follow-up fix

  • An additional 5.8.1 update was released to address a minor issue.

Capture App 5.9

iOS and Android App Store update

📲 iOS OTA updates are easier to install

  • You no longer need to completely restart the app or return to the Home Screen to install an available Over-the-Air update.

🤖 Android compatibility updates

  • Required updates were made to stay current with new Google Play requirements.

🛍️ Retail Download Fixes

📱 Safari share sheet reliability improved

  • Press-and-hold downloads should now open the native share sheet more consistently on Safari.

🖼️ Virtual Group download cleanup

  • Virtual Groups in QuicPics no longer offer a Download with Art option.

🎨 Background selection fixes

  • Fixed cases where:
    • A PNG could be downloaded without selecting a background and receive an incorrect blue background
    • Faux renders showed no selected background in the download popup

🔐 Facebook login works again

🖥️ Dashboard Improvements

📊 Image Timeline cleanup

  • Fixed chart display issues, removed folders that were not useful in the timeline, and prevented multiple summaries from appearing when switching folders quickly.

🌾 Candy Culler controls are clearer

  • Filter visibility and report controls now use more descriptive buttons, similar to Manage Images.

📈 BGR Folder Stats fixed

  • Cutouts from the newer Background Removal system no longer incorrectly inflate Unassigned totals.

📱 Mobile Dashboard

🔗 More reliable deep linking

  • Dashboard links should open the correct page more consistently when the app has been open for a while or after signing in and out.

That’s the two-week update!

Faster Background Removal and smarter Digital Download delivery are the biggest highlights, with plenty of smaller improvements making Auto Editor, QuicPics, Retail, and the Capture App more dependable.

Thanks again to everyone who joined us in Denver for Summer Seminar—we loved seeing you!

Keep creating magic,

Candy 🍬

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Weekly Recap: iOS 4.16 Updates, Order History Links & More! ✨
Feature Updates
March 14, 2025

Weekly Recap: iOS 4.16 Updates, Order History Links & More! ✨

6
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and welcome to this week’s Weekly Recap. We’ve been busy fine-tuning your NowCandid™ experience with a host of practical updates—from enhanced iOS features to smarter marketing and reporting tools.

Whether you're managing events on the go or perfecting your galleries, these improvements are designed to streamline your workflow and boost your productivity.

Let’s dive into this week’s updates!

1. iOS 4.16 Updates 🍏

Our latest version, iOS 4.16, brings a host of new features and UI improvements to make your workflow smoother:

  • • Camera Permissions Required:

    The app now requires camera permissions on startup—reducing issues caused by accidental declines.
  • • New “Resources” Page:

    Our info page has been revamped into a “Resources” page that mirrors the dashboard site. It now includes detailed button descriptions and a stylish UI.
  • • Device Storage Indicator:

    Check your remaining storage right from the Resources page, so you know when it’s time to free up space.
  • • Low Disk Space Login Block:

    If your device has less than 1GB of free space, logging into an event is disabled—ensuring you can always upload your images without hiccups.
  • • New Event Landing Page:

    A more detailed UI now lets you view image overlays and see descriptive shooting buttons before you dive into capturing photos.
  • • Photo Booth Landing Page:

    View custom background files and camera info, among other helpful items—and also a handy link to teach you about Guided Access!
  • • Vertical Liveview Support:

    For Sony and Canon users, you can now manually set the Photo Booth liveview to vertical. (Nikon auto-orients, and iPad cameras are always vertical.)
  • • Other UI Refinements & Performance Tweaks:

    We’ve polished numerous small details to boost overall efficiency.

New screenshots for the app store!

2. Accessible Download Links 📥

Great news for your customers—and for you, too!

  • • Order History:

    End customers now access their download links from past orders via their Order History (if they were signed in at the time of the order).
  • • Order Details:

    Photographers can also access links to ordered downloads from an Order's Details page in the dashboard.

IF they're signed in, permanent access to their purchased downloads

3. Hold Marketing Feature ⏸️

Need to pause your marketing while you fine-tune your images? Our new Hold Marketing option is here to help:

  • • Pause Campaigns:

    On an Event’s Marketing Page, you can halt new marketing messages from starting. (Started campaigns continue unless you mark the event as hidden.)
  • • Auto-Resume:

    If you forget, the campaign will auto-resume on the first Friday after 20 days from the event’s start date.
  • • Optional Use:

    While not generally recommended, this feature is perfect for unique situations—like editing and replacing photos before releasing marketing.

Found in an Event's Marketing Page

4. Event Management Portal Updates 🌐

Our Event Management Portal (access via quic.pics/portal) just got an upgrade:

  • • Enhanced Image Downloading:

    Now you can download images with custom backgrounds directly from the portal.
  • • Multi-Select & New Filters:

    Enjoy improved multi-select options and refined tools, just like on the main dashboard.
  • • Consistent Tools:

    Most of the updates we’ve applied to the primary dashboard lately are now available here as well, making it easier for your photographers to manage active, recent, or upcoming events.

5. Group-by-Face™ Upgrades 👥

Our Group-by-Face™ feature just got even better!

  • • Improved Accuracy:

    We’ve refined things to ensure fewer false matches when using this feature.
  • • In Case You Didn't Know:

    In a Face Matching™ event, simply head to the Manage Images page and select “Group-by-Face™” to run it.

    This adds clickable boxes around faces on the retail site, directing users to galleries of images featuring that face.

That’s this week’s Weekly Recap!

We hope these updates—ranging from UI enhancements to new marketing tools—make your NowCandid™ experience even more efficient and enjoyable.

As always, we’d love to hear your feedback.

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬
Weekly Recap: Extended Face Matching™ & Image Overwrite Upgrades! ✨
Feature Updates
March 7, 2025

Weekly Recap: Extended Face Matching™ & Image Overwrite Upgrades! ✨

4
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and welcome to this week’s Weekly Recap.

We’ve got some exciting updates that will make your NowCandid™ events even smoother—so grab a coffee and let’s dive in!

Extended Face Matching™ Window

Great news for Face Matching™ events! We’ve extended the Face Matching™ window to last 30 days from your event’s start date. Here’s what that means:

  • • Longer Matching Period:

    Previously, Face Matching™ ended when the event concluded. Now, images uploaded even several weeks late will still find their matches, as Selfie Check-In™ remains live for the full 30 days!
  • • Consistent Marketing:

    Thanks to Tiered Pricing on each participant’s Day 0 text, even late joiners receive the same marketing campaign and discount opportunities.
  • • Event End Date Still Matters:

    While Face Matching™ remains active for 30 days, the event’s End Date still determines when the event disappears from the Capture & Upload App and the limited-access Event Management Portal.
  • • Flexible Event Management:

    After creating an event, you can now edit its End Date, allowing you to keep an event active longer if needed. Plus, on the All Images Gallery, Selfie Check-In™ is prominently displayed for Face Matching™ events—making it easier for stragglers to get their images.

This extended window opens up new opportunities and helps ensure no one misses out on their photos!

an expired event (mar 7), with face matching™ still active

Image Overwrite Feature in the Web Dashboard 🔄

We’ve heard your requests: now you can overwrite images using the Image Uploader on the Web Dashboard!

  • • Edit & Replace:

    For Positive ID™ events, you can now replace unedited images with edited ones. The new, updated images will slot directly into each participant’s retail gallery and your Manage Images page, replacing the originals seamlessly.
  • • Enhanced Workflow for Positive ID™:

    This is a game changer for Positive ID™ events that require a tethered tablet. You can take photos, assign them during the event, then edit and replace them later—all without disrupting your marketing.
  • • Important Reminder:

    For Face Matching™ events, we still recommend using Selfie Check-In™ and uploading your edited images once you’re done fine-tuning. And always export in the proper sRGB color profile for printing and uploading.

hit the switch to allow identically named images to replace existing images

Miscellaneous Updates ⚙️

  • • Press & Hold Download Fix:

    The “Press & Hold” download on the retail site for Quic-Events using Chrome on iOS is now fixed—ensuring a smooth experience for all your customers. (The Free Download product was available for those who had issues previously, so no worries! People still got their pics.)

That’s it for this week’s recap!

These updates are designed to extend your event’s image matching capabilities, streamline your image editing workflow, and improve overall user experience.

As always, your feedback is invaluable—drop us a line if you have any questions or suggestions.

Thanks for being an essential part of the NowCandid™ community, and keep capturing those unforgettable moments!

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

Weekly Recap: QuicPortraits™, QuicPics™ Updates & More! ✨
Feature Updates
February 28, 2025

Weekly Recap: QuicPortraits™, QuicPics™ Updates & More! ✨

5
 minutes read
Hello, my wonderful photographers!

Candy here, bringing you another Weekly Recap packed with fresh features and improvements to your NowCandid™ experience. Let’s dive right in!

1. Introducing QuicPortraits™ 📸

We’re thrilled to add a new Program to our lineup—QuicPortraits™—joining PartyPics™, GradPics™, Portraits, SportsPics™, QuicPics™, and QuicPics GO™:

  • • One-Time Text Limit: Each image can only be texted out once—perfect for headshots or single-family portraits where you only need to share each image a single time.
  • • Why?: Because of this limit, QuicPortraits™ costs less to use than QuicPics™. It’s a budget-friendly version of the same great service designed specifically for portrait & headshot photography.
  • • No Extra Setup: If you already know how QuicPics™ works, you’ll feel right at home with QuicPortraits™!

A new Quic-Program, with different functionality and pricing!

2. QuicPortraits™ & QuicPics™ Feature Additions 🤳

These upgrades apply to Quic-Events created AFTER today’s system deployment (March 1st):

  • • “Images Are Arriving Soon” Records: View text records in your event’s Marketing History page.
  • • Render Previews for Texted-Out Images: Know exactly when and to whom each image was sent—complete with a small preview.
  • • Unsubscribe Keyword “NOPE”: “Images Are Arriving Soon” texts use “NOPE” for event-based unsubscribes, aligning with other NowCandid™ marketing.
  • • Future Integrations: Under-the-hood improvements now let us potentially add advanced NowCandid™ features (like background removal) to QuicPics™ down the road!
  • • No App Update Required: Older Capture & Upload App versions can handle QuicPortraits™; they just won’t display its icon. For the icon, see iOS version 4.13.72 below.

And good news for existing QuicPics™ fans—our behind-the-scenes tweaks should speed up QuicPics™ deliveries even more!

For when you're curious, or need some help checking on a customer's images!

3. Capture & Upload App for iOS (4.13.72) 🍎

We’ve rolled out Version 4.13.72 with the following fixes and updates:

New Icon: You’ll now see a QuicPortraits™ icon (older app versions don’t show it, but will still function fine).

Photo Booth Mode:

  • • Added two new default backgrounds.
  • • Fixed old artwork sticking around when switching events.
  • • Corrected face tap location on custom background or filtered images.
  • • Fixed bug where filters sometimes failed to apply on uploaded images.

If you’re on iOS, make sure to update for the smoothest experience!

That’s it for this Weekly Recap, folks!

QuicPortraits™ adds a brand-new, simpler way to handle headshots and single-user portrait sessions, while QuicPics™ receives behind-the-scenes speed boosts and more detailed marketing records.

Next week’s recap might be even juicier—stay tuned!

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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