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Weekly Recap: More Virtual Group Control, New Sports Backgrounds & Better BGR Tools 🏈✨

Weekly Recap: More Virtual Group Control, New Sports Backgrounds & Better BGR Tools 🏈✨
Hey photo friends! 👋

Candy here with another weekly recap! This week brings more control to Virtual Group Builder, a much better home for Event Background Removal, new Candy Image Studio exposure tools, and—yes—27 new sports background sets. 😎

Let’s jump in!

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Virtual Group Builder Additions

Ask and you shall receive... sometimes! We’ve gotten some good feedback on Virtual Group Builder, and this week several new controls are here to make layouts easier to fine-tune:

↕️ Force subjects onto different rows

  • While dragging a subject, new Add to Row buttons appear over the other rows. Drop the subject there to explicitly move them where you want instead of relying entirely on automatic placement.
  • Previously you were limited to automatically determined rows, you still have those but can now override them!

🔍 New logo size slider

  • Adjust your corner logos to be smaller or larger than the default.
  • Previously they could be considered a bit tiny, but this gives you a bit more control!

🌫️ Individual cutout fade control

  • The Subject Inspector now has its own cutout fade intensity slider, separate from the global setting, so you can fine-tune individual subjects when needed.
  • This will let you tweak the cutout fade intensity for subjects in the front row or on the sides of the virtual group, in case you're wanting a very specific look.

👥 Smarter merged-participant image selection

  • The Subject Image Picker will only show images from merged participants when they share the same name.
  • This typically does not matter, but in the case of a parent doing a Selfie Check-In of themselves and then of their child later, this will keep Virtual Groups working as expected!

Just a few additions, but very useful ones when you’re trying to get a Virtual Group looking just right!

Drag and drop subjects into other rows for more control than ever!

New options to more quickly space out your subjects!

When viewing subject details, adjust them by individual!

Control the size of your logos!

🏈 27 New Sports Background Sets

Alright, shoutout to the random guy who told me (me being Candy, in case you forgot!) that he didn’t like the backgrounds. We heard you! 😂

This week we’ve added 27 new sets of sports backgrounds, including a brand-new Sports – Locker Room background category.

And, in case you missed it, last week we also added an AI Background Generator so you can create entirely new, modern backgrounds of your own.

A quick reminder... you already have a lot of control over which backgrounds your customers actually see:

🎨 Edit the default backgrounds in your Offers

📤 Upload your own custom backgrounds at both the Offer-level and Event-level

🤖 Generate new backgrounds of your own with AI

🏈 Choose from our (now growing) collection of built-in choices

We have a TON of default backgrounds—and yes, many have been around for a while—but you’re never locked into using them. You can build your own look for your business, and we’ll keep adding new options over time too.

✂️ New Dedicated Background Removal Page

Event Background Removal now has its own dedicated Dashboard page, accessible from the Event Sidebar. It is not longer just a popup!

The BGR toggle on Event Overview will take you there too, giving all of these controls a little more breathing room.

On the new page, you can:

✅ Enable or disable Background Removal

🖼️ Manage your Event Backgrounds

🎨 See your Offer Backgrounds with a direct link to the Offer

📊 See how many cutouts have finished and how many are still processing

⏳ Watch a live progress bar while Background Removal is working

📂 See all valid Event folders and which ones are marked for Background Removal

And if your Event is a new Event: ✂️ You can mark an existing folder for Background Removal even if it already contains images!!!

🎨 Candy Image Studio: Better Exposure Fixes

🌙 New Fix Underexposure node

  • Helps recover images that came out too dark.

☀️ Fix Overexposure greatly improved

  • The existing overexposure tool has been reworked for more reliable results.

Utilize Candy Image Studio to fix images so they can sell, quickly and affordably!

🏈 Jersey Jotter Progress Tracking

New Jersey Jotter progress bar

  • When Jersey Jotter is active and still has unprocessed images, its dedicated page now shows processing progress—similar to Candy Culler and the new Background Removal page.

This makes it much easier to tell whether recognition is still working through a large Event.

🛍️ Retail Improvements

Titled Luxe Prints now work with package prefill

  • Packages can now automatically prefill eligible Titled Luxe Print products just like other supported products.

🖼️ Titled Luxe Print package rendering fixed

  • Fixed an issue where these products could render incorrectly inside packages.

🤖 AI-generated backgrounds now render correctly on products

🎨 Selected backgrounds now stay visible through the final product step

  • Fixed an issue where the chosen background could sometimes disappear on renders when reaching quantity and finish steps.

📝 Several product descriptions updated

  • Some product descriptions have been refreshed for better clarity.

🖼️ AI Edit + BGR Assignment Fix

👥 BGR versions of AI edits now keep direct participant assignments

  • If the original non-AI image was directly assigned to someone, its Background Removed AI-edited version will now correctly inherit that relationship.

📦 Order Details Fix

📝 Package captions now display correctly

  • Fixed cases where Order Details did not show caption information for certain products contained inside packages.

📱 Capture App 5.9.1 – iOS OTA

📸 Photo Booth fix for iPad

  • Fixed the Photo Booth gallery strip being cut off on certain iPad models.

That’s the week!

More Virtual Group control, a much stronger Background Removal workflow, some useful exposure tools, and plenty of fresh sports backgrounds to work with.

And if you still don’t like the backgrounds... now you’ve got plenty of ways to show us how it’s done. 😉

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.

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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

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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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