HomeNavigation arrowBlogNavigation arrow
Current page
Feature Updates

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 🍬

Related articles

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 4 – Capture & Upload App Version 4 🎄✨
Feature Updates
December 17, 2024

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 4 – Capture & Upload App Version 4 🎄✨

3
 minutes read
Hello, my holly-jolly photographers! 🎅

Candy here, and welcome back to Day 4 of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown.

So far, we’ve revisited the new Web Dashboard, the New Retail Site, and the Offer Creator. Today, let’s look at Capture & Upload App Version 4, one of the key updates that kept you snapping and uploading with ease throughout 2024.

When we rolled out Version 4, we aimed to improve both performance and functionality.

Here’s what made it stand out:

  • Face Boxes on iOS:

    Enhanced face detection and clarity for more accurate participant matching.
  • Performance Improvements:

    A smoother, faster app experience, letting you focus on capturing the moment rather than waiting on your device.
  • Dark Mode for OLED Screens:

    Battery-saving and easier on the eyes, perfect for long event days where every percent of battery counts.
  • Foundation for Future Tools:

    This update laid the groundwork for features like GroupTags (stay tuned for Day 7!), ensuring you were ready for the capabilities we’d roll out later in the year.

The Capture & Upload App Version 4 played a crucial role in optimizing your Workflow, and helping you handle busy events with confidence. 🎉

Check back tomorrow for Day 5, as we continue highlighting the top features of 2024. And remember, something extra special awaits on December 25th!

Candy 🍬

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 3 – The Offer Creator 🎄🎁
Feature Updates
December 16, 2024

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 3 – The Offer Creator 🎄🎁

3
 minutes read
Hello again, my festive photographers! 🎅

Candy here, and welcome to Day 3 of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown. Over the past two days, we revisited the new Web Dashboard and Retail Site—both big hits in 2024. Today, let’s highlight the Offer Creator, a powerful tool that put you firmly in the driver’s seat of your photography business.

When we introduced the Offer Creator, our goal was to give you total flexibility and control, while maintaining simplicity and ease of use!

Note: We did keep the original NowCandid Default Price Levels around! So those are still an option to use, however you now have the option to create your own as well! Woo!

Here’s what made it shine:

  • Custom Product Lineups & Pricing:

    Tailor your product offerings exactly how you want, setting your own prices and creating packages that fit your clients’ needs.
  • Upsells & Shipping Fees:

    Configure upsell products and shipping costs to match the value of your work and the nature of the event—no more one-size-fits-all.
  • Themed Retail Experiences:

    Change your retail theme to align with your brand, the event’s vibe, or even the holiday spirit. Think of the Candy Cane theme for this festive season!
  • Easy Event Selection:

    Once you’ve created an Offer, simply select it whenever you’re setting up a new Event. Quick, organized, and ready to roll.

The Offer Creator allowed you to fine-tune your selling strategy, ensuring that every event’s storefront matched your vision and delighted your customers. 🎉

Check back tomorrow for Day 4, where we’ll continue highlighting the best of 2024. And remember, something extra special awaits on December 25th!

Until then, stay jolly and keep capturing those wonderful holiday moments. 🎄

Candy 🍬

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 2 – The New Retail Site 🎄✨
Feature Updates
December 15, 2024

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 2 – The New Retail Site 🎄✨

3
 minutes read
Hello, my jolly photographers! 🎅

Candy here, welcoming you to Day 2 of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown. Yesterday, we revisited the new NowCandid Web Dashboard. Today, let’s talk about another game-changer from 2024: our New Retail Site!

When we introduced this updated retail experience, our goal was to give your clients a smoother, more delightful way to browse, customize, and purchase their images.

Here’s what made it shine:

  • Product Gallery Renders:

    Customers see instant previews of their chosen photos on various products, helping them visualize exactly what they’re buying.
  • Customer Accounts & Order History:

    Clients can log in to review past orders, keep track of events they participated in, and find their images more easily—turning first-time buyers into loyal fans.
  • AI Background Generation:

    With background removal in place, clients can type in prompts to create custom AI-generated backgrounds, adding a unique and personalized flair to their images.
  • Tons of Express Checkout Options:

    From Apple Pay and Google Pay to PayPal and beyond, we added multiple fast, convenient checkout methods, ensuring a hassle-free shopping experience.

The New Retail Site helped your customers feel more engaged, inspired, and confident when ordering.

It was one of the many ways we leveled up your business this year! 🎁

Check back tomorrow for Day 3, as we continue reviewing the best of 2024.

And don’t forget—on December 25th, we’ll unveil something truly special. Until then, keep capturing the magic of the season! 🎄

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

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