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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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Big News: Explore the New NowCandid Retail Site Features! 🌟
Feature Updates
August 21, 2024

Big News: Explore the New NowCandid Retail Site Features! 🌟

8
 minutes read
Hey there, awesome photographers!

Candy here, and I’m so excited to share some incredible updates that are live on the NowCandid retail site.

We’ve been hard at work making your clients' shopping experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. Let’s dive into the fantastic new features that are sure to elevate client satisfaction and boost your sales! 📸✨

Seamless Third-Party Logins 🔐

We know how important it is for your customers to have quick and easy access to their galleries and order history. That’s why we’ve introduced third-party login options!

Now, your clients can save their galleries and order history by logging in with their preferred platform—X/Twitter, Google, Apple, or Facebook. It’s all about convenience and keeping their memories just a click away!

(retail theme: liquorice)

Sleek and Modern UI 🎨

The NowCandid retail site has undergone a major facelift! Our new interface is clean, modern, and minimalist, with a step-by-step ordering process that makes purchasing photos easier than ever.

The site was built mobile-first to ensure the ideal mobile phone experience, recognizing that mobile traffic has become a huge chunk of retail web traffic in recent years, especially with the effectiveness of SMS marketing that NowCandid provides.

Whether your customers are browsing on a computer or mobile device, the improved look ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience.

(retail theme: liquorice - watermarks: off)

Instant Product Rendering 🖼️

Curious about how your clients' photos will look on different products? We’ve got you covered! As soon as they select a photo, it instantly renders on most products in our gallery. Plus, when adding certain products to their cart, customers can choose different colors and art styles, and input text fields—all of which will render as they make their choices.

This means your clients can see exactly how their image will appear on prints, canvases, and more as they peruse the product list and customize their orders. This visual preview is sure to enhance their shopping experience!

(retail theme: marshmallow - watermarks: off)

AI Background Generator for BGR Images 🤖🎨

Get creative with your background-removed (BGR) images using our new AI Background Generator! Now, your end customers can type in text prompts to generate fun and unique backgrounds for their photos.

Whether they want a beach scene, a starry night, or something entirely imaginative, the AI will bring their vision to life. The possibilities are endless and sure to delight your clients!

(retail theme: starburst - watermarks: off)

Retouch All Switch ✨

We know your clients want their photos to look their best, so we’ve added a “Retouch All” switch during checkout. With just a flip, they can apply light retouching to everything in their cart.

This retouching includes slight blemish reduction, smoothing of complexion, red-eye removal, teeth whitening, and eye brightening. It’s the perfect way to ensure their prints are picture-perfect! While also generating you additional revenue.

(retail theme: starburst - watermarks: off)

Diamond Gloss Upsell 💎

Looking to add a little extra shine to your clients' prints? Our new Diamond Gloss upsell option lets them do just that!

For a few extra dollars, they can add a glossy coating to their prints, giving them a luxurious, high-quality finish that they’ll love.

In the future, we will be adding more unique print upsells, stay tuned!

(retail theme: cookie dough - watermarks: off)

Improved Express Checkout 🚀

Time is precious, and we want to make checking out as fast as possible for your photo subjects! With our improved express checkout UI, they can now breeze through their purchase with Apple Pay.

And we’re not stopping there—Google Pay and PayPal express checkout options are coming soon, with more to follow in the future!

(retail theme: starburst)

Other Exciting Features 🌟

We’ve packed in even more updates to enhance your clients' experience:

  • Emojis in marketing texts and email subject lines to keep things fun and engaging!
  • Automatic name pre-fill (when name is available) on applicable products for a personalized touch.
  • New, sleek designs for Selfie Check-In and Scan Card Check-In web pages.
  • Improved URL and shareability with our new primary retail URL: www.quic.pics
  • The Photo Synthesis gallery allows customers to view all their images from past events in one place via their account settings.
  • Nicer-looking receipts and custom sender addresses (your-business-name@quic.pics) for a polished presentation.
  • Server-related improvements for quicker website loading, ensuring a fast and smooth experience for your clients.

These changes are designed to improve client satisfaction and increase your sales totals. We’re beyond excited about these enhancements, and we know your customers will love them!

As always, if you have any questions or need help navigating these new features, we’re here to assist you.

Thank you for being part of the NowCandid community!

Cheers and sparkles,


Candy 🍬

Big News: Introducing Full Frame Overlay! 🎨✨
Feature Updates
August 14, 2024

Big News: Introducing Full Frame Overlay! 🎨✨

4
 minutes read
Hey there, amazing photographers!

Candy here, bringing you some exciting news in our "Big News" series. We’re thrilled to introduce a brand-new feature to NowCandid: the Full Frame Overlay!

This powerful tool allows you to create stunning graphics in various aspect ratios that can be applied directly over your photos, offering endless creative possibilities. Let’s dive into the details! 🌟

What is Full Frame Overlay? 🖼️

Full Frame Overlay is a versatile feature that lets you design and apply full-frame graphics to your photos. Unlike our Banner Overlay, which places graphics at the bottom of your images, Full Frame Overlay covers the entire image, adding a creative flair that your clients will love.

This feature supports multiple aspect ratios, ensuring your graphics look perfect on all orderable print products.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Required 4x6 Graphics: The 4x6 ratio graphic is always required, and you’ll need to upload both vertical and horizontal versions.
  • Optional Aspect Ratios: In addition to the 4x6, you can also create and upload graphics in 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 aspect ratios. These are optional, so you can choose which sizes best fit your Event!
  • Resolution & Format: Your graphics should be PNGs with transparency, around 300 DPI, and in the SRGB color profile. The resolution specifications can be viewed directly in the Full Frame Overlay interface when setting up your Event.

Check out the screenshot below for a glimpse of the new Full Frame Overlay interface:

How Does It Look? 👀

Full Frame Overlay lets you get creative! Whether you’re adding a fun border, a festive holiday theme, or a sleek corporate design, the possibilities are endless. These overlays are perfect for making your photos stand out and giving your clients something truly unique.

Here’s an example of a photo with a Full Frame Overlay applied:

More Resources on the Way 📚

We know that creating the perfect overlay can take time, so we’re here to help! In addition to our existing Banner Overlay Canva Templates, in the future we’ll be adding Full Frame Overlay Canva Templates to our Resources page. These templates will make it even easier to design beautiful graphics that fit perfectly with your photos.

We can’t wait to see how you use the Full Frame Overlay to elevate your photography and create amazing products for your clients!

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.

More examples of Full Frame Overlays below!

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

Big News: Introducing NowCandid's Mobile Dashboard App 2.0! 📲✨
Feature Updates
August 8, 2024

Big News: Introducing NowCandid's Mobile Dashboard App 2.0! 📲✨

6
 minutes read

Hey there, fabulous photographers! Candy here, bringing you the latest and greatest update in our "Big News" series. Today, we're thrilled to unveil the completely revamped NowCandid Mobile Dashboard App 2.0.

This overhaul brings the app in line with the amazing new features we're adding to our web dashboard, ensuring you have a seamless and powerful tool right at your fingertips. Let's dive into what's new and why you should update to Mobile Dashboard 2.0 today! 🌟

A Fresh and Improved UI 🎨

First things first, the Mobile Dashboard App 2.0 boasts a much-improved user interface. We’ve designed it to be more intuitive and user-friendly, making it easier than ever to navigate through your dashboard and access the features you need.

  • Review Custom Offers: Now you can easily review your custom offers directly from the app. This gives you the flexibility to monitor your custom event packages on the go.

Web Dashboard Integration 🔗

To keep up with the rapid advancements we're making, many editing functions in the app now link directly to the web dashboard. This ensures you always have the most up-to-date tools and options at your disposal without the app falling behind due to slower update cycles.

  • Seamless Updates: By directing to the web dashboard for specific edits, we ensure that you're always working with the latest features. This approach allows us to implement changes quickly and efficiently, without waiting for app store approvals.

Enhanced Candy Chat 💬

We’ve made improvements to Candy, your friendly AI assistant, as well as the UI for chatting with her directly from the dashboard app.

  • Improved Interaction: The new chat interface is more intuitive and easier to use, ensuring you get the help you need quickly and efficiently.

Folder-Level Sales Reports & Stats 📊

Stay on top of your game with folder-level sales reports and stats now visible in the dashboard app.

  • Mid-Event Performance Checks: Quickly check photographer performance mid-event with just your phone, ensuring everything is running smoothly and adjustments can be made in real-time.

Easy Access to LiveLoop Links 🔗

We’ve made accessing LiveLoop links for each event even easier. Now, you can quickly find and share these links directly from the app.

  • Engage Your Audience: Use LiveLoop to create engaging live slideshows that showcase your photos in real-time, boosting interaction and sales.

Improved Image Management 📸

Managing images has never been easier. The updated UI for image management provides a more streamlined and efficient way to handle your event photo's visibility.

Update to Mobile Dashboard 2.0 Today! 🚀

It’s crucial to update to Mobile Dashboard App 2.0 as soon as possible. Using the previous version could result in accidental errors, especially with new Custom Offer Events set up on the dashboard. These new events are not meant to be editable with the older app version.

Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your events run flawlessly by updating to the latest version of the app. We're excited about these changes and are confident they will enhance your NowCandid experience.

Thank you for being part of the NowCandid family and for your continued support. Your feedback drives these improvements, and we can't wait to see how Mobile Dashboard 2.0 helps you succeed!

Cheers and sparkles,

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.

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