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Feature Updates

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŽ‰

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŽ‰
Hello, wonderful photographers!

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Candy here, bringing you the first edition of our Recap series! ๐ŸŒŸ

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This blog post will cover alllllll of September's new features and changes worth mentioning! But going forward, we will be doing Weekly Recaps to keep you in the loop even faster.

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We've been busy bees these past few weeks, and I can't wait to share all the fantastic new features and improvements we've made to help you shine even brighter. โœจ

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Psst... since this is our inaugural recap, we're covering updates from all of September, so grab a comfy seatโ€”it's a bit longer than usual! Going forward, these recaps will be weekly and shorter, but just as sweet. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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1. Manual Gallery Assignment & Participant Creation ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ

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We're thrilled to announce that manual gallery assignment and participant creation are now live! This means you can:

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  • โ—‹ Assign images to someone's personal gallery manuallyโ€”perfect for those shots where the subject wasn't facing the camera, and face recognition didn't pick them up.
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  • โ—‹ Create participants manually, either one at a time or by uploading a spreadsheet.
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  • โ—‹ Instantly trigger marketing campaigns to individuals when you assign images to them, ensuring they receive their photos promptly.

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We believe this will greatly enhance your workflow and support needs. Let us know how it helps you during your next event!

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2. Tweaks to the Retail Site for a Smoother Experience ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

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We've made several improvements to our retail site to enhance the shopping experience for your clients:

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  • โ—‹ "Tap image to get started" text now shimmers on the initial gallery screen to guide users who aren't sure what to do next.
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  • โ—‹ Package creation improvements make it more intuitive for customers to customize their packages and select photos.
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  • โ—‹ Product renders in the cart: The view cart screen now displays product images next to every item, including items within multi-item packages, for increased clarity.
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  • โ—‹ Updated header and footer: Clear guidance on when to contact our retail support or reach out to you, the photographer, for assistance.

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These tweaks aim to make the purchasing process as seamless and enjoyable as possible for your clients!

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Theme:ย Liquorice - Watermarking:ย Default

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3. Default Price Levels Are Back! ๐Ÿ’ฐ

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Great news! The Default Price Levels from our previous NowCandid system are back and better than ever.

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While you can still create custom offers, these ready-made Price Levels are optimized to help you maximize sales in various situations.

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  • โ—‹ Optimized for success: Designed to boost your sales potential.
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  • โ—‹ Versatile options: Suitable for a wide range of events and client needs.
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  • โ—‹ Easy to access: Gives you good Offer options in a pinch or when entering a new market.

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For a detailed breakdown, click here.

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4. New Image Notifications for Previous Purchasers ๐Ÿ›Ž๏ธ

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We've improved our marketing system to better serve your clients and help keep those sales up:

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  • โ—‹ If someone purchases on Day 1 and is photographed again on Day 2, they will now receive a notification about the new images added to their gallery.
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  • โ—‹ Enhances customer engagement: Keeps clients informed and encourages additional purchases.
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  • โ—‹ Prevents missed opportunities: Even early buyers stay in the loop for new content.

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This ensures your clients never miss out on their special moments!

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5. Google Pay Added to Express Checkout Options ๐Ÿ’ณ

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We're excited to introduce Google Pay as a new express checkout option!

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Our available payment methods now include:

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  • โ—‹ Traditional credit/debit card checkout
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  • โ—‹ Apple Pay
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  • โ—‹ Google Pay
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  • โ—‹ PayPal (and PayPal Pay Later)
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  • โ—‹ Venmo

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And guess what? We have one more express checkout option coming soon! Stay tuned. ๐Ÿ“ข

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Theme:ย Liquorice - Watermarking:ย Default

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6. Capture App Version 4.4 for iOS & Windows ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ’ป

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The latest Capture App Version 4.4 is now available for both iOS and Windows, featuring:

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  • โ—‹ Keyboard support for Windows: Windows laptop users can now input phone numbers using the keyboard when using the Tap-A-Face Workflow.
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  • โ—‹ Performance improvements: Smoother and faster app experience.
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  • โ—‹ sRGB color checking: The app now ensures images are in sRGB format, preventing issues caused by Adobe RGB images.
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  • โ—‹ Event Selfie Check-In QR code display: Access the QR code directly from your device when needed.

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Upgrade now to enjoy these enhancements!

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7. Enhanced Folders Report ๐Ÿ“Š

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Our Folders Report (which you can find using the Graph button on an Event's Management Page) just got more powerful:

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  • โ—‹ Sortable columns: Organize by images, participants, sales, and more.
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  • โ—‹ Real-time insights: Works live during events, allowing you to identify your best-performing photographers, mid-event.
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  • โ—‹ Actionable data: Mid-event reporting helps you provide immediate feedback to your team to boost performance.
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  • โ—‹ Download button: This report is now downloadable via the green button in the screenshot below as well!

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Optimize your event management like never before!

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8. Bulk Visibility Control for Image Folders ๐Ÿ“

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We've added a handy button in the Manage Images page, when you have a folder selected:

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  • โ—‹ Mark entire folders as visible or invisible with one click.
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  • โ—‹ Use cases: Quickly hide a batch of images that need reworking, such as a blurry set.
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  • โ—‹ Saves time: Streamlines the process of managing large numbers of images.

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Sometimes, mistakes happen! Now you can use this button to quickly hide images in bulk as you work to correct issues.

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9. Customize "All Event Images" Gallery Settings ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ

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You now have more control over the All Event Images gallery:

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  • โ—‹ Override default settings at the Offer level.
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  • โ—‹ Options:
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    • Turn off the All Event Images gallery for Face Matching Events.
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    • Turn on the All Event Images gallery for Positive ID Events.
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  • โ—‹ Recommendation: We suggest sticking with the defaults, but if you'd like to explore the pros and cons, click here to schedule a chat with us!

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Tailor the gallery experience to suit any event's needs!

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10. Simplified Selfie Check-In ๐Ÿ“ฒ

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We've made the Selfie Check-In process even more user-friendly:

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  • โ—‹ Only requires a cell number OR email address.
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  • โ—‹ Encourages participation: Even though neither field says "optional," most people still provide both.
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  • โ—‹ Addresses Fringe Issues: Every now and then, someone doesn't have (or refuses to provide) a cell or email address. This change will account for those individuals!

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Enhances guest engagement and reduces fringe support issues, with no changes on your part!

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Theme:ย Liquorice

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11. New Unsubscribe Keyword: "NOPE"! ๐Ÿšซ

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We've introduced a new, fun way for clients to manage their marketing preferences:

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  • "NOPE": Clients can reply with this word to opt out of marketing for a specific event.
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  • Future communications: They will still receive messages for future events unless they opt out again.
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  • Accidental "STOP" replies: If someone replies "STOP" though, they'll need to send "START" to our marketing number to resume receiving texts.

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This gives your clients more control while still keeping communication lines open for future events.

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12. Seasonal Retail Themes: Apple Crumble & Candy Corn ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŽƒ

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Get into the festive spirit with our new retail site themes:

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  • Apple Crumble:
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    • Autumn colors: Warm and inviting hues.
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    • Falling leaves: Adorable "leaves falling" animation upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout.
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  • Candy Corn:
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    • Halloween vibes: Shades of black and bright orange.
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    • Candy corn confetti: Fun "candy corn toss" animation to celebrate the spooky season upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout.
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    • Haunted Retail Site: A few ghosts frequently fly across your customer's screens as they shop!

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Delight your clients with these charming themes!

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Note: the Leaves &ย Candy Corn only fall across the screen upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout - these GIFs are simply showing it in a loop :)

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Theme: Apple Crumble - Watermarking:ย Off

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Theme:ย Candy Corn - Watermarking:ย Off

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We hope these updates make your experience with NowCandid even more enjoyable and efficient.

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Your success is our top priority, and we're always here to support you. ๐Ÿ’–

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As always, if you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to reach out. We're all ears! ๐Ÿ‘‚

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Until next week, keep capturing those amazing moments!

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Cheers and sparkles,

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Candy ๐Ÿฌ

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Big News: Introducing Custom Backgrounds for Your Events! ๐ŸŽจโœจ
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August 22, 2024

Big News: Introducing Custom Backgrounds for Your Events! ๐ŸŽจโœจ

4
ย minutes read
Hey there, fabulous photographers!

โ€

Candy here with some exciting news in our "Big News" series. Weโ€™re thrilled to announce the latest addition to NowCandid: the Custom Background feature!

โ€

This new option allows you to upload up to 4 custom backgrounds for your customers to choose from when theyโ€™re selecting their photos on the retail site. Letโ€™s take a quick look at how this can elevate your photography offerings! ๐Ÿ“ธ

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What are Custom Backgrounds? ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ

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Custom Backgrounds give you the flexibility to provide your clients with personalized background options tailored to the specific Event.

โ€

Whether youโ€™re photographing graduates and want school-specific backgrounds, or covering sports events with sport-specific designs, this feature has got you covered!

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  • Up to 4 Custom Backgrounds: Upload up to 4 custom backgrounds for each Event, in addition to the default options.
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  • Horizontal and Vertical Versions Required: Each background needs both a horizontal and vertical version to ensure your photos look perfect, no matter the orientation.

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Check out the screenshots below for a glimpse of the new Custom Backgrounds interface:

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How Does It Work? ๐Ÿค”

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Using Custom Backgrounds is easy! Simply upload your backgrounds at the Event level when setting up your Event.

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If you decide not to use this feature, donโ€™t worryโ€”AI background generation and default backgrounds will still be available for your clients. This feature is entirely optional but provides a great way to add a personalized touch to your photos.

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  • File Requirements:
    โ€
    • JPG format
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    • Around 300 DPI
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    • SRGB color profile
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    • 2x3 or 3x2 aspect ratio
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    • Recommended dimensions: 2000x3000 or 3000x2000

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Hereโ€™s an example of a photo with a fun custom background applied:

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Whatโ€™s Next? ๐Ÿš€

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Currently, Custom Backgrounds are added at the Event level. But stay tunedโ€”weโ€™re exploring the possibility of adding backgrounds at the Account level in the future. This would make it even easier to offer consistent, branded options across all your Events.

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Weโ€™re so excited to see how youโ€™ll use this new feature to enhance your photography and delight your clients.

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As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, weโ€™re here to help!

โ€

Cheers and sparkles,

โ€
Candy ๐Ÿฌ

Big News: Explore the New NowCandid Retail Site Features! ๐ŸŒŸ
Feature Updates
August 21, 2024

Big News: Explore the New NowCandid Retail Site Features! ๐ŸŒŸ

8
ย minutes read
Hey there, awesome photographers!

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

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Weโ€™ve been hard at work making your clients' shopping experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. Letโ€™s dive into the fantastic new features that are sure to elevate client satisfaction and boost your sales! ๐Ÿ“ธโœจ

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Seamless Third-Party Logins ๐Ÿ”

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

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Now, your clients can save their galleries and order history by logging in with their preferred platformโ€”X/Twitter, Google, Apple, or Facebook. Itโ€™s all about convenience and keeping their memories just a click away!

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(retail theme: liquorice)

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Sleek and Modern UI ๐ŸŽจ

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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.

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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.

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

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(retail theme:ย liquorice - watermarks: off)

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Instant Product Rendering ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ

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Curious about how your clients' photos will look on different products? Weโ€™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 fieldsโ€”all of which will render as they make their choices.

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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!

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(retail theme:ย marshmallow - watermarks: off)

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AI Background Generator for BGR Images ๐Ÿค–๐ŸŽจ

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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.

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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!

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(retail theme: starburst - watermarks: off)

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Retouch All Switch โœจ

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We know your clients want their photos to look their best, so weโ€™ve added a โ€œRetouch Allโ€ switch during checkout. With just a flip, they can apply light retouching to everything in their cart.

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

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(retail theme: starburst - watermarks: off)

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Diamond Gloss Upsell ๐Ÿ’Ž

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

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

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

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(retail theme: cookie dough - watermarks: off)

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Improved Express Checkout ๐Ÿš€

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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.

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And weโ€™re not stopping thereโ€”Google Pay and PayPal express checkout options are coming soon, with more to follow in the future!

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(retail theme: starburst)

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Other Exciting Features ๐ŸŒŸ

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Weโ€™ve packed in even more updates to enhance your clients' experience:

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

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

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

โ€

Thank you for being part of the NowCandid community!

โ€

Cheers and sparkles,

โ€
Candy ๐Ÿฌ

Big News: Introducing Full Frame Overlay! ๐ŸŽจโœจ
Feature Updates
August 14, 2024

Big News: Introducing Full Frame Overlay! ๐ŸŽจโœจ

4
ย minutes read
Hey there, amazing photographers!

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

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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. Letโ€™s dive into the details! ๐ŸŒŸ

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What is Full Frame Overlay? ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ

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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.

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

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Hereโ€™s what you need to know:

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  • Required 4x6 Graphics: The 4x6 ratio graphic is always required, and youโ€™ll need to upload both vertical and horizontal versions.
    โ€
  • 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!
    โ€
  • 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.

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

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How Does It Look? ๐Ÿ‘€

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Full Frame Overlay lets you get creative! Whether youโ€™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.

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Hereโ€™s an example of a photo with a Full Frame Overlay applied:

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More Resources on the Way ๐Ÿ“š

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We know that creating the perfect overlay can take time, so weโ€™re here to help! In addition to our existing Banner Overlay Canva Templates, in the future weโ€™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.

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We canโ€™t wait to see how you use the Full Frame Overlay to elevate your photography and create amazing products for your clients!

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As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, donโ€™t hesitate to reach outโ€”weโ€™re here to help.

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More examples of Full Frame Overlays below!

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Cheers and sparkles,

Candy ๐Ÿฌ

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Letโ€™s get in touch

If youโ€™re a photographer looking to add NowCandid services to your wheelhouse โ€“ 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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Whatโ€™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

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  • โ€

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