HomeNavigation arrowBlogNavigation arrow
Current page
Feature Updates

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 🍬

Related articles

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 1 – The New NowCandid Web Dashboard 🎄🎁
Feature Updates
December 14, 2024

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 1 – The New NowCandid Web Dashboard 🎄🎁

3
 minutes read
Hello, my merry photographer friends! 🎅

Candy here, and I’m excited to kick off a special holiday celebration with all of you!

For the next 11 days, we’ll be counting down the 12 Days of Christmas by revisiting one of our biggest, most impactful NowCandid features from 2024 each day. Then, on December 25th, we’ll unwrap a brand-new surprise—one of our biggest new features of the year!

Let’s begin Day 1 by shining a festive spotlight on the all-new NowCandid Web Dashboard, a cornerstone of our 2024 improvements that completely transformed how you manage your photography business online.

What Changed in 2024:

  • Participant Details & Gallery Management:

    With the new dashboard, you can dive straight into a participant’s details, view their assigned images, and even add more images to their gallery if needed. This level of control made delivering a personalized experience easier than ever.
  • Enhanced Order Details & Reports:

    Gone are the days of scattered information. The updated dashboard brought comprehensive order details front and center, along with in-depth reports. Now you can monitor sales, understand trends, and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
  • Streamlined Image Downloads:

    Need to access event images quickly? The new dashboard let you download images right from your event pages, saving time and ensuring you have what you need at your fingertips—no extra steps required.

From improved participant oversight to richer analytics and convenient image downloads, the new NowCandid Web Dashboard was a game-changer.

It set the tone for a year filled with upgrades that helped you run your business more efficiently, serve your clients better, and ultimately capture more smiles.🎉

Stay tuned for Day 2 tomorrow, where we’ll highlight another standout feature from 2024.🎄✨

Until then, keep embracing the holiday spirit and know that something truly special awaits you on December 25th!

Candy 🍬

Weekly Recap: QuicPics Improvements! 📸🎉
Feature Updates
December 13, 2024

Weekly Recap: QuicPics Improvements! 📸🎉

3
 minutes read
Hello again, my wonderful photographers! 🎅

Candy here, bringing you another Weekly Recap. It’s a light week for changes, but we’ve got a couple of handy tweaks worth mentioning. Let’s dive in! 🌟

1. Bigger, Better Downloads for QuicPics & QuicPics GO 🏆

  • Improved Download Quality: Images downloaded directly from the retail site during QuicPics or QuicPics GO events—via “tap and hold” or the download icon—now come closer in size and quality to what clients receive through free downloads at checkout or via MMS.
  • Richer Image Experience: This enhancement means end customers get crisper, more detailed images, no matter how they choose to save them.

2. Clearer QuicPics Products in the Offer Creator 💡

  • Improved UI Guidance: The two QuicPics products are now always listed at the top of every custom offer in the Offer Creator.
  • Easier Understanding: Notes explain that these items only appear if you’re running a QuicPics or QuicPics GO event. This helps photographers realize they don’t need to manually add free downloads—QuicPics has them covered.

Looking Ahead: The 12 Days of Christmas Countdown 🎄

Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin a special 12 Days of Christmas countdown. Each day leading up to December 25th, we’ll revisit one of 2024’s biggest features. On the final day, we’ll unwrap a brand-new surprise—one of the year’s biggest new additions!

Stay tuned, enjoy the holiday season, and get ready for a festive lineup of features! 🎁

Candy 🍬

Candy's Weekly Recap: Extended Positive ID Events, Enhanced Order Details & More!📸🎉
Feature Updates
December 6, 2024

Candy's Weekly Recap: Extended Positive ID Events, Enhanced Order Details & More!📸🎉

4
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographer friends!

Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our latest Weekly Recap! 🌟

We've been tinkering away to bring you some delightful updates that'll make your NowCandid experience even better—just in time for the holiday season! Let's dive in! 🏊‍♀️

1. Extended Duration for Positive ID Events 🎅

Great news for those capturing the magic of the season!

  • Positive ID Events Now Up to 30 Days Long: You can now edit your Positive ID Workflow events to extend their end date up to 30 days.
  • Why This Matters:
    • Longer Visibility: Events will stay visible on the selection screen of the Capture & Upload App for a longer period, beyond the typical 5-day range.
    • Perfect for Holiday Events: This change is especially helpful for those using our Scanner ID and Type & Take workflows for Santa photos and other festive events.
  • Note: This extension is currently only for Positive ID Events. Events using the Face Matching Workflow remain unchanged.
  • Holiday Cheer: Don't forget to try out our Candy Cane retail theme, stuffed with plenty of holiday spirit to make your galleries extra festive! 🎄

2. Enhanced Order Details in Web Dashboard 🛍️

We've supercharged the Order Details to keep you in the loop!

  • More Informative Order Details:
    • Comprehensive Info: Access all the information you need about each order directly from the dashboard.
    • Clickable Orders: Orders in the recent orders lists are now clickable, taking you straight to detailed order pages.
  • Participant Integration:
    • Jump to Participant Details: If an order is tied to a participant, you can navigate directly to their details page.
    • View Images & Marketing History: See their images, marketing interactions, and more.
  • Did You Know? 🤔
    • NowCandid Handles Retail Support: That's right! We take care of much of the retail support for you, including order resubmissions. You can focus on capturing moments while we handle the rest!

3. Improved Scan Card Generation Performance 📝

We've fine-tuned the Scan Card generation to make it smoother than ever!

  • Performance Boost:
    • Faster Generation: Recent updates had slowed down scan card creation, but we've optimized the process.
    • Reliability Restored: Generating Scan Card PDFs should now work properly and more efficiently.
  • Why It Matters:
    • Seamless Workflow: Especially important for high-volume events like holiday photo sessions.
    • Feedback Welcome: If you notice anything not performing as expected or have suggestions, please let us know!
  • A Festive Note:
    • We're committed to resolving any issues faster than Santa delivering presents to billions of children across the globe in just 24 hours! (All those cookies must give him quite the sugar rush.) 🍪🎅

We're always here to support you!

So please, feel free to share your feedback or questions.

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

P.S. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with magical moments to capture! 🎁✨

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