Like many, I have carefully cropped square thumbnails for all images in all my galleries. However, for the slideshow strip, these are ignored with SmugMug creating an alternative square thumb out of the centres of the images. In most cases, this is a hopeless representation of the image.
Why not create the square slideshow thumb from the existing image thumb which, for an-already square thumb, will be the same perspective as the thumb the user has created or to which SmugMug has defaulted?
Good directions!
I think guys you are doing a great job.
There is a couple of improvements you can add though. One of them is enabling [righ] and
keys navigation for the gallery view.
There are more...
I am UX consultant with 20 years of experience in the field. Let me know if you need my help with heuristics evaluation of your current and planned design.
Big +1 on this..... I hate how it automatically chooses the hugest size, it looks awful most of the time. I did find this request on the user voice. HERE
I agree, i would like to set the default size at &s=M (ipod size) because that loads fast and fits most all screens. The auto choice is often too big for the screen and too slow to load.
However, on this new interface, it is choosing a size smaller than the old "auto" chooses, so this is a little better than before.
Also, i like how when i arrow to the next picture/movie, it plays the movie automatically! Next step is to have it play the movie in slideshow mode, that would be an awesome "fix".
I take the switched homepage image to mean that the release is imminent. To replace the image that's been showing a non-existing gallery style for a year, with an image of another non-existing gallery style would just be disrespectful.
Malte
I guess it's not. Can someone from Smug explain why you keep putting up unavaliable themes on the homepage?
I came here to post the same comment. I hate having to move my mouse to the thumbnails, figure out which one I'm on, and clicking the next one to move to the next picture. With the arrows you can leave you mouse in the same place and click through the pictures quickly. It's a much better user experience.
Otherwise, I like the new interface though a few tools take a while to find the first time you look for them. It looks good when I'm on my netbook which rare for websites on a screen this small.
I came here to post the same comment. I hate having to move my mouse to the thumbnails, figure out which one I'm on, and clicking the next one to move to the next picture. With the arrows you can leave you mouse in the same place and click through the pictures quickly. It's a much better user experience.
Jim,
In that case, just let go of the mouse and hit the left / right arrow keys on your keyboard.
Jim,
In that case, just let go of the mouse and hit the left / right arrow keys on your keyboard.
well, have you watched someone who might be new with computers? They are proud that they can get their email and maybe look at the internet. for the most part their hand is welded to the mouse. they don't even realize that the keyboard does anything besides type letters and numbers.
just the other day, i taught a friend of mine how to draw a circle around multiple files to move them. while this sort of task may seem simple to us, it really isn't. he has been "using computers" for years.
those people could be customers if we make it simple enough for them to buy.
I won't ask when because I know there is a lot of work to be done in a major redisign. But it would be good to hear some news, updates, etc... like we were hearing last year.
Jim,
In that case, just let go of the mouse and hit the left / right arrow keys on your keyboard.
Thanks for the tip. I still think there should be arrows in the interface. They take up no room on the old interface. I've been on the new interface for a few months and never tried that even though I had done it a few times in the old interface. I also think the active photo can be hard to find in the thumbnails at times in the new interface.
When on my netbook with a small keyboard I stick to the mouse. Actually I use the mouse for almost everything I can regardless of the computer or program. I've rarely used kb shortcuts since the WordPerfect days.
Thanks for the tip. I still think there should be arrows in the interface. They take up no room on the old interface. I've been on the new interface for a few months and never tried that even though I had done it a few times in the old interface. I also think the active photo can be hard to find in the thumbnails at times in the new interface.
When on my netbook with a small keyboard I stick to the mouse. Actually I use the mouse for almost everything I can regardless of the computer or program. I've rarely used kb shortcuts since the WordPerfect days.
Smugmug: do it like Facebook and the rest. Left and right arrows to the left and right of the image. Could even use some JS to detect mouseover on the img to fade the left/right arrows in like other js slideshows such as Galleria.
Looks good to me
I've briefly looked it over, but aesthetically it is MUCH more appealing. Very consistent with other social networking vehicles like Wordpress, Facebook, etc. I think after all, that's where MOST photos will be ending up in the years to come (instead of walls).
I think one AWESOME feature to put in would be to have the user just pay for the download and have it imported into their Facebook page automatically, rather than having them have to download then upload it from their filesystem (of course they would be able to download it to their file system/cloud storage location afterwards).
just found this thread, and given it a try. A nice lick of paint on the old dog! Moving between pages in a gallery though - the thumbnail under the arrow to go to the next page is always square, it should use the gallery "thumbnail" setting - I always have it on original, so it looks a bit wrong!
transitions
How about a js transition in the lightbox view? A simple 'fade to color', reframe, 'fade in from color' would immensely increase the 'production value' to my clients. Sorta like a Fancybox. Of course other pros might not want this, especially if they are using SM as a proofing system for corporate. Just need an option in the gallery settings I suppose.
SM could you please give a status on the new design? When will it be released?
Phil,
I can understand that you're eagerly awaiting the release of the new gallery style. You can check out the first couple posts on the thread for details from Don (onethumb). The posts will be updated as soon as there's new information available.
It would also be nice if the create gallery page had an option to add a password. So when uploading
hours of family and/or private photos they are not public. Or at least put a red warning box on the page
to go to gallery settings before uploading to set PW, watermark and thumbnail ratio.
Phil,
I can understand that you're eagerly awaiting the release of the new gallery style. You can check out the first couple posts on the thread for details from Don (onethumb). The posts will be updated as soon as there's new information available.
Thank you. I looked at the new design awhile back, but hestitating doing anything more until it is finished. One common method in application development is to release versions at least every six months. That way people stay in touch. Just a thought. I look forward to the new design.
Comments
My Website index | My Blog
How is the cookie removed?
twin Mark IV's & a bunch of "L" glass
site ∙ facebook
Why not create the square slideshow thumb from the existing image thumb which, for an-already square thumb, will be the same perspective as the thumb the user has created or to which SmugMug has defaulted?
To to your website, add /darkoom, hit enter, and then click "leave".
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
I think guys you are doing a great job.
There is a couple of improvements you can add though. One of them is enabling [righ] and
There are more...
I am UX consultant with 20 years of experience in the field. Let me know if you need my help with heuristics evaluation of your current and planned design.
Alexei Rebrov
http://rebroff.com
I agree, i would like to set the default size at &s=M (ipod size) because that loads fast and fits most all screens. The auto choice is often too big for the screen and too slow to load.
However, on this new interface, it is choosing a size smaller than the old "auto" chooses, so this is a little better than before.
Also, i like how when i arrow to the next picture/movie, it plays the movie automatically! Next step is to have it play the movie in slideshow mode, that would be an awesome "fix".
thanks for the improvements, keep 'em coming.
So when can we expect an upgrade? It's been more than 6 months since darkroom announcement.
I guess it's not. Can someone from Smug explain why you keep putting up unavaliable themes on the homepage?
Malte
I came here to post the same comment. I hate having to move my mouse to the thumbnails, figure out which one I'm on, and clicking the next one to move to the next picture. With the arrows you can leave you mouse in the same place and click through the pictures quickly. It's a much better user experience.
Otherwise, I like the new interface though a few tools take a while to find the first time you look for them. It looks good when I'm on my netbook which rare for websites on a screen this small.
Jim
In that case, just let go of the mouse and hit the left / right arrow keys on your keyboard.
SmugMug Support Hero
well, have you watched someone who might be new with computers? They are proud that they can get their email and maybe look at the internet. for the most part their hand is welded to the mouse. they don't even realize that the keyboard does anything besides type letters and numbers.
just the other day, i taught a friend of mine how to draw a circle around multiple files to move them. while this sort of task may seem simple to us, it really isn't. he has been "using computers" for years.
those people could be customers if we make it simple enough for them to buy.
http://www.betabeat.com/2012/02/21/flickr-is-getting-a-major-makeover/
Feel free to leave a comment...
That looks nice & hopefully the changes above will take place very soon!
twin Mark IV's & a bunch of "L" glass
site ∙ facebook
Thanks,
My Smugmug Gallery
Thanks for the tip. I still think there should be arrows in the interface. They take up no room on the old interface. I've been on the new interface for a few months and never tried that even though I had done it a few times in the old interface. I also think the active photo can be hard to find in the thumbnails at times in the new interface.
When on my netbook with a small keyboard I stick to the mouse. Actually I use the mouse for almost everything I can regardless of the computer or program. I've rarely used kb shortcuts since the WordPerfect days.
Smugmug: do it like Facebook and the rest. Left and right arrows to the left and right of the image. Could even use some JS to detect mouseover on the img to fade the left/right arrows in like other js slideshows such as Galleria.
/// www.affinityseattle.com /// <-yes, you want to check that out.
I've briefly looked it over, but aesthetically it is MUCH more appealing.
I think one AWESOME feature to put in would be to have the user just pay for the download and have it imported into their Facebook page automatically, rather than having them have to download then upload it from their filesystem (of course they would be able to download it to their file system/cloud storage location afterwards).
Just my 2 cents from looking it over real quick.
When will the new site features be available for client side? Let's go SM
Love that!! Can't wait for the ability to switch!!
But no way to open info box in full screen view, or did I miss that ...
Sebbes
How about a js transition in the lightbox view? A simple 'fade to color', reframe, 'fade in from color' would immensely increase the 'production value' to my clients. Sorta like a Fancybox. Of course other pros might not want this, especially if they are using SM as a proofing system for corporate. Just need an option in the gallery settings I suppose.
/// www.affinityseattle.com /// <-yes, you want to check that out.
SM could you please give a status on the new design? When will it be released?
There have been over 71,000 views and 800 posts in this thread, so we know there is a lot of interest.
Thanks,
Phil
"You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
Phil
I can understand that you're eagerly awaiting the release of the new gallery style. You can check out the first couple posts on the thread for details from Don (onethumb). The posts will be updated as soon as there's new information available.
SmugMug Support Hero
Hi,
It would be nice to add gallery description from the the new "Upload" page.
thanks,
hours of family and/or private photos they are not public. Or at least put a red warning box on the page
to go to gallery settings before uploading to set PW, watermark and thumbnail ratio.
My Website index | My Blog
Malte
---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?5vqcig
Thank you. I looked at the new design awhile back, but hestitating doing anything more until it is finished. One common method in application development is to release versions at least every six months. That way people stay in touch. Just a thought. I look forward to the new design.
Take care,
Phil
"You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
Phil