To start, create a new gallery. Name your gallery and set a password if needed. On the gallery creation screen, select the “Custom Photo Layout” option, which is the feature we’ll focus on today. You can also stick with the automatic layout if you’re familiar with it.
Once the gallery is created, start by adding some photos and selecting a cover image. After the photos are uploaded, you’ll notice a new selector where you can choose between “Automatic Layout” and “Custom Photo Layout.” You can switch between these at any time, but for this tutorial, we’ll use the Custom Photo Layout.
Click on the Design Layout button to access the layout design screen. Here, you’ll see two main sections: on the left, your uploaded photos, and in the center, a space where you’ll arrange the photos into different sections. This layout will give you a preview of how the gallery will look on the client’s side.
You can start designing in two ways: by manually adding the first section and selecting the photos for it, or by generating a layout that the application will create based on your photos, which you can customize later.
To add your first section, choose the desired photo layout. For instance, you might choose a horizontal photo layout with margins on either side. Once the section is added, drag and drop a photo from the left-side panel into the layout space. The photo will automatically appear in the section, and an icon will indicate that this photo has been used.
If you want to add more sections, click on Add Section in the menu on the right, select the layout, and drag more photos into the new sections. You can also rearrange the photos within a section or move them between sections by dragging and dropping.
You can change the layout of a section at any time. For example, you might decide to switch from a layout with two horizontal photos to one with three, which will create an additional space to fill with another photo. You can also rearrange the order of entire sections by dragging them up or down the layout.
If you prefer, you can generate a layout by clicking Generate Layout. The system will create a layout based on your chosen settings for horizontal and vertical photos. Once the layout is generated, you can adjust it to make it look more professional. For example, you might consolidate multiple photos into a single section or adjust the layout to better fit the photos.
As you refine your layout, you can zoom out to get a better view of the overall design. Every change you make is automatically saved. When you’re satisfied with the layout, click Close to return to the gallery details view.
Here, you’ll see a value indicator that shows the percentage of photos used in the layout. A value of 100% indicates that all photos have been used, but it’s fine if this number is lower if that’s your goal.
Once the custom layout is complete, publish the gallery. When the client logs in, they will see the gallery exactly as you designed it, with all photos arranged according to your custom layout.
You can switch back to the automatic layout at any time by selecting the option in the gallery view. Any changes made in the custom layout will be saved, so you can retrieve and switch back to it whenever needed.
This tutorial should guide you through the process of creating a custom photo layout in your gallery. Explore the feature and create unique galleries for your clients!