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PICR

Create your first gallery

PICR publishes folders that already exist inside its media library. You do not upload originals through the browser: export, copy, or synchronise them into the mounted media folder using your normal workflow.

This guide takes one shoot from the filesystem to a tested recipient link.

Section titled “Gallery workflow”
  1. Add the shoot to PICR’s mounted media library and let it scan.
  2. Give the folder a client-facing title, gallery image, and branding.
  3. Create a scoped recipient link with the right proofing permissions.
  4. Test the exact link in a private browser on desktop and mobile.
  5. Send it, then monitor opens and review activity.
Section titled “1. Add a gallery folder”

Create a folder below the host path mounted at /home/node/app/media, then place the client files inside it. For example:

Example media folder
Client Media/
└── 2026-08 Smith Family/
    ├── IMG_0001.jpg
    ├── IMG_0002.jpg
    └── highlights.mp4

The folder becomes a gallery and its files become gallery items. Subfolders remain navigable sub-galleries.

PICR detects the new folder through the scan strategy configured during installation. If it does not appear yet:

  1. Open the closest visible parent folder in PICR.
  2. Open the folder menu and choose Manage.
  3. Select Scan Now.

The first previews can take a little longer while thumbnails, metadata, and video posters are generated.

2. Give it a client-facing name

Section titled “2. Give it a client-facing name”

Open the new folder, then use its menu to choose Manage. On the Folder tab you can set:

  • Title — the heading recipients see instead of the filesystem folder name
  • Subtitle — optional context such as the shoot date or delivery note

The underlying folder name does not change. This lets you keep an internal naming convention such as 2026-08 Smith Family while displaying The Smith Family to the client.

Section titled “3. Choose gallery imagery”

Open an image or video’s menu and select Set as hero image. The hero represents the folder in previews and notifications.

For a large heading image, open an image’s menu and select Set as banner image. Adjust its size and alignment in the preview. Videos can be hero images, but banner images must be still images.

These choices affect presentation only; PICR does not alter the original media.

4. Apply branding

Section titled “4. Apply branding”

In Manage → Folder, choose a branding preset or create one for the gallery. A folder without its own preset inherits branding from its nearest branded parent.

Branding controls colours, fonts, logo, gallery layout, available views, and footer links. See Branding and theming for the full set of options.

Section titled “5. Create a recipient link”

Open Manage → Links and create a public link for the recipient. At minimum, give the link a recipient name. You can also choose:

  • A generated or custom link ID
  • An optional passcode and expiry time
  • Proofing or final-delivery mode
  • Whether the recipient can see or edit comments, ratings, and flags

Save the link, then copy its URL. Create a separate link for each person or team when you want independent access history, settings, or revocation.

Users and recipient links explains each access control, while Proofing and final delivery covers the two delivery modes. For this first gallery, the important part is to test the exact link you intend to send.

6. Check the recipient experience

Section titled “6. Check the recipient experience”

Check that:

  • The title, subtitle, hero/banner, and branding look correct
  • Only the intended folder and subfolders are visible
  • The available gallery views suit the delivery
  • Download controls match proofing or final-delivery mode
  • Comments, ratings, and flags match the chosen permissions
  • A passcode or expiry setting behaves as expected

Test on a phone-sized screen as well as a desktop before sending an important delivery.

Section titled “7. Send and monitor the link”

Send the tested URL through your normal client communication. PICR records recipient views and downloads unless access logging is disabled.

You can review activity from the dashboard or the folder’s Manage → Access Logs tab. The PICR mobile app can notify signed-in users when a recipient opens a link; see Notifications for setup and supported events.

What to learn next

Section titled “What to learn next”