Here follows a list of the biggest changes you’ll find in Piwigo 2.4:

• multiple size: instead of just 2 sizes (thumbnail and web size) Piwigo 2.3 includes 7 sizes. Square, thumbnail, S, M, L, XL, XXL.
• mobile version: if your visitor browse Piwigo with a smartphone, Piwigo automatically loads the mobile theme, designed and optimized for tactile navigation.
• new default theme: Elegant replaces Sylvia as default theme. With it grey colors, menu and comments toggle, we hope you’ll find Elegant modern and beautiful as we do. (of course Sylvia is still maintained)
• many improvements on ergonomy for administration panel, several screens have been redesigned from scratch.

Piwigo 2.4: when visitors browse your gallery with a smartphone like iPhone or Android, Piwigo automatically loads the mobile theme.

Before Piwigo 2.4 stable is available, we propose you to beta-test it. Either you simply browse the Piwigo 2.4 beta-test demo, or we create a complete 2.4 installation for you with administration panel available, just ask!

Our goal is not to host all Piwigo galleries on Piwigo.com, because we believe that the Web is and must remain “decentralized” but for some users, Piwigo.com is cheaper than their current hosting provider or simply offers a better quality of service while maintaining the same high level of freedom.

Before we proceed, you have to be aware that Piwigo on Piwigo.com is slightly different than Piwigo downloaded on Piwigo.org. A few features are missing:

1. you can’t install any theme/plugin. There is a list of available extensions. We have tested and validated them all. If you want an extension that is not currently available, ask us and we will see what we can do.
2. no FTP access. You can’t add photos with the synchronization method. If you already use the web form or pLoader to upload photos, you won’t feel the difference. If you current photos have been added with synchronization, we will manage the conversion into “virtual” albums.

Here is what we propose: test Piwigo on Piwigo.com with these differences in mind and if Piwigo.com fits your need then pay your 1-year subscription and we will manage the move to Piwigo.com, with no additional fee. You will keep all your photos and related info such as user comments, descriptions and so on.

Piwigo and theme Simple: album description can be displayed under the album thumbnail

Piwigo and theme Simple: by default description is displayed next to the album thumbnail

To configure theme Simple, open screen [Administration > Configuration > Themes] and click on the “Configuration” link in the Simple box.

Link to configure your theme in the administration

This update automatically implies bug fixing and new option on child themes Simple White and Simple Black.

Piwigo and GThumb+ plugin in action, all thumbnails have the same height except the first one.

Plugin GThumb+ doesn’t modify your existing thumbnails, it just creates new and specific thumbnails for its own use. GThumb+ is compatible with all themes.

1. 3 Styles

In the theme configuration, you can change the Interface style. You can chose between original, white and black. Style original looks like Stripped version 1. New styles white and black, which only differ by color, bring a different layout, especially on the photo page:

Piwigo and theme Stripped version 2, style White: whatever the height of your screen, the photo is centered.

Piwigo and theme Stripped version 2, style White: information tabs are sticked on the bottom and when opened, the information are displayed over the photo.

2. Photo Preloading

Stripped version 2 optionally offers to preload photos. For example, when a visitor opens the first photo in an album, then Stripped will automatically preload the next 5 photos. Number “5″ can be modified. Result = faster browsing.

3. Optional Frame

Another new option in the configuration of Stripped: you can deactivate frame around thumbnails.

Piwigo with theme Stripped version 2, style Black: frame around thumbnails.

Piwigo with theme Stripped version 2, style Black: no frame around thumbnails.

The very same option is available for the “web size” photo, which now becomes optional.

4. Navigation Arrows

In addition to navigation arrows that appear on top of the photo (that’s optional), Stripped version 2 can display two big arrows on the border of your screen, with a fixed position. See the first screenshot of this post.

5. Navigation Thumbnails

With Stripped version 1, it was possible to move from one photo to another by clicking on next/prev thumbnails. This feature disappears with version 2 because the required code was too complex and this feature was rarely used (navigation thumbnails remain available with other themes of course).

Now you can test new themes Stripped White and Stripped Black on Piwigo.com multiple themes demo →

As you may already know, when a new user subscribes with your referral code, then both of you get an extra month for free. This week, bonuses are multiplied by 2: referrer and new subscriber get 2 extra months on their subscription period.

Unlike chocolate, use without moderation!

Need a reminder about how the referral program works? Read Referral Program

Custom Footer on your Piwigo photo gallery

Perso Footer is compatible with all themes. The most frequent message we encounter looks like “Photos are copyrighted, ask before any use” but this is free text, you decide what you write.

Simple task = simple use: once plugin Perso Footer is activated on screen [Administration > Plugins > Manage], submit your text on screen [Administration > Plugins > Perso Footer] and you’re done.

1. Default display

By default, the description of an album is displayed next to the album thumbnail on the albums page and the same description is displayed on the thumbnails page, above thumbnails.

Piwigo: default display of the album description on the albums page

Piwigo: default display of the album description on the thumbnails page

2. Tag <!--more-->

start of description…<!--more-->… end of description

Only the start of description is displayed outside the album. On the album page, you will see start of description + end of description.

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "more": display of album "start" description on albums page

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "more": display of album "start" description + "end" description on thumbnails page

3. Tag <!--complete-->

short description <!--complete--> long description

Only the short description is displayed outside the album. On the album page, you will only see the long description, so you have 2 distinct descriptions.

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "complete": display of album "short" description on albums page

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "complete": display of album "long" description on thumbnails page

4. Tag <!--up-down-->

top description <!--up-down--> bottom description

Only the top description is displayed outside the album. On the album page, the top description is displayed above the thumbnails, the bottom description is displayed below the thumbnails.

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "up-down": display of album "up" description on albums page

Piwigo with Extended Description, tag "up-down": display of album "up" description + "bottom" description on thumbnails page

5. Let’s combine tags

It’s even possible to combine the tags described previously, for example:

short description <!–complete–> top long description <!–up-down–> bottom long description

Piwigo with Extended Description, tags combined: display of album "short" description on albums page

Piwigo with Extended Description, tags combined: display of album "top long" description + "bottom long" description on thumbnails page

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

So what’s new in your photo gallery with this major upgrade?

• New design for the plugin manager
• Many improvements on the photo upload manager
• New sorting method for best rated photos
• Better “lost password” feature for the members of your gallery and the  administrators don’t need to ask Piwigo.com support for a new password
• Merge tags
• Regenerate the websize photos and thumbnails
• Crop thumbnail (square or panoramic)
• New options for theme Stripped

Discover the full list of new features on Piwigo 2.3 release notes (screenshots and video inside).

PS: a few galleries are still running on Piwigo 2.2. This is the case if you use a Gally theme or if your main language is Chinese or Spanish. Please be patient, as soon as we have the compatible missing extensions, the automatic upgrade script will notify you.

Piwigo for iOS, upload photos in your Piwigo gallery from your iPhone

The Piwigo application empowers you to connect to your Piwigo gallery, create some albums and upload several photos at once. The application was not designed to browse your gallery but to perform basic administration tasks, such as photo upload. Our goal is to create a simple and intuitive tool.

The application for mobile has been created by Patrice Gauchon, member of the Piwigo team.

• Piwigo for iOS (iPhone 3G, 4, 4S and also for iPad) on the Apple Store
• Piwigo for Android on the Android Market