Applying a Cover Thumbnail to your Groups, Galleries and Collections

What is a Cover Thumbnail? 

Think of a Cover Thumbnail as a book cover: it is simply a visual indication of the contents inside. When you create Groups, Galleries and Collections of your images, you have the opportunity to select a thumbnail image to be the cover photo of the entity created. 

What should the Cover Thumbnail be? 

When selecting your Cover Thumbnail for a Group, Gallery or Collection, our recommendation is to pick one that best represents its contents. For example, if you’re selecting a Cover Thumbnail for a wedding, perhaps pick a portrait of the newly wedded couple as the Cover Thumbnail. Keep in mind that Cover Thumbnails used for a Gallery usually come from within that Gallery; for a Group, it’s common to use photos from a Gallery contained within that Group.

So, can I use any photo?

Sure, as long as it’s a public photo or video in any Group, Gallery, or Collection, it can be assigned as a Cover Thumbnail to any Group, Gallery or Collection. 

Are there default selections if I don’t want to pick one? 

Yes! By default, the very first image displayed in a Gallery will be used as the Gallery's Cover Thumbnail photo; and the Group placeholder icon (a Folder) will be used as the Group’s Cover Thumbnail photo. This can be changed by manually selecting a different cover thumbnail for a Group or Gallery.  

What does your Account look like?

Click on the image that matches your view for instructions specific to your interface.

Original Photos Page: Applying a Cover Thumbnail to your Groups, Galleries and Collections

More of a visual learner? No problem. Check out this video on how to apply an image as the cover thumbnail:

 

Here’s how to Assign a Cover Thumbnail to a Group, Gallery, or Collection:

1. From the Main Menu within your account, go to Photos.

2. Select the Gallery that contains the photo you would like to use as a Cover Thumbnail.

3. In the Main Area, move your mouse over the photo you would like to assign as a Cover Thumbnail. Click on the down-pointing arrow that appears.

4. From the Photo Menu choose Select as Cover Thumbnail. A Set Cover Thumbnail window will appear.

5. Assign the selected photo to the desired Gallery, Group, or Collection.

6. Click Assign to apply your changes.

Here’s how to assign a Cover Thumbnail to a private or PASSWORD-PROTECTED Group, Gallery, or Collection: 

The process is slightly different if you’re Group, Gallery or Collection is Password-Protected. Below is an example of how password protected Galleries are displayed when photo protection is applied to their cover thumbnails.

Sometimes this is preferred; but, when it’s not, you do have the option to show the cover thumbnail for password protected Galleries. 

Here’s how:

1. From the Main Menu within your account, go to Photos.
2. Select the Group, Gallery, or Collection that has been made private or password-protected.
3. In the Details column go to Gallery Access. An Access Control window will appear.
4. Check Don't apply protection to cover thumbnail, always display it to visitors.
5. Click Save to apply your changes.

New Photos Page: Applying a Cover Thumbnail to your Groups, Galleries and Collections

Here’s how to Assign a Cover Thumbnail to a Group, Gallery, or Collection:

1. From the Main Menu within your account, go to Photos.

2. Select the Gallery from the Organizer column that contains the photo you would like to use as a Cover Thumbnail.

3. In the Main Area, move your mouse over the photo you would like to assign as a Cover Thumbnail. Click on the down-pointing arrow that appears.

4. From the Photo Menu choose Select as Cover Photo. A Set Cover Thumbnail window will appear.

5. Assign the selected photo to the desired Gallery, Group, or Collection.

6. Click Assign to apply your changes.

Here’s how to assign a Cover Thumbnail to a private or PASSWORD-PROTECTED Group, Gallery, or Collection: 

The process is slightly different if you’re Group, Gallery or Collection is Password-Protected. Below is an example of how password protected Galleries are displayed when photo protection is applied to their cover thumbnails.

Sometimes this is preferred; but, when it’s not, you do have the option to show the cover thumbnail for password protected Galleries. 

Here’s how:

1. From the Main Menu within your account, go to Photos.
2. Select the Group, Gallery, or Collection that has been made private or password-protected.
3. In the center area of the page go to Access. An Access Settings window will appear.
4. Click on the Privacy option in the Access settings window.
5. Scroll down in the options and click on Advanced Settings
6. More settings will appear, scroll down in the Privacy options. Check the box that says Don't apply protection to cover thumbnail, always display it to visitors.
7. Click Save to apply your changes.