Color flags or selections – which one is better?
When is the best time to use color flags?
picdrop’s color flags are a very simple and quick way to mark those files that you want to use or select in the end.
They are primarily suitable …
When only one person should work on a selection. To get started, it requires no training and you can mark files directly. However. that also means color flags can be overridden at any time - and by every visitor to the gallery. So it's a good idea to use the color flags if you are only working with one client in the gallery.
To "narrow down" a selection. For example, the client can mark his first favorites "orange", use "green" as the favorites of that selection and "red" for pictures that should not be used. Therefore your client gets through the selection step by step and can approach the final decision.
Pro Tip #1: You can set the gallery up in a way that all the files get grouped by color. This way the color flags will also be visually separated for your clients.
For fast, real-time voting, for example, while on the phone or via Skype. Color flags are immediately visible on any computer or smartphone on which the gallery is open. This makes them very well suited to make direct arrangements that the counterpart should see in real time.
They are not suitable …
To map selections of multiple people in a gallery. If several people are to express their opinion on a set of files, the color flags often get in the way. One file can only have one color flag at the time. This means that multiple people using color flags in one gallery will always overwrite each others color flags. Therefore, we advise against the use of color flags when working with several people in a gallery.
When is the best time to use the selection function?
picdrop's selection function helps you capture and store multiple views of your clients in a gallery. Your clients use them best to set final favorites in a gallery. One of the most important things in creating a picture selection is remembering to save and name them. Therefore nothing stands in the way of further work with the selection.
It is best suited …
If several clients should select pictures. You have shared the picdrop gallery link with several clients and they should each give their assessment of the pictures. Each picture can be selected several times.
To set several selections for different purposes. An endless number of selections can be created in a gallery do not affect the overall gallery. However, the selections should then be named accordingly, so that you can identify them to the respective client or purpose.
Pro Tip #2: Selections can be moved and copied to a different gallery with just a few clicks.
To finalize a selection. By creating a selection your clients can easily tell you which files are for final editing or go to print.
It is not suitable …
As a step by step selection. However, the color markings and their filter options are simply clearer and intuitively understandable for your clients due to the color scheme.
For real-time coordination with your client. In order to make arrangements with your client in real time, the selection tool is a bit cumbersome, better to use the color flags.
Pro Tip #3: With the Shift key held down, you can click the left mouse button anywhere in the voting mode and draw a blue selection frame. Any file inside the frame will automatically end up in your selection bar at the bottom. More shortcuts can be found here.
Why shouldn't both be activated at the same time?
In general, we recommend to enable only one of them (either color flags or selections) per gallery for your clients. This prevents misunderstandings and confusion when using picdrop.
In conclusion, the color flags should be used as temporary markers. Selections are saved file sets that you can recall at any time to continue working in the gallery.