Preview images are used for Entries and Linked Albums as representations of the content they contain. We try to help you quickly create these images with the GENERATE button when creating Linked Albums. But some 3rd party cloud sites, most notibly Apple Photos and Amazon Photos, will not allow us to pull this image from the Album. If a preview image cannot be automatically generated, or if you are not pleased with the image, there are two quick and easy ways to add a custom image.
From a Mac or iPhone
Option 1 - Choose a stored photo
In the edit screen of Edit Entry or Edit/Add Linked Album, click on REPLACE PHOTO or UPLOAD CUSTOM ALBUM PREVIEW IMAGE next to the image or template you wish to add or change.
This will open the Photos library on your Mac. Navigate to a photo folder, select your preferred image, and click Open.
Zoom and Crop then Save the photo.
Option 2 - Quickly create a new preview image
Since this image will be used only as a thumbnail representation of your photos album or video, the quality does not need to have a high resolution, so you can do the following:
Open the Album or Video on your Mac or iPhone and choose the image you'd like to use. For video, you can pause it where you want. Now simply take a Screen Grab (shift + command + 4) and draw an outline of the area you wish to capture, and your Mac will store a photo of your image, likely on your Desktop unless set to store screen grabs elsewhere.
Now proceed with Option 1 above, choosing its storage location to select.
From a Windows computer:
Option 1 - Choose a stored photo
In the edit screen of either Edit Entry or Add Linked Album, click on REPLACE PHOTO or UPLOAD CUSTOM ALBUM PREVIEW IMAGE next to the image or template you wish to add or change.
This will open Explorer on your computer.. Navigate to a photo folder, select your preferred image and click Open.
Zoom and Crop then Save the photo.
Option 2 - Quickly create a new preview image
Since this image will be used only as a thumbnail representation of your photos album or video, the quality does not need to have a high resolution, so you can do the following:
- Press the Windows key (Windows Logo) + fn + PrtSc key
- Screenshot is saved automatically in the Photos folder
- From MyFamilyArchive, click on Upload Custom Preview Image and navigate to the Photos folder to select your image
- Open the Snipping Tool (type snipping into Windows search box)
- Click on "New"
- Outline the area to be snipped
- Click Save and add any name... even random characters if you wish as this image will likely not be used again.
- The image will be saved in Pictures
- From MyFamilyArchive, click on Upload Custom Preview Image and navigate to Pictures to select your image
- Keep the Snipping Tool open for your session.
Now proceed with Option 1 above to use this image.