An updated image viewer for Memories has been released. Learn about the new features and why the changes were made.
About the Updates
Two main reasons are behind the updates. The first is to accommodate requirements that came from the Family Groups feature. The tagging of images needed to work differently when multiple versions of a person across multiple trees became a possibility.
The second reason is to bring features up to date. The former version of the image viewer was released many years ago. The technology it was built on had become out of date, meaning it was hard to support. Think of trying to maintain a "classic" car in an increasingly modern world. You make concessions. An older car can be expensive to fix, harder to keep running, and does not comply with modern standards of safety or emissions.
Updated Features
Updated features include:
- A new tagging mode
- An updated side panel
- Improvements to editing details
- Improvements to viewing images
Tagging Mode
One of the new features is a dedicated “Tagging Mode.” You decide when to tag images. You can tag in a browser on a mobile device, which was difficult before.
To enable the tagging mode, click the Tag People button. Then click the image and start tagging. The button is above the image or under the tagged people tab in the side panel.
Users who opted in to the new Family Group Trees experience can reuse existing tags. Reusing tags helps when you want a photo to show for all instances of a person. To reuse tags, click the check mark next to each person's bio, and then click Tag Selected.
The search function within tagging has also been improved. You can now search for a person by name, ID, year of birth, year of death, or the word “living.”
Updated Side Panel
The side panel looks different. You can expand or collapse the panel and focus on specific information. You can close the side panel to have more viewable space on a small screen. You can toggle between the Info panel and the Comments on a mobile device.
Editing Details
All the details of an image, including the description, location, date, and contributor, are now editable in the same location. Audio recording and playing controls have also been added to the Details pane. You can add, remove, and play audio right from there.
Viewing Images
The new update provides a larger viewing area of images and PDF files. You can see more detail at once and can zoom in and out.
Additional new features also make viewing detail in images easier. You can invert the color to make the text stand out. You can adjust brightness and contrast settings. Use a tool to rotate the image. You can save the image rotation.
Let Us Know What You Think
As you try out the new image viewer, let us know what you think. Suggest features for improving your experience. Give feedback in the FamilySearch Community, where you can ask a question or suggest an idea. The Memories team monitors the community so you can be sure your feedback is heard.
Memory Viewer Feedback: https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/337-memory-viewer-feedback