This release introduces a wholly new concept for FW Gallery architecture. A change in FW Gallery architecture triggered a butch of new features and updates. Let’s have a look at all changes below:

New:

• One component instead of two. Now there is no separate Light and Grand versions. We merged Light and Grand versions into a single FW Gallery component available in two packages - basic package (former Light) and basic package with add-ons (former Grand). Add-on is a separate tool extending FW Gallery functionality. Each add-on has its own functionalities, configuration specifics, icon, and banner. 
• Add-ons section. All add-ons can be managed via Add-ons section. You can add, remove, filter the add-ons by types such as design, plugin, module, component, and data type. 
• Front-end manager add-on. If you want to enable galleries management directly via the front-end,  you can use FW Gallery Front-end Manager add-on of the component type. Front-end manager should be configured separately by assigning FW Gallery Front-end Manager layout to a menu item. 
• FW Gallery Carousel add-on. A new add-on of the module type adds a carousel slider on your gallery page. The module is perfect for showcasing multiple images in a slider with or without scroll buttons. You can choose from two layout positions - vertical and horizontal as well as set various display options such as gallery name, image name, dates, etc.
• Grid display effects. We added new grid display effects set in gallery settings and applied to gallery listing view. You have a choice of 4 grids - Standard, Waterfall, Justified, and Custom. Each grid will help you create a visually attractive gallery listing.
• File details display effects. We added 7 stylish file details display effects adding a creative touch to your photos. 
• On hover effect. Added beautiful on hover effects for images previews. Choose between Ken Burns and Linear effects to add a playful touch to your images
• Meta Data section for a file/gallery. We added a new Meta Data section to file/gallery settings allowing to specify meta keywords and meta description for better search engine optimization. 
• Tag alias parameter for a new tag. Specify a URL-friendly name for a new tag within Tags management section to replace unnecessary elements in the URL string like IDs, slashes, colons, etc. 

Updates:

• Facebook Import add-on. Facebook Import is available as a separate add-on of the plugin type and can be installed/removed via Add-ons section. Once installed, link to your Facebook account in order to start importing.
• Google import add-on. Google import add-on of the plugin type enables importing Google albums to your gallery website. Once installed, you should link to your Google account in order to start importing.
• Documentation reference: Google images import tutorial (https://fastw3b.com/documentation/fw-gallery/23-google-import-plugin)
• FW Gallery File Meta Data add-on. A data type add-on allows importing all file meta data such as tags, locations, titles, watermarks, descriptions, etc. along with a file. Once installed all meta data coming along with a file get automatically imported upon upload to your gallery website.
• FW Gallery Social plugin. Social add-on of the plugin type adds attractive social sharing buttons to your gallery files. Once enabled, you can easily share your galleries on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest.
• FW Gallery Video add-on. Video add-on of the plugin type allows displaying Vimeo/Youtube/MP4 videos on your gallery website. Once enabled, you will be able to create video and mixed content galleries. 
• FW Gallery Search plugin. Search add-on of the plugin type extends the standard Joomla search by displaying images in the search results.
• FW Gallery Tag add-on. We created Tag add-on of the plugin type adding Tags management section to your website. Add, edit, and remove tags using this section. All tags assigned to a gallery or file hit the tags list where a usage frequency can be monitored. 
• FW Gallery Vote add-on. Enable simple voting for public and authorized users with Vote add-on of the plugin type. The plugin adds cool-looking voting buttons on your gallery website.
• FW Gallery add-on. Gallery add-on of the module type adds images and galleries anywhere on your gallery website - in top/bottom content position, gallery/file description, etc.
• FW Gallery Map add-on. Map add-on of the module type adds a map with galleries or images on your website. Just enter Google Map key, set map height, and assign a required position to the module. 
• FW Gallery Slideshow add-on. Slideshow add-on of the module type allows auto playing galleries in an eye-catching slideshow module. Display recently-added or random images, enable/disable thumbnails, choose slideshow effects, set a custom slideshow size.
• FW Gallery Latest add-on. Latest add-on of the module type allows displaying some latest or random images in the module.
• We separated designs from the core system. Now each design is a software add-on working independently from the main component and other add-ons. 
• FW Gallery Bootstrap add-on. Bootstrap add-on of the design type adds a distinct look to your gallery. 
• FW Gallery Classic add-on. Classic add-on of the design type adds an elegant and bold look to your gallery. 
• FW Gallery Fancy add-on. Fancy add-on of the design type gives your website a unique look and feel.
• FW Gallery Pinterest add-on. Create stylish and responsive images grids in Pinterest style with  Pinterest add-on of the design type. 
• FW Gallery Polaroid add-on. Present your gallery with awesome Polaroid add-on of the design type. 
• FW Gallery Beauty add-on. Give your beauty website a bold style with Beauty add-on of the design type.  
• Moved gallery layout settings to gallery level. Now gallery layout settings are configured at the gallery level, not menu item level. This feature adds flexibility to gallery configuration. Now each gallery can be configured differently even though being assigned to one and the same menu item. 
• Parent gallery settings priority. All settings of the parent gallery get automatically applied to a child gallery. At the same time, child gallery settings can be manually changed if it is needed.
• Configuration section update. Re-arranged global gallery settings into General, Galleries, Items, and Add-ons tabs for better usability and navigation. 
• Custom image sizes. Updated Image sizes section. Now you can set custom sizes for different images formats - cover, listing image, lightbox, and single file format. 

Get familiar with FW Gallery documentation to find more information about our product. Please use the comments section at the bottom of each documentation page to comment and suggest improvements that will make the product experience better.

The new FW Gallery is a feature-rich component with many new powerful solutions. Now it is an entirely new component with grids, designs, file info display effects, and on hover effects independent from each other. The additional features such as video display, import/export functionality, tags functionality, etc. are implemented via Add-ons (FW Gallery specific functional extensions, data types and designs) allocated in its own section in Admin Panel. 

The new FW Gallery has become more flexible, attractive, and easy to use. Let’s take a look at top 10 innovations.

Gallery display settings moved to gallery level

Earlier galleries display settings could be configured at menu item level or in global settings. It caused inability to differently configure multiple galleries assigned to one and the same menu item. Now all gallery display settings are configured at gallery level or in global settings. In other words, each gallery can be configured individually even though being assigned to one and the same menu item. There is a certain secession in settings priority. Local settings have priority over parent settings while parent settings have priority over global configuration.

Documentation reference: Gallery settings.

Add-ons enhancing FW Gallery capabilities

All advanced functionality is re-designed via a straightforward and user-friendly add-ons concept. FW Gallery capabilities can be enhanced via multiple add-ons installed on top of the main component. All add-ons are managed from one place, the Add-ons section. If the add-on is enabled, its configuration section appears in the Add-ons tab of the global configuration section. Each add-on has its banner, icon, and configuration.

Reference materials: New FW Gallery concept: platform with add-ons article.

6 designs

Galleries can be styled with 6 responsive and elegant designs. Starting from a standard built-in Bootstrap design that is available for free you can get 5 more coming as separate add-ons - Fancy, Palaloid, Beauty, Classic, and Pinterest.

Each design has been revised and enhanced. Design settings apply to grids and gallery/file info display settings. All extra designs can be configured either at gallery level or in global gallery settings.

4 grids

FW Gallery grids offer many ways for showcasing your galleries. Now grids are independent from designs. Galleries (categories) view can be assigned a Standard grid only while files listing view may be assigned either of 4 grids:

• Standard. Classic gallery grid placing images in a conventional way.

• Justified grid. Automatically balances images of different sizes horizontally to form a seamless and attractive gallery grid.

• Waterfall. A fluid and dynamic grid arranging images of different height vertically. Couples perfectly with infinite scroll via Ajax pagination.

• Custom grid. Allows displaying multiple images of different sizes around enlarged image.


7 gallery/file info display options

There is a choice of 7 gallery/file info display positions coming as a built-in feature within a free package. It is a simple way to add an interesting appeal to your gallery based website. Gallery info and files info options work independently from each other. For example, the top-level gallery may have Top gallery info display position while its images listing may have Over slide up file info display position.

2 on hover effects and video autoplay

Reveal a thumbnail image in creative ways when being hovered. Now Ken Burns and Enlarge image on hover effects are available as separate settings independent from designs settings. This is a built-in feature coming within a free package. The effects can be set at both gallery and global settings levels as well as applied to the gallery and file listing thumbnails. For video files, video autoplay is applied. Thus, a video is automatically played on hover animating your galleries and attracting visitors’ attention.

Each gallery can be styled individually

Since gallery settings moved to the gallery level, you can set a specific configuration for each gallery displayed on the same page. For example, a top-level gallery may have Fancy design, Justified grid, and gallery description placed at the top while its child gallery may be styled with Classic design, Standard grid, and bottom gallery description. At the same time, the other gallery on the same page may have Pinterest design, Custom grid, and left gallery description at the top level and Polaroids design, Waterfall grid, and hidden gallery description at the child level.

Carousel module is back

Carousel module adds an advanced carousel slider on your gallery pages. The module settings let you choose a gallery and number of images to be displayed,  hide scroll buttons, place it horizontally or vertically on your gallery pages, and many more.

FW Gallery module is a new enhanced FW Gallery Content Plugin

Now you can insert galleries and files anywhere on your website via different module positions or within the articles as well as customize them to your taste just as any other gallery. For example, configure the design, grid, file info, on hover effects, and many more. FW Gallery module is an advanced prototype of the former Content plugin.

Instagram photos and videos import

Now your website gallery can be synchronized with your Instagram gallery using Instagram Import. The add-on allows to easily display your Instagram videos, photos, and posts on your gallery website.

Reference materials: 

• Importing Instagram content to Joomla website with FW Gallery article 
• Instagram Import documentation page.

The new FW Gallery is a powerful solution for gallery websites. The previous structure remained unchanged for years, so we made this revolutionary move that had been nursed during all these years. Now it is implemented. If our customers encounter some issues while working with the product, we hope they will raise them in their bug reports via the Client section. Help us to improve by sharing your experience with our new product. Feel free to submit your feedback on our new concept and architecture using Suggest an Idea form in your client section.

Get familiar with FW Gallery documentation to find more information about our product. Please use the comments section at the bottom of each documentation page to comment and suggest improvements that will make the product experience better.