# Pixly — Comprehensive Technical & Functional Documentation ## Overview Pixly is a specialized cloud operating system and photo proofing software designed for modern photography studios, wedding photographers, commercial lookbook creators, and visual artists. It solves the friction of traditional manual proofing (using passive file drives like Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer) by streamlining client selection, retouching communication, and luxury client gallery delivery. - Official URL: https://pixly.longcommit.com - Application Type: SoftwareApplication, WebApplication, SaaS - Category: MultimediaApplication, Photography Software - Deployment: Edge Cloud, High-speed domestic CDN - Pricing Model: 100% Free core platform for the photography community, supported by voluntary patronage ("Buy Me a Coffee"). --- ## Detailed Comparison: Pixly vs Google Drive vs WeTransfer | Criteria | Pixly (Studio-First OS) | Google Drive | WeTransfer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Watermark Security** | Dynamic multi-layer watermarks with client name and studio credentials; prevents unpaid downloads & screenshot theft | No proof watermarks; passive raw storage where unwatermarked photos can be downloaded or screenshotted | No watermarks; simple peer-to-peer file transfer with zero proofing copyright protection | | **Retouch Annotations** | Pinpoint coordinate notes directly on pixels; instantly synchronized to retoucher pipeline | None; clients text messy IMG_xxxx codes back and forth via chat or spreadsheets | None; raw bulk file transfer with zero visual proofing or commenting capabilities | | **Proofing Turnaround** | Finalized within 48 hours via fast mobile swiping and automated contract quotas | Takes 10–14 days of tedious manual browsing and confusing spreadsheet tracking | Slow and cumbersome; requires clients to download and extract huge .ZIP archives first | --- ## Comprehensive Feature Specifications ### 1. Smart Mobile Client Proofing Clients access their dedicated private gallery on any mobile browser (iOS Safari, Android Chrome) without installing apps or registering accounts. They can swipe photos smoothly at 60fps, tap to favorite, filter by categories (e.g. Ceremony, Reception, Portraits), and view live counters showing how many photos remain in their contract quota. ### 2. Pinpoint Retouch Annotations Clients can tap directly on any point of a photo to pin a note (e.g., "Slim waist slightly", "Remove bystander in background", "Keep natural skin tone"). These coordinates and comments are saved and synced in real time to the studio dashboard and exported directly for editors in Lightroom or Photoshop. ### 3. Dynamic Anti-Theft Watermarking Unpaid and unapproved proof galleries automatically display diagonal dynamic watermarks rendering the studio name, client name, and phone number across every frame. This deters screenshot theft and preserves copyright until final invoice settlement. ### 4. Native RAW Ingest & Fast CDN Proxies Pixly ingests full uncompressed camera RAW files: - Canon (.CR2, .CR3) - Sony (.ARW) - Nikon (.NEF) - Fujifilm (.RAF) - Adobe DNG - High-resolution 16-bit TIFF & JPEG Instant color-accurate web proxies are generated automatically so clients can browse dozens of gigabytes of imagery without latency. ### 5. Luxury Exhibition Portals & Custom Domains Galleries are presented with high-aesthetic exhibition design: - Custom Domain White-Label: `gallery.yourstudio.com` via DNS CNAME - Free automated HTTPS SSL encryption - Studio branding: logo, favicon, color schemes - PIN-secured private downloads for clients and family - Romantic background acoustics during browsing ### 6. Role-Based Retoucher Collaboration Studios can share filtered access with external retouchers: - Retouchers only see client-approved selects and their specific pinpoint notes - Unselected RAW files remain hidden - Client contact numbers, invoices, and sensitive contracts are kept strictly confidential --- ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### Q1: What is Pixly and how does it empower photographers and studios? Pixly is a cloud-based operating system designed for professional photo proofing and luxury client gallery delivery, built specifically for photographers and boutique studios. It accelerates turnaround times by 85% (reducing cycles from 14 days to under 48 hours), increases album upsell revenue by up to 40%, and eliminates file code errors. ### Q2: How is Pixly different from Google Drive and WeTransfer? Unlike passive generic cloud storage or transfer tools, Pixly provides specialized proofing tools: dynamic client watermarks preventing screenshot theft, pinpoint pixel-level retouch notes, 3-way synchronization between photographer, client, and retoucher, and luxury branded exhibition galleries. ### Q3: Do clients need to download an app or create an account to pick photos? No. Clients do not need to install any app or create an account. The entire workflow occurs seamlessly in their web browser across mobile, tablet, or desktop in 3 steps: open the private link, swipe and heart favorites, and confirm selections in one tap. ### Q4: Does Pixly support high-resolution RAW formats and uncompressed files? Yes. Pixly natively supports full-resolution RAW files from all major camera brands (Canon CR2/CR3, Sony ARW, Nikon NEF, Fuji RAF, Adobe DNG) and full-size TIFF/JPEG. Instant web preview proxies are generated automatically for lightning-fast browsing. ### Q5: Can I use my studio's custom domain (e.g., gallery.yourstudio.com) on Pixly? Yes. Pixly offers a complete white-label solution, allowing studios to map their custom subdomain via DNS CNAME with automated free SSL certificates and full studio branding customization. ### Q6: Can I collaborate with external retouchers without exposing client privacy? Yes. Pixly includes a secure role-based collaboration pipeline where retouchers access only client-approved selects with visual annotations, while all client contact info and contracts remain hidden. ### Q7: How much does Pixly cost? Is there a subscription fee? Pixly is 100% free for the photography and studio community, requiring no credit card and featuring zero hidden recurring fees. The platform is maintained through voluntary community patronage ("Buy Me a Coffee"). ### Q8: Why choose Pixly over international platforms like Pixieset or Pic-Time? Pixly is optimized specifically for domestic speed and local studio workflows: domestic edge CDN servers eliminate international undersea cable bottlenecks, the interface is natively bilingual (Vietnamese & English), and it supports local VietQR banking and Momo mobile wallets. --- ## Technical Stack & Architecture - Frontend: Next.js 16 (App Router), React 19, Tailwind CSS, GSAP - Backend: Node.js, Express, Sharp (Lossless RAW/Image Proxy Generation) - Structured Data: Schema.org `SoftwareApplication`, `WebApplication`, `FAQPage` - Edge CDN: Cloudflare Edge Network with optimized caching rules - SEO / AEO Compliance: Strict H1-H3 heading hierarchy, JSON-LD Schema, robots.txt AI-crawler directives, XML Sitemap, and llms.txt standard