Appearance and crop focus
Appearance controls the cover, gallery layouts, type, color, and spacing. Each photo also has one focus point that helps protect its subject in responsive crops.
Updated August 24, 2026
On this page
Portfolio and gallery appearance are separate
Portfolio Appearance controls the portfolio cover and identity. Gallery Appearance controls that gallery's header, portfolio thumbnail, and photo grid.
A preset is a coordinated starting point. You can then refine its cover layout, height, type, color, background, contrast, image layout, columns, and spacing where those controls apply.
Edit the portfolio cover
- 01Open Portfolio > AppearanceA portfolio needs a Public, Ready photo before image-led cover choices are available. Text only can be used without a cover photograph.
- 02Choose a presetStart with Editorial, Modern, Minimal, Split, Gallery, or Monograph. Presets coordinate typography, cover treatment, background, and a representative gallery rhythm.
- 03Choose the Cover layoutFull image places text over a photograph, Split separates image and text, and Text only removes the cover photograph.
- 04Set the identityUse the Name and logo controls to show the photographer name, a logo, or both when a logo is available.
- 05Review Desktop and MobileSwitch the Preview viewport and inspect the entire cover, including the title, bio, contrast, focal image, and how soon galleries appear.
- 06SaveSelect Save. Appearance changes remain in the Studio draft until the portfolio is published.
Edit a gallery
- 01Open the gallery > AppearanceSelect the header photo and, when useful, a separate portfolio thumbnail. The header leads the gallery page; the thumbnail represents it on the portfolio overview.
- 02Choose the header treatmentUse a preset or refine Full image, Split, or Text only along with header height, title size and weight, text color and position, page background, and contrast overlay.
- 03Choose the photo layoutFlow preserves mixed photo heights, Cropped uses uniform 4:3 tiles around each photo's focus point, and Contained uses uniform frames while showing each full photo.
- 04Set columns and spacingChoose 2, 3, or 4 desktop columns and Flush, Compact, Balanced, Open, or Spacious spacing. ISO100 reduces columns responsively on smaller screens.
- 05Save this gallery or apply broadlySelect Save for the current gallery. More save options can apply the appearance system across all galleries; confirm the scope carefully.
Applying appearance to all galleries replaces their cover style, image layout, column count, and spacing. It does not replace gallery photos, titles, descriptions, URLs, visibility, passwords, header photos, or portfolio thumbnails.
How crop focus works
Each photo has one focus point. ISO100 uses it whenever an image must fill a frame with a different shape, including cropped gallery tiles, covers, thumbnails, and responsive mobile or desktop presentations.
The point does not permanently crop or edit the original. It tells the renderer which area should be protected as the frame changes.
On Plus, AI-assisted subject focus sets the initial point by detecting faces and supported subjects. You can adjust it at any time. Free photos start at the center unless you set the point yourself.
- Portrait: place the point around the eyes or face rather than at the geometric center.
- Architecture: protect the feature that gives the composition its structure, especially near an edge.
- Landscape: choose the subject or horizon area that matters; avoid assuming the center is always safe.
- Groups: place the point between the people who must remain visible, then inspect the narrow mobile crop.
Adjust a cover's focus in Appearance
- 01Choose the cover or header photoSelect the current photo in the preview or use the photo picker.
- 02Select Adjust crop focusDrag the point on the photograph. Use Reset or Center if you need to start again.
- 03Check the actual cover at both widthsA focus point that works for a 4:3 thumbnail may still need adjustment for a tall phone header or full-screen desktop cover.
- 04Save and preview the draftThe focus point belongs to the photo, so changing it can affect every cropped use of that image. Preview other galleries or covers that reuse it before publishing.
Troubleshoot a bad crop
- Confirm the correct photo is selected for the cover, gallery header, or portfolio thumbnail.
- Move the photo's focus point toward the subject and check both Desktop and Mobile.
- If a very wide or tall composition cannot survive the chosen frame, switch from Cropped to Flow or Contained, or use Text only for the cover.
- If text is difficult to read over a Full image cover, try a contrast overlay or move the title before replacing the photograph.
- Save the appearance and publish changes; the live site will continue showing the previous crop until publishing completes.
Open Studio to make the change.
Related docs