Getting started
On this page
Setting up a studio
A studio is a private, encrypted space for one company. Opening one takes an activation code.
- Open
/activateand choose “Set up a new studio” if you are on the sign-in page. - Paste the activation code, then enter the studio name, your name, your email and a password of at least 10 characters.
- Choose “Continue”. A 6-digit code goes to your email. Enter it and choose “Create studio”.
- Save the recovery key. It is 12 words, shown once. Choose “Download recovery key”, keep the file offline and somewhere safe, tick “I saved the file somewhere safe”, then open the studio.
The recovery key is the only way back into the studio’s data if every admin forgets their password. Pictures Up cannot reset it for you, and it is never asked for at sign-in. You can make a new one later in Studio settings.
Signing in
- Enter your email and password and choose “Continue”.
- Enter the 6-digit code from your email. It works for 10 minutes, and the form submits as soon as the sixth digit is in.
- Leave “Trust this browser for 30 days” ticked to skip the code on this browser next time.
If the code never arrives, choose “Use a backup code” and enter one of the codes from Your account. Each one works once, and you get an email when one is used.
If you belong to more than one studio, you pick one after signing in. Switch between them from the studio name at the top of the sidebar.
Forgot password. Choose “Forgot password” on the sign-in page. If another admin is on your team, ask them for a reset link instead. Otherwise enter your email and the 12-word recovery key, or choose the recovery file, and follow the code to set a new password. The key is used in your browser and never sent to our server. Every other device is signed out.
The first run
A new studio opens on a welcome card with three steps. Everything happens on the card, and each step crosses itself off when it is done.
- “Add your logo and accent colour”: “Upload logo”, then Tally red or your own colour from the colour picker. The logo shows on share links, call sheets and the client portal.
- “Create your first production” opens the New production dialog above the card. The card stays when the production is made.
- “Invite your team” opens the invite form above the card. Invite producers and editors here. Crew join per production, from its Crew tab.
When all three are done, “Open Pictures Up” takes you to Home. “Skip for now” does the same at any point. The card does not come back.
Finding your way around
The sidebar has the studio switcher at the top, then Search, the “+” button, and the main pages: Home, Productions, Library, People, Gear and Settings. What you see depends on your role: editors have no Settings, viewers have Home, Productions and Library, and crew have Home, Productions and People. Below that: up to six active productions with a dot in their stage colour, Notifications with an unread count, and an Uploads row that appears while files are uploading or have failed.
The account row at the bottom opens a menu with your studios, Appearance (Dark, Light for direct sun, or Match this device), Collapse sidebar, Hide sidebar, Your account, Studio settings for admins, and Sign out.
Collapse or hide the sidebar. Collapsed (⌘\) it becomes a narrow rail of icons. Hidden (⇧⌘\, or Hide sidebar in the account menu) it leaves the screen and the page takes the full width; a small button in the top left corner, or ⌘\, brings it back. Pictures Up remembers your choice.
The “+” button is for admins and editors: New production, Upload files, and for admins, Invite someone.
Search (⌘K or Ctrl+K) finds productions, files and people, and runs actions such as “New production”, “Upload files” and “Open Shoot day”. Use the arrow keys to move, Return to open, ⌘Return to open in a new tab, and Esc to close. Press N anywhere to start a new production, ⌘\ to collapse the sidebar, and ⇧⌘\ to hide it.
On a phone the sidebar becomes a tab bar: Today, Productions, Shoot day, Library and Inbox.
Home
Home is the day’s briefing. Admins, editors and viewers see:
- Production cards, up to three, soonest shoot first. A card shows only the name, the client and the stage.
- Shoots this week: every shoot day in the next seven days with its call time, location, crew count, sunrise and weather. Each row opens that day’s call sheet.
- Needs you: what’s waiting on someone, each with its action beside it.
| What appears | The button | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| A cut is with the client | Review | Opens the file in the viewer |
| An upload failed | Retry | Resumes from where it stopped, once its upload page is open |
| Previews are processing | View | Opens Processing health |
| A task is due within a week | Done | Marks it done, with Undo |
| A call sheet is still a draft and the shoot is within three days | Send | Opens the call sheet, ready to send |
| A rental is due back within three days | View | Opens the rental |
| A talent release is unsigned | Remind | Sends the signing link again |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
“Client and files” narrows the list to reviews, uploads and processing.
Crew get a simpler Home: the next call with Directions and the call sheet, their call times for the next 60 days, and the productions they are booked on.
Good to know
- Codes have six digits and last 10 minutes. After five wrong tries, sign in again for a new one.
- A session lasts 7 days. Signing in on a browser signs out whoever was signed in there before.
- Too many attempts in 15 minutes pauses sign-in for that email. Wait, then try again.