Creating Showmos

Overview

Compose is where you create static showcards and Motion presentations. The selected layout determines which editor, media regions, fields, branding controls, preview, and output formats are available.

On desktop, Compose keeps a large preview beside a compact Source and Fields inspector. On smaller screens, the same tools form one continuous workflow with a reachable Create action. Changes update the preview without rendering the final files again.

Creating a Static Showcard

1. Navigate to Showmo > Compose (or click Create Showmo from a Talent's action menu)
2. A layout is pre-selected automatically. Change it through Layout in the Source tab if needed.
3. Pick a Talent from Talent
4. The system automatically loads the talent's Showmo source portfolio and maps images to the layout's slots
5. Review the live preview — it updates in real time as you make changes
6. Select Print or Web and the PNG/PDF formats in the production dock
7. Click Create Showmo to produce the final files

Creating Motion

1. Go to Showmo > Layouts
2. Open a layout marked Motion, then click Use layout
3. Choose a Talent and Media Source Portfolio in the Source tab
4. Review the automatic video and image assignments for each authored region
5. Replace or adjust media where needed
6. Edit the available content, brand colors, and agency logo in Fields
7. Play or scrub the preview to review the complete presentation
8. Review the Silent MP4 and PNG poster deliverables
9. Click Create Motion Showmo

Rendering continues after you leave Compose. Open Showmo > Exports to track the job, download completed files, or open them in Media.

Page Layout

On desktop, Compose is split into two columns:

• Canvas — Large live composition preview with zoom controls and front/back toggle
• Motion preview — Play, scrub, restart, or expand the authored Motion timeline
• Inspector — Compact configuration panel with Source and Fields tabs
• Production dock — Static Print/Web and PNG/PDF choices, or Motion MP4 and PNG poster delivery, plus contextual blockers and the Create action

On mobile, the same controls are presented as one continuous workflow. A sticky Create action remains reachable after you finish configuring the source and fields.

When something required is missing, the production dock shows one concise instruction beside the disabled Create action. The message disappears as soon as the composition is ready.

Source Tab

The Source tab contains controls for selecting your layout, Talent, Portfolio, and the media assigned to the layout.

Layout

A dropdown to switch layouts. It shows the layout name and groups designs by source. Your account's default layout is pre-selected when you first open the page.

Talent

A searchable dropdown to select or switch talents. Type to search by name or talent number. Talents without any portfolios are marked with a "No portfolio" badge so you know they won't have images available.

Switching Talents reloads the Portfolio, media, and auto-populated fields.

Media Source

The Portfolio whose media is used for the presentation. This is auto-selected based on the following chain:

1. The portfolio marked as Showmo source for the talent
2. If no source is set — the talent's default portfolio
3. If no default is set — the first Portfolio in the list

Static layouts use images. Motion layouts inventory stored video and images from the selected Portfolio without combining other Portfolios. You can switch the source at any time. If media or focal points are already assigned, Showmo asks you to confirm before replacing them. Save a draft first when you want to preserve the current composition.

Image Slots

A thumbnail grid showing the image slots on the side currently selected above the canvas. Switch between Front and Back to work on that side's images. Each slot has three actions:

When repositioning, choose Apply to This Image or apply the same zoom and position to every assigned image on the current side. The same-side option is useful for applying consistent border space across an image grid.

Selected images are announced to assistive technology. See Customization — Image Repositioning for details on pointer, touch, and keyboard repositioning.

Motion Media Regions

Motion layouts label every authored video and image region. Showmo maps eligible Portfolio media in Portfolio order. Open a region's picker to choose another item or clear the selection.

Only stored uploads that match the region's file type, size, dimensions, and duration requirements are available. Embedded or external videos cannot be rendered. Ineligible media remains listed under Unavailable with the first reason it cannot be selected.

Select Adjust on an assigned region to set its focal position and zoom. A video region can also expose Start From. Showmo limits that value so enough footage remains for the authored presentation. See Motion Media Adjustment for the complete controls.

Fields Tab

The Fields tab shows all text fields that appear on the card, with their auto-populated values from the talent's profile and agency settings.

Auto-Populated Data

The following data is automatically pulled in:

From the talent profile:

• Name (preferred name if set, otherwise first + last)
• Talent type (e.g., "Model", "Influencer")
• Measurements: height, bust, waist, hips, shoe size — displayed with both metric and imperial units (e.g., "177cm / 5'9.5"")
• Eye color, hair color
• Contact: phone, email, website

From the account team settings:

• Agency name
• Agency contact: email, phone, website
• Social links

Editing Fields

You can override any auto-populated value for the current card:

• Edit — Type a custom value that overrides the auto-populated data. The talent's profile is not modified.
• Reset — Clear the override and restore the auto-populated value.
• Style (paintbrush icon) — Open the text style panel for that field. See Customization — Text Styling for details.

Fields that share the same text row on the card (e.g., height, bust, waist, hips, shoe size) are grouped together with a single shared Style button.

Front and Back Fields

The Fields tab follows the side selected above the canvas. Select Front to edit only fields used on the front, or Back to edit only fields used on the back. When the same agency information appears on both sides, each side has its own value and styling so you can change, repurpose, or hide one without affecting the other.

Some image-only sides do not have editable text. In that case, the Fields tab explains that there are no text fields on the selected side.

Hidden Fields

When a field has no value (the talent's profile doesn't have it filled in), it is silently hidden on the card — no placeholder text, no blank line. The label and any separator characters are also removed, and rows below automatically slide up to keep the card compact.

Hidden fields can be expanded via "Show N hidden fields" at the bottom of the list.

Motion Fields and Branding

Motion layouts expose only the fields and brand controls designed for that presentation. Edit a content field to override its Talent or agency value, then select Reset to restore the original value. Available Brand color inputs update the authored color regions.

When the layout supports it, Agency Logo shows your account logo in its authored region. The option stays unavailable until an account logo exists. Motion typography, geometry, timing, and animation remain locked to the layout.

Canvas Preview

Zoom Controls

Located at the top-right of the canvas area:

The canvas stays centered when zoomed out. When zoomed in beyond the container, scroll bars appear.

If the preview cannot render, your selections remain safe. Select Retry preview to render it again.

Front/Back Toggle

Layouts with a back side show Front / Back tabs at the top-left of the canvas area. Single-sided layouts hide this toggle.

Select Both Sides to open a read-only proofing view with the Front and Back shown together. From that preview, choose View in Editor for either side to return to its canvas and side-specific fields.

Motion Preview

The Motion preview follows the same authored timeline used for rendering. Use the scrubber to inspect a moment, Play to review the sequence, Restart to return to the beginning, or Expand for a larger view. Source video plays muted. If your device requests reduced motion, reveal animations are reduced and the preview remains under your control.

Output Options

Output Modes

The default mode depends on how you entered the page:

• From a portfolio — defaults to Web
• From the Showmo navigation — defaults to Print

Output Formats

Both PNG and PDF are available. Select one or both — at least one must be selected to create.

• PNG files are saved to the media library with tags for the layout name, creation date, and talent name. They appear in the talent's media gallery. Showmo PNGs are hidden from the default media library view to keep regular uploads uncluttered — see Media Library Integration below.
• PDF files are available from the creation result and are added to the Documents Library as Showmo documents.

Motion Output Formats

Every Motion layout delivers the same two files when you click Create Motion Showmo:

• Silent MP4 follows the layout's authored dimensions, duration, and frame rate. It contains no audio.
• PNG poster captures a high-quality full-resolution frame from the authored presentation for covers, sharing, and fallback display.
• The MP4 is saved as a Talent-linked Showmo file in Media. Its PNG poster stays attached to that presentation and is also available to download from Exports. Motion files are not added to Documents.

If you reopen a saved Motion draft and make changes, save the updated draft before creating.

Motion Exports

Open Showmo > Exports to review Motion rendering progress and history. Rendering continues if you leave this page.

• Filter the list by All, Active, Ready, or Needs attention
• Select Cancel for queued or rendering work
• Select Retry Export when a failed export can be rendered again
• Download the completed MP4 or its PNG poster, or open the presentation in Media
• Use Clear History to dismiss cancelled, failed, or all finished export records

Clearing history does not delete files already saved in Media. If a completed file is later deleted through Media, Exports keeps the historical record and marks that output as removed.

Media Library Integration

Showmo static PNGs and Motion MP4s are stored in the same Media Library as user-uploaded images and videos. Each Motion MP4 keeps its PNG poster as its cover. To keep things organized, Showmo outputs are separated from regular uploads. Showmo PDFs remain in the Documents Library.

Default Behavior

By default, the Media Library hides Showmo files. You see only your manually uploaded images and videos.

Viewing Showmo Outputs

When your account has Showmo outputs, a fuchsia clapperboard badge appears in the Media Library toolbar showing the total count of created files.

• Click the badge to switch to the Showmo output view — only created presentations are shown
• Click again to return to the regular media view
• The badge is highlighted with a ring when the showmo view is active

Stats, tag counts, search, sort, and type filters all update to reflect the current view. The filter state is stored in the URL (?source=showmo), so it can be bookmarked or shared.

Note: The Showmo badge does not appear when your account has zero Showmo outputs. If your account loses Showmo access, previously created outputs and history are preserved, but creating new Showmos and making Showmo changes are unavailable until the account regains access. The account owner receives the related notice; contact support for restoration help.

Unsaved Work Protection

Compose warns you before losing unsaved changes.

When It Triggers

• Navigating away — Clicking any sidebar link, back button, or navigating to another page while there are unsaved changes
• Switching talents or layouts — Changing the talent or layout selection when there are unsaved changes
• Switching Media Source — Changing the Portfolio after media or focal points are assigned
• Closing the browser tab — The browser's native "Leave site?" dialog appears

Options

The warning does not trigger after saving a draft, when no changes have been made, or when creating a presentation.

Activity Logging

Showmo creation events appear in the global activity feed and in the talent's activity history:

• "Created showmo for [Talent] using [Layout]" — visible in the activity feed
• "Marked [Portfolio] as Showmo source for [Talent]" — visible in the activity feed

Layout save, update, and delete events are recorded for audit purposes but are excluded from the activity feed.

Related Pages

• Showmo Overview — Module overview and getting started
• Layouts — Browse and manage showcard layouts
• Customization — Static styling plus Motion media, fields, and branding controls
• Drafts — Save and resume static or Motion compositions