Here’s a look at some of the things we worked on in February, and what’s coming up next.
Improving Image Protection (Pro)
Ever since we started building picu, one question came up over and over again: How do I really protect my images?
Over the years, we’ve added a solid set of protective measures like the option to disable right-clicks or adding watermarks, and they’ve served photographers well. But there was always one gap we couldn’t fully close: the proofing image files themselves are technically accessible online if someone knows (or guesses) the URL. As long as an image is going to be displayed in a browser, it has to exist somewhere accessible, that’s just how the web works.
But “accessible” doesn’t have to mean “easy to steal.”
After a lot of thought and experimentation, we’ve built a solution that places another protective layer between your images and the outside world. Rather than images being served directly by the web server, requests now pass through a PHP handler that can verify, validate, and control exactly who gets access to your images.
We’re currently in final testing, and if everything goes smoothly, you can expect this feature to roll out in picu Pro within the next few days. We’ll share more technical details and how to make the most of this feature once it’s live. Stay tuned.
WordPress 7.0 UI Compatibility
The upcoming version 7.0 of WordPress will bring a first set of changes to the UI of the WP admin interface. This is an early step in a larger redesign that’s been in the works for a while.
As soon as the first beta releases were available, we began testing picu + picu Pro against them to make sure everything continues to look and work exactly as it should, from the first day this new version gets shipped.
Photo Clubs & Associations
If you’re part of a photography community – club, association or other organized group of photographers – this is for you! We love photo communities and clubs and believe all photographers deserve professional tools for their proofing workflows. So we’re launching a special program for photo clubs and associations who want to give their members access to picu at a exclusive rate.
Whether you’re a member who’d love to bring picu to your club, or a leader looking for tools to offer your community, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and we’ll work something out together.
Next Up in March 2026
- Further improvements for e-commerce (Pro)
- Improved Image Protection (Pro)
- WordPress 7.0 compatibility release
- Small Design + Accessibility Improvements
- Collections List Block Updates
If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you.