Gallery plugin got hard rejected. Now seeking suggestions.

Envato Authors CodeCanyon
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1

Hello All,

This is the plugin I submitted to CodeCanyon:
https://triggernick.github.io/demo-animals.html

This is the reply I got:

Thank you for your submission. We have completed our review of “Precious Gallery JavaScript Plugin” and unfortunately we found it isn’t at the quality standard required to move forward, and you won’t be able to re-submit this item again.

Here is the feedback from our review team:

Your item has a great idea behind it but I’m afraid this functionality’s niche has been sufficiently filled by a number of other great items here on CodeCanyon and elsewhere on the web and I think we’ve reached a point of saturation. At this point, we’re only looking for unique variations of this feature: for another one to be approved it would have to have a couple of unique features that differentiate it from what is already available.

So OK, I understand the reason. But this plugin can still evolve into including unique features such as:

  • A play button which plays audio with a Ken Burns effect slideshow.
  • More complex layout patterns such as polygons, more complex brick patterns.
  • The lightbox can handle multiple media format (audio, video, html, …)
  • The gallery can have animations effects to attract viewers attention.

Would this qualify as unique enough? If not, I would be curious to know your suggestions or opinions.

2

The feedback around the depth of features and functionality to make it compete better is definitely a major consideration

However, the execution needs significant improvement too and would make a big difference.

Typography on titles is not great

Images/assets of inconsistent size

General colours/layout/background of the main page/container

Asset titles like this one has poor presentation, type, empty space Precious Gallery Photography Demo

The shadows and ways in which the filters are presented look cheap

Generally attention to detail and consistency between different options and gallery types is crucial to make it come across as more premium
It would be good to offer different layout options for each cateogry

On mobile images overlap on roll over

3

Hi Charlie4282,

Thank you for your feedback. This will really help me improve the design.

Could I ask you for more details?

  • Images/assets of inconsistent size:
    Not sure I understand this one. You can’t expect all images from users to be the same size and keeping the aspect ratio of images in a gallery can be very important to users.

  • General colours/layout/background of the main page/container:
    What would you suggest? Neutral colors? Different patterns? Can you give an example?

  • It would be good to offer different layout options for each category:
    There are multiple layout options. But yes, the demo doesn’t show this. I think it would be great to add a gallery builder to the plugin. Then again, it might be better to make it as a Wordpress plugin instead. I’m not too sure. Do you think a Wordpress plugin would have better chances of being accepted?

Thanks again for your time.

4

Think about spacing and alignment e.g Precious Gallery Animals Demo all the rows are misaligned and some wider than others - just looks messy

I’d go clean and modern so that all elements incl. background, filter menu etc. feel connected and modern and premium

Even the big gallery plugins like essential-grid.com/grids/ offer lots of styles and creative but crucially the attention to detail in terms of colours, layout, type, etc. is spot on and clean, making it appealing and versatile to a mix of buyers.

The builder would be an amazingly valuable feature.

If you make it as JS then it won’t take long for people to ask for it as a WP plugin anyway and that massively increased options and sales potential. Once you have one then the other should be considerable less work

5

I don’t even know what to say :slight_smile:

6

Hi again Charlie4282,

Thank you for your feedback. I understand now.

I’m thinking about drastically improving the plugin. Do you have any wishes for features you would like?

7

Hi FWDesign,

I don’t even know what to say :slight_smile:

Well, is this something you would buy. If not, why not?

8

Definitely not and it will never be approved in this current state!

I think you can answer that yourself, compare your grid with this one Ultimate Grid Pro, and this is an old project that I did years ago…

Everything is bad except the functionality, you need help from an experienced UI designer to set things right, you will not find all the answers here on the forum just bits and parts, You’re too far behind in your design skills and the Envato quality standards to even begin to explain what and how to fix, I think I have enough experience to know the best path for you and this is an experienced UI designer to help you and open your eyes.

9

Hi FWDesign,

I appreciate your bluntly honest answer. You have more experience than I do. Feel free to “open my eyes”!

I looked at your Ultimate Grid Pro and noticed that the sales on Envato aren’t too high (about 1 sale per month for the WordPress plugin). Would you say that there isn’t a market for galleries anymore?