[Feature] Filmstrip navigation element

[BetaRavener]

I have searched the existing feature requests, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate request.

• Yes

The feature

Filmstrip - a row of small thumbnails below picture in image viewer, is quite helpful for quick navigation, such as skipping several similar images, without exiting back to big gallery view. It also gives you better idea of where you are in the gallery (context) and what comes next.

To navigate, one can either tap the thumbnail or swipe horizontally on the filmstrip to "scroll" through the pictures.

I really enjoy how it's implemented by Samsung gallery app (image below), as it's not too distracting and small size of thumbnails makes it possible to scroll to next picture with small finger movement. X-plore file manager also implements filmstrip in gallery view, but the bigger thumbnails make the UX worse. Maybe the feature could come with a toggle for enabling and a slider to choose height of filmstrip - thus controlling also how many pictures fit in the filmstrip (assuning preserved aspect ratio) and in turn also how sensitive it is - the more pcitures, the less finger movement necessary to scroll to next one.

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[1661410107114145152525]

Additional information about benefits and how it could be implemented for web too:

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Copied from: #26391

The feature

Some examples

Apple Photos (since iOS 9): https://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/10/13/ios-9-scrub-photos/

Description

When viewing a single photo in Immich, it would be great to have an optional bottom thumbnail filmstrip (scrubber) that allows quickly jumping to nearby images by dragging horizontally — without leaving the full-screen image view.

The idea is a well-known pattern:

1. Open a photo in full-screen view
2. A horizontal row of small thumbnails appears at the bottom
3. Drag (scrub) through the thumbnails
4. Release on a thumbnail to jump directly to that image

This interaction pattern is used in many gallery apps (e.g. Apple Photos, Samsung Gallery). It allows staying in the large image view while quickly navigating through nearby photos.

For a visual reference of the general concept, this article shows the scrubber pattern clearly:
https://www.imore.com/how-use-scrubber-bar-photos-app-mac

(It demonstrates the idea better than I can describe it in words.)

You can also try it yourself in Apple Photos or in Samsung’s Gallery app on a mobile device.

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Current limitation

Right now, if I want to jump further ahead in an album while viewing a photo, I need to:

• Exit the current image
• Scroll the grid/timeline
• Re-open the target image

This interrupts the viewing flow.

For example, if I have 20 similar photos in a row and want to skip ahead to something later in the album, I either need to swipe repeatedly or exit and scroll manually. There is no quick way to “scrub” through them while staying in the viewer.

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Why this would be helpful

• Faster navigation in long sequences (e.g., bursts, similar shots, event photos)
• Better one-handed usability, especially on large phones
• Keeps visual context, since the main image remains visible while browsing nearby ones
• Preview before full view: you can see what image comes next in the filmstrip, which helps when showing photos to someone — you can skip images you don’t want to show without them popping up immediately in full size
• Fewer interaction steps compared to exit → scroll → re-open

This would not replace the current swipe gestures but complement them as an additional navigation option.

Although this is mainly an idea for mobile use I can see benefits for web too. It is also used in desktop apps like Picasa. Maybe for web something like the mobile gallery app F-Droid uses (up to 2 rows, switches on tap, not scroll) might be more appropriate.

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Thanks a lot for considering ❤️

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[bertin0]

This feature is implemented in the Aves gallery app which also uses flutter, maybe it can be adapted for easier implementation?

[BetaRavener]

Thanks for the hint @bertin0. I invested few hours to play with the android app of immich and got something working. There are still couple edge cases around videos - they start playback and hide control elements, but you might be still swiping on filmstrip, and similar. But overall it should be enough of a proof-of-concept to know if immich maintainers are willing to integrate this.

Settings:

In action (too big for github upload) :
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ahzw0497mu64intnwrxy3/Screen_Recording_20260318_213504.mp4?rlkey=d9j3cpbr60hikmk8b1n8zgcis&st=5z3fi2vs&dl=0

[george1612]

Or just no differentiation at all, as Picasa did it, as one can see the current image in full screen, as Picasa did it? Don't like it a lot but still better/less distracting than a jumping white frame imo.

[BetaRavener]

So, I've tried to improve the logic and refactor the code, looks much better now but still not final.
Opened a draft PR though: #27161 so the changes are easier to review.

As for the styling topic, I think there will be opinions also from Immich maintainers, but definitely hear you about making it less disturbing. Maybe just toning the frame down with 25% alpha would already improve it.

[george1612]

Thanks! :) Oh and I just saw it doesn't use a scroll animation on the filmstrip when it jumps to the image when it is tapped. Wondered all the time what looked off in this use case but I guess this is what breaks the immersion in this case a bit. I wouldn't assume any patent issues here as it already scrolls on swipe too.

[BetaRavener]

The new version does here.. Though arguably I will have to improve the flow still because it bounces between assets and filmstrip view a bit

[BetaRavener]

Ok I think I went through the code enough times by now and it seems to work reasonably well. Few open points still:

• Haptic feedback - nice suggestion but I would really wait for someone from Immich team to give this thumbs up before spending more time.
  • It should also probably only buzz while scrubbing with finger down and on tap, not during inertia scroll.
  • And should be probably turned of by default. Not aware of any other part in Immich app that provides haptic feedback.
• Not sure what's the process to generate all translation in i18n - should be done in the PR?
• Exiting from asset viewer back to gallery should make the gallery show the asset last displayed
  • There's actually no change here compared to main branch, but using filmstrip allows you to get much further without exiting to gallery view, so the de-sync becomes more obvious.
  • Should be done as separate PR though.
• How to actually get attention of maintainers :)

Anyway happy for any further suggestions once you had a chance to try it out.

[george1612]

Would be great for web too, tbh. Like e.g. Picasa had it. 🤔, to jump directly to the next great image wothout leaving fullscreen, or to skip irrelevant images with ease.