Adobe has introduced the latest version of its cloud-based media collaboration service Frame.io. This update completely revamps the service with new workflow and tagging capabilities that make it easier to manage projects on the platform. Frame.io V4 is currently available in beta for Free and Pro users on the web, iPhone and iPad, and is expected to be available for Team and Enterprise users towards the end of the year.
The evolution of Frame.io: Transforming into a new workflow management tool
The easiest explanation for this update is that Frame.io now feels like a workflow management tool like Trello, Asana or Monday, rather than just a tool for reviewing and approving media assets. This makes Frame.io more compatible with competing offerings like Iconik, while ensuring users don't need multiple apps to fully manage their projects.
One of the standout innovations is the metadata framework, which allows users to tag, display and organize their media more flexibly using customizable data fields. For example, users can now tag assets with special statuses like “delivered” or “requires fixing,” or tag them with completion dates or people who will work on them, making it easier to filter and track progress.
The new metadata framework is integrated into other features such as Collections, which allow users to create views that track specific groups of fields. This means, for example, that you can create a view that shows every asset that “requires review” tagged with the same due date. And these Collections can be copied and shared to create slightly different looks with additional filters without interfering with the original group view.
The review and approval process has also been updated with features that allow users to leave more detailed or expressive feedback on files. Comments can now be pinned to specific locations within media files, making it easy to highlight areas that definitely need attention. Comments also support hashtags to track and index attachments, emoji reactions, and feedback.
Nearly every aspect of the platform has been improved with new quality of life features, such as the new panel system that gives users more control over their workspace layouts. These improvements include a completely rebuilt asset grid that reduces loading times between files, folders, and version stacks. You can find all the details about Frame.io V4 in Frame.io's blog announcement.