Lumen Video Player

Article Contents:

• Overview of the New Player
• New Player Layout
• Updated Player Controls
• Captioning Improvements
• Keyboard Shortcuts & Navigation
• Accessibility & Tooltips
• Single Video vs Fullscreen
• Dynamic Digital Video Playback
   

Overview of the New Player

The new Single Video View includes:

• A refreshed layout for single‑file playback

• A redesigned control bar (in both normal and fullscreen views)

• Central “step” controls around the timecode

• A new Settings menu for playback speed and quality

• A redesigned Caption Settings dialog

• Better keyboard navigation and accessibility

• Consistent behavior between Single Video and Fullscreen views
  
  

New Player Layout

The Single Video View has been updated to match our latest designs:

• The video area is centered and scales to fill as much of your browser as possible while keeping consistent padding from the edges.

• The control bar now runs full‑width along the bottom of the player with consistent spacing from the sides.

• The same foundation is used in both Single Video and Fullscreen modes so behavior is consistent between views.

Updated Player Controls

Central Step Controls Around the Timecode

Next to the timecode in the center of the player, you’ll see “<” and “>” step buttons:

• Click < or > to step the playhead by 0.5 seconds backward or forward.

• Press and hold for 2+ seconds to accelerate seeking in larger 5‑second jumps.

• These controls work in both:

  • Single Video View

  • Fullscreen view
    
    

Consistent Resolution and Settings Between Views

When you switch between Single Video and Fullscreen, the player now preserves your video settings:

• Resolution/quality selection is remembered when you move from:

  • Single Video → Fullscreen

  • Fullscreen → Single Video

Redesigned Settings Menu (Playback Speed & Quality)

We’ve consolidated quality and playback speed into a single Settings menu:

• A new Settings (gear) button appears in the control bar.

• From this menu you can:

  • Adjust playback speed (e.g., slower/faster playback)

  • Change video quality (e.g., Auto, 720p, 1080p, depending on source)
    
    
    

Video Clipping

Our new video player has built-in clipping/trim tools, so you can create short-form content from the content you're already watching in your Library.

Captioning Improvements

New Caption Settings Dialog

Clicking the “CC” (captions) button now gives you access to a redesigned Caption Settings dialog:

• Access from the control bar via:

  • CC button → “Caption Settings…”

• Settings appear in a fly‑out dialog following the latest design:

  • Font, size, color, and other caption style choices (per current design)

  • A “Done” button to apply your changes

• Your chosen settings are reflected immediately in the player.
  
  

Note: When you open Caption Settings from Fullscreen, the player will exit Fullscreen so that the dialog can display above the page content. 

Keyboard & Screen‑Reader‑Friendly Captions

Caption controls can now be used fully by keyboard and work better with assistive tech:

• Tab to the captions icon.

• Use Tab or arrow keys to move through options in the captions menu.

• Tab through controls in the Caption Settings dialog.

• Buttons are labeled so screen readers can announce what each control does.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Navigation

The new player supports an expanded set of keyboard shortcuts to help you move through video more efficiently.

Playback & View Shortcuts

• Spacebar – Play / Pause

• F – Toggle Fullscreen Video

• M – Mute / Unmute

Fine‑Grained Seeking

You can make precise moves through the video using either arrow keys or the central < / > buttons:

Arrow keys (after focusing the video):

• Left Arrow – Seek backward 0.5 seconds

• Right Arrow – Seek forward 0.5 seconds

• Press and hold either arrow for 2+ seconds:

  • Seek in 5‑second increments while held

Central < / > step buttons:

• Click < – Jump back 0.5 seconds

• Click > – Jump forward 0.5 seconds

• Press and hold for 2+ seconds:

  • Also accelerates to 5‑second jumps

Thumbnail Selection Navigation

When selecting a new thumbnail frame:

• Use the < and > controls in the thumbnail selector to move through the video.

• Each click moves the playhead in 0.5‑second increments (updated from 1s for accessibility).

• The frame you’re on becomes the candidate thumbnail.

Keyboard Shortcut Info Panel

A dedicated “keyboard shortcuts info” button has been added back to the player, listing available shortcuts such as:

• Spacebar – Play / Pause

• , – Go back 0.5s

• . – Go forward 0.5s

• F – Fullscreen View

• M – Mute / Unmute

• S – Toggle Playback Speeds

• C – Toggle Captions

• Q – Toggle Playback Quality

• T – Set Video Thumbnail

• ? – Show / Hide shortcut info

Accessibility & Tooltips

The new player is significantly more accessible and informative:

Screen‑Reader‑Readable Tooltips

Buttons in the control bar now include text descriptions for both visual users and screen readers:

Tooltips have been added to:

• Play / Pause button

• Captions toggle (CC)

• Volume control

• Playback Settings / Quality button

• Thumbnail controls (Set new thumbnail)

• Central step arrows:

  • “Previous 0.5s”

  • “Next 0.5s”

For screen readers, items that show “0.5s” visually can be announced as “0.5 seconds” to improve clarity.

Focus & Control Bar Behavior

• The control bar hides automatically after a short period of inactivity to keep the focus on your content, and reappears when you move the mouse or use the keyboard.

• The scrubber/seek bar shows a subtle highlight in the region you are hovering, helping you see exactly where in the video you’ll jump to if you click.

• Timing values (including fractional seconds) now update smoothly and consistently while the video plays—no more “jumpy” numbers or strange negative sub‑second values

Dynamic Digital Video Playback

When you upload a video to your PhotoShelter for Brands Library, our video processing pipeline prepares streaming-ready versions behind the scenes—creating multiple viewer-friendly renditions so playback can start quickly and stay smooth for that specific user. When someone presses play, the player automatically serves the most appropriate version for that viewer’s screen and connection, so the video looks sharp on everything from phones to large desktop displays without any waiting or buffering.

Because the video is delivered in streamable segments (rather than a single, heavy download), viewers typically get:

• Fast start-up (playback begins quickly)

• Consistent quality on their device (the video is delivered at a resolution that fits the screen)

• Fewer interruptions (less pausing/rebuffering on typical connections)