experimental: portfolio features (justified layout, unlisted pages, captions, per-album grid, focal point, nav links, cover hero) (#431)

## Was ist das?

Sieben neue Portfolio-Features, alle als **experimental** gekennzeichnet
— in YAML-Kommentaren, Admin-Panel-Labels und Commit-Scopes, damit sie
einzeln nachvollziehbar und revertierbar bleiben.

## Features (je ein Commit)

| Commit | Feature |
| --- | --- |
| `justified rows gallery layout` | Neues Grid-Layout `justified`:
zeilenbasiert, gleiche Höhen, volle Breite — Flexbox ohne JS-Messung,
letzte Zeile bleibt natürlich klein |
| `hide subpages from navigation` | `hidden: true`: Seite aus
Nav/Homepage raus, per Direktlink erreichbar — im Gegensatz zu `enabled:
false` (404) |
| `lightbox captions` | Immich-Asset-Description als Bildunterschrift im
Info-Panel; EXIF-Route liefert bei `exifOnHover: false` jetzt nur noch
die Caption statt 403 |
| `per-album grid overrides` | `grid:` pro Album-Eintrag, Präzedenz
global < Subpage < Album |
| `per-album cover focal point` | `coverPosition:` → `object-position`
auf Cover-Karten, strikt validiert |
| `external links in header navigation` | `navLinks:` in settings.yaml,
nur http(s), sanitisiert |
| `cover splash hero style` | `heroStyle: cover`: Fullscreen-Splash mit
Enter-Link ins Portfolio |

Alle Optionen sind im Admin-Panel editierbar (PageBuilder /
SettingsEditor).

## Tests

- 356 Unit-Tests grün (13 neue: deriveGallery hidden/grid/coverPosition,
sanitizeNavLinks, EXIF-Route-Captions, justified-Layout-Validierung)
- `npx tsc --noEmit`: 0 Fehler
- `npm run build`: sauber
- Justified-Zeilenmathematik und Cover-Splash per Browser-Harness
visuell/numerisch verifiziert (volle Zeilen enden exakt an der
Containerkante, letzte Zeile bleibt natürlich)

---------

Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>
Co-authored-by: ralksta <ralksta@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: lancetm714 <108419425+lancetm714@users.noreply.github.com>

app/[...path]/PhotoGrid.tsx

@@ -34,7 +34,14 @@ export interface PhotoItem {
 
 interface PhotoGridProps {
   assets: PhotoItem[];
-  layout?: 'masonry' | 'uniform' | 'showcase' | 'filmstrip' | 'editorial-flow' | 'essay';
+  layout?:
+    | 'masonry'
+    | 'uniform'
+    | 'showcase'
+    | 'filmstrip'
+    | 'editorial-flow'
+    | 'essay'
+    | 'justified';
   gridStyle?: React.CSSProperties;
   watermark?: LightboxWatermark;
 }
@@ -122,8 +129,21 @@ function PhotoGridInner({ assets, layout = 'masonry', gridStyle, watermark }: Ph
     return displayedAssets.map((asset, index) => {
       const isFav = proofing ? proofing.isFavorite(asset.id) : false;
 
+      // Justified rows: the flex sizing must sit on the outermost grid child,
+      // which is the FadeIn wrapper — not the .photo-grid__item inside it.
+      // Aspect ratio drives both grow factor and basis; ~3:2 fallback for
+      // assets without dimensions (e.g. videos) keeps the row math sane.
+      const justifiedAr = asset.aspectRatio || 1.5;
+      const justifiedStyle: React.CSSProperties | undefined =
+        layout === 'justified'
+          ? {
+              flexGrow: justifiedAr,
+              flexBasis: `calc(var(--grid-row-height, 300px) * ${justifiedAr})`,
+            }
+          : undefined;
+
       return (
-        <FadeIn key={asset.id} delay={index < 12 ? index * 50 : 0}>
+        <FadeIn key={asset.id} delay={index < 12 ? index * 50 : 0} style={justifiedStyle}>
           <div
             className={`photo-grid__item${
               layout === 'showcase' && index === 0 ? ' photo-grid__featured' : ''

app/[...path]/SubpageGridView.tsx

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ interface SubpageAlbum {
   albumName: string;
   assetCount: number;
   albumThumbnailAssetId: string | null;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: focal point for the cover crop (CSS object-position) */
+  coverPosition?: string;
 }
 
 interface Placeholder {
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ function AlbumGrid({
                   fill
                   sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, (max-width: 1000px) 50vw, 33vw"
                   loading="lazy"
+                  {...(album.coverPosition ? { style: { objectPosition: album.coverPosition } } : {})}
                   {...(ph ? { placeholder: 'blur' as const, blurDataURL: ph.blurDataURL } : {})}
                 />
               ) : (

app/[...path]/page.tsx

@@ -182,6 +182,17 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params, searchParams }: PathPageProps)
   const resolveLayout = (overrides?: Partial<GridConfig>) =>
     overrides?.layout ?? config.grid.layout;
 
+  // EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid override — merged over the subpage grid so
+  // the precedence is global < subpage < album.
+  const mergeAlbumGrid = (
+    albumId: string,
+    spGrid?: Partial<GridConfig>,
+  ): Partial<GridConfig> | undefined => {
+    const albumGrid = config.albumGrids[albumId];
+    if (!albumGrid) return spGrid;
+    return { ...spGrid, ...albumGrid };
+  };
+
   if (!path || path.length === 0) {
     notFound();
   }
@@ -225,8 +236,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params, searchParams }: PathPageProps)
       <AlbumDetailView
         album={album}
         images={images}
-        layout={resolveLayout(spGrid)}
+        layout={resolveLayout(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id, spGrid))}
-        gridStyle={buildGridStyle(spGrid)}
+        gridStyle={buildGridStyle(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id, spGrid))}
         backLinkHref={`/${subpageSlug}`}
         backLinkLabel={`Back to ${subpageName}`}
         watermark={config.watermark}
@@ -341,8 +352,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params, searchParams }: PathPageProps)
         <AlbumDetailView
           album={album}
           images={images}
-          layout={resolveLayout(result.subpage.grid)}
+          layout={resolveLayout(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id, result.subpage.grid))}
-          gridStyle={buildGridStyle(result.subpage.grid)}
+          gridStyle={buildGridStyle(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id, result.subpage.grid))}
           subtitle={result.subpage.subtitle}
           backLinkHref="/"
           backLinkLabel="Back to Gallery"
@@ -357,7 +368,14 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params, searchParams }: PathPageProps)
     // Override albumThumbnailAssetId with the configured hero image (if any)
     const albumsWithHero = albums.map((album) => {
       const heroId = config.albumHeroImages[album.id];
-      return heroId ? { ...album, albumThumbnailAssetId: heroId } : album;
+      // EXPERIMENTAL: coverPosition rides along so the card crop can honour
+      // the configured focal point.
+      const coverPosition = config.albumCoverPositions[album.id];
+      return {
+        ...album,
+        ...(heroId ? { albumThumbnailAssetId: heroId } : {}),
+        ...(coverPosition ? { coverPosition } : {}),
+      };
     });
 
     // Batch-fetch ThumbHash for album cover placeholders
@@ -412,8 +430,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params, searchParams }: PathPageProps)
     <AlbumDetailView
       album={album}
       images={images}
-      layout={resolveLayout()}
+      layout={resolveLayout(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id))}
-      gridStyle={buildGridStyle()}
+      gridStyle={buildGridStyle(mergeAlbumGrid(album.id))}
       backLinkHref="/"
       backLinkLabel="Back to Gallery"
       watermark={config.watermark}

app/admin/admin.css

@@ -2220,7 +2220,9 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
 
 .album-drawer {
   width: 100%;
-  max-width: 620px;
+  /* Narrower than the subpage sheet (1100px) so the nested editor still reads
+     as a layer on top of it, but wide enough for the same two-column body. */
+  max-width: 960px;
   max-height: 90vh;
   background: var(--admin-bg-raised);
   border: 1px solid var(--admin-border);
@@ -2255,8 +2257,9 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   gap: 0.5rem;
 }
 
-/* Single-column body — and the drawer's only scroll container. Nesting a second
+/* The drawer's only scroll container. Nesting a second scroller here is what
-   scroller here is what used to clip the sort listbox popup. */
+   used to clip the sort listbox popup — the two columns inside must stay
+   overflow-free and scroll together. */
 .album-drawer-body {
   flex: 1;
   min-height: 0;
@@ -2278,6 +2281,20 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   }
 }
 
+/* Full-screen on phones, mirroring the subpage sheet. */
+@media (max-width: 560px) {
+  .album-drawer-overlay {
+    padding: 0;
+  }
+  .album-drawer {
+    max-width: none;
+    max-height: none;
+    height: 100dvh;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    border: none;
+  }
+}
+
 .album-drawer-body::-webkit-scrollbar {
   width: 6px;
 }
@@ -3470,7 +3487,9 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   border-radius: 4px;
 }
 
-/* ── Subpage Slide-Over Drawer Modal ──────────────────────────── */
+/* ── Subpage Editor Sheet (centered two-column modal) ─────────── */
+/* z-index 999 is load-bearing: the album detail modal (1000) and the
+   portalled Listbox popup (1100) must stack above this sheet. */
 .subpage-drawer-backdrop {
   position: fixed;
   inset: 0;
@@ -3478,28 +3497,37 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
   z-index: 999;
   display: flex;
-  justify-content: flex-end;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: 1.5rem;
   animation: fadeIn 0.2s ease-out;
 }
 
 .subpage-drawer-container {
   width: 100%;
-  max-width: 620px;
+  max-width: 1100px;
-  height: 100vh;
+  max-height: 90vh;
   background: var(--admin-bg-card, #181818);
-  border-left: 1px solid var(--admin-border, #333);
+  border: 1px solid var(--admin-border, #333);
+  border-radius: 16px;
+  overflow: hidden;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  box-shadow: -10px 0 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  box-shadow: 0 20px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
-  animation: slideInRight 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+  /* No fill-mode: after the entry animation the computed transform must
+     return to none, so the container never becomes a containing block for
+     fixed-position descendants (Listbox popup measurement). */
+  animation: sheetIn 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
 }
 
-@keyframes slideInRight {
+@keyframes sheetIn {
   from {
-    transform: translateX(100%);
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: scale(0.96) translateY(10px);
   }
   to {
-    transform: translateX(0);
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: scale(1) translateY(0);
   }
 }
 
@@ -3538,6 +3566,8 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   overflow-y: auto;
   overscroll-behavior: contain;
   flex: 1;
+  /* Required so the flex child scrolls under max-height instead of growing */
+  min-height: 0;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   gap: 1.25rem;
@@ -3552,6 +3582,71 @@ h3 .svg-icon {
   justify-content: space-between;
 }
 
+/* ── Shared two-column layout for admin editor sheets ─────────── */
+/* Used by the subpage editor and the album detail editor so both read as the
+   same surface. Columns always live inside their sheet's single body scroller
+   — never give a column its own overflow, a nested scroller clips the
+   portalled Listbox popup (see the .album-drawer-body note). */
+.admin-sheet-columns {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
+  gap: 2rem;
+  align-items: start;
+}
+
+/* The subpage editor is asymmetric on purpose: the left column is a settings
+   form with a natural maximum, the right one holds the album list and wants
+   every pixel it can get. */
+.admin-sheet-columns--settings-aside {
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(380px, 460px) 1fr;
+}
+
+.admin-sheet-col {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 1.25rem;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.admin-sheet-col--divided {
+  border-left: 1px solid var(--admin-border);
+  padding-left: 2rem;
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 1024px) {
+  .admin-sheet-columns,
+  .admin-sheet-columns--settings-aside {
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+    gap: 1.25rem;
+  }
+
+  .admin-sheet-col--divided {
+    border-left: none;
+    padding-left: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 768px) {
+  .subpage-drawer-backdrop {
+    padding: 0;
+  }
+
+  .subpage-drawer-container {
+    max-width: none;
+    max-height: none;
+    height: 100dvh;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    border: none;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .subpage-drawer-container,
+  .subpage-drawer-backdrop {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+}
+
 /* Breadcrumb + title stack on the left of the drawer header. */
 .subpage-drawer-title-group {
   display: flex;

app/admin/components/Icons.tsx

@@ -170,6 +170,17 @@ export function IconGlobe({ size = 16, className = 'svg-icon', strokeWidth = 2,
   );
 }
 
+export function IconEyeOff({ size = 16, className = 'svg-icon', strokeWidth = 2, ...props }: IconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={strokeWidth} strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" className={className} {...props}>
+      <path d="M9.88 9.88a3 3 0 1 0 4.24 4.24" />
+      <path d="M10.73 5.08A10.43 10.43 0 0 1 12 5c7 0 10 7 10 7a13.16 13.16 0 0 1-1.67 2.68" />
+      <path d="M6.61 6.61A13.526 13.526 0 0 0 2 12s3 7 10 7a9.74 9.74 0 0 0 5.39-1.61" />
+      <line x1="2" x2="22" y1="2" y2="22" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
 export function IconBan({ size = 16, className = 'svg-icon', strokeWidth = 2, ...props }: IconProps) {
   return (
     <svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={strokeWidth} strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" className={className} {...props}>

app/admin/components/PageBuilder.tsx

@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ import {
   IconGripVertical,
   IconHome,
   IconImage,
+  IconBan,
+  IconEyeOff,
+  IconGlobe,
   IconLock,
   IconPencil,
   IconPlus,
@@ -92,6 +95,10 @@ interface AlbumEntry {
   sort?: AlbumSortMode;
   /** Pinned asset UUIDs for `sort: manual`; everything else follows automatically. */
   assetOrder?: string[];
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid override (layout only in the UI for now) */
+  grid?: { columns?: number; gap?: number; aspectRatio?: string; layout?: string };
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: focal point for the cover crop, e.g. "50% 25%" or "top" */
+  coverPosition?: string;
 }
 
 interface Section {
@@ -106,6 +113,8 @@ interface Subpage {
   subtitle?: string;
   password?: string;
   enabled?: boolean;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: reachable by direct link, but not shown in navigation */
+  hidden?: boolean;
   essayText?: string;
   essayFile?: string;
   sections?: Section[];
@@ -153,7 +162,9 @@ function hasAlbumOptions(entry: AlbumEntry): boolean {
     entry.password ||
     entry.heroImage ||
     (entry.sort && entry.sort !== DEFAULT_ALBUM_SORT) ||
-    entry.assetOrder?.length,
+    entry.assetOrder?.length ||
+    entry.grid ||
+    entry.coverPosition,
   );
 }
 
@@ -171,6 +182,8 @@ function parseAlbumEntries(raw: RawAlbumEntry[] | undefined): AlbumEntry[] {
       heroImage: value.heroImage,
       sort: isAlbumSortMode(value.sort) ? value.sort : undefined,
       assetOrder: value.assetOrder,
+      grid: value.grid,
+      coverPosition: value.coverPosition,
     };
   });
 }
@@ -192,6 +205,8 @@ function serializeAlbumEntries(entries: AlbumEntry[]): RawAlbumEntry[] {
     // Persisted regardless of the mode, so manual → newest → manual does not
     // throw away a hand-curated order.
     if (entry.assetOrder?.length) val.assetOrder = entry.assetOrder;
+    if (entry.grid) val.grid = entry.grid;
+    if (entry.coverPosition) val.coverPosition = entry.coverPosition;
     return { [entry.id]: val };
   });
 }
@@ -326,6 +341,12 @@ function SortableSubpageTile({
         </span>
       )}
 
+      {sp.hidden === true && sp.enabled !== false && (
+        <span className="subpage-badge-protected" title="Hidden from navigation, reachable by direct link">
+          Unlisted
+        </span>
+      )}
+
       {sp.password && (
         <span className="subpage-badge-protected" title="Password protected">
           <IconLock size={12} /> Password
@@ -420,6 +441,22 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   }, [dirty, saving, gallery]);
 
+  // ── Escape closes the subpage sheet — only when it is topmost ─
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (expandedSubpage === null) return;
+    function handleEscape(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+      if (e.key !== 'Escape') return;
+      // Listbox preventDefaults its own Escape but does not stopPropagation —
+      // respect that so closing a popup never also closes the sheet.
+      if (e.defaultPrevented) return;
+      // A higher layer (album editor, pickers, order editor) owns the key.
+      if (editingAlbumAddress || pickerTarget || heroPickerTarget || orderEditorTarget) return;
+      setExpandedSubpage(null);
+    }
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleEscape);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleEscape);
+  }, [expandedSubpage, editingAlbumAddress, pickerTarget, heroPickerTarget, orderEditorTarget]);
+
   // ── Unsaved changes guard ────────────────────────────────────
   useEffect(() => {
     function handleBeforeUnload(e: BeforeUnloadEvent) {
@@ -470,6 +507,7 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
         subtitle: sp.subtitle as string | undefined,
         password: sp.password as string | undefined,
         enabled: sp.enabled !== false,
+        hidden: sp.hidden === true,
         essayText: sp.essayText as string | undefined,
         essayFile: sp.essayFile as string | undefined,
         albums: parseAlbumEntries(sp.albums as Array<string | Record<string, string>> | undefined),
@@ -494,6 +532,7 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
           subtitle: sp.subtitle as string | undefined,
           password: sp.password as string | undefined,
           enabled: sp.enabled !== false,
+          hidden: sp.hidden === true,
           essayText: sp.essayText as string | undefined,
           essayFile: sp.essayFile as string | undefined,
           albums: parseAlbumEntries(
@@ -533,6 +572,7 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
         if (sp.subtitle) entry.subtitle = sp.subtitle;
         if (sp.password) entry.password = sp.password;
         if (sp.enabled === false) entry.enabled = false;
+        if (sp.hidden === true) entry.hidden = true;
         if (sp.essayText) entry.essayText = sp.essayText;
         if (sp.essayFile) entry.essayFile = sp.essayFile;
         if (sp.grid) entry.grid = sp.grid;
@@ -1175,7 +1215,8 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                           )}
                         </div>
                       ) : (
-                        <>
+                        <div className="admin-sheet-columns admin-sheet-columns--settings-aside">
+                        <div className="admin-sheet-col">
                       <div className="subpage-drawer-section">
                         <div className="admin-field">
                           <label>Page Name (URL Identifier)</label>
@@ -1215,9 +1256,74 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                             />
                           </div>
                         </div>
-                        <div className="admin-field">
+                        <div className="admin-field" style={{ marginTop: '1rem' }}>
-                          <label>Password Protection (optional)</label>
+                          <label>Visibility &amp; Access</label>
-                          <div className="password-input-wrapper">
+                          {/*
+                            One field, three states — enabled/hidden are two YAML flags,
+                            but for the owner it is a single question: how visible is
+                            this page? Splitting it across two toggles produced
+                            contradictory copy ("Disabled (Hidden)" vs "Unlisted").
+                          */}
+                          {(
+                            [
+                              {
+                                key: 'published',
+                                active: sp.enabled !== false && sp.hidden !== true,
+                                icon: <IconGlobe size={15} />,
+                                iconColor: '#4ade80',
+                                title: 'Published',
+                                desc: 'Shown in the header menu and homepage lists, reachable via URL',
+                                patch: { enabled: true, hidden: false },
+                              },
+                              {
+                                key: 'unlisted',
+                                active: sp.enabled !== false && sp.hidden === true,
+                                icon: <IconEyeOff size={15} />,
+                                iconColor: '#fbbf24',
+                                title: 'Unlisted (Experimental)',
+                                desc: 'Not shown in menus or on the homepage, but reachable via direct link',
+                                patch: { enabled: true, hidden: true },
+                              },
+                              {
+                                key: 'disabled',
+                                active: sp.enabled === false,
+                                icon: <IconBan size={15} />,
+                                iconColor: '#f87171',
+                                title: 'Disabled',
+                                desc: 'Completely offline — returns 404 even when accessed directly',
+                                patch: { enabled: false, hidden: false },
+                              },
+                            ] as const
+                          ).map((opt) => (
+                            <button
+                              key={opt.key}
+                              type="button"
+                              className={`admin-toggle-card ${opt.active ? 'active' : ''}`}
+                              onClick={() => updateSubpage(spIndex, opt.patch)}
+                              aria-pressed={opt.active}
+                              style={{ padding: '10px 14px', width: '100%', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between', borderRadius: '8px', cursor: 'pointer', marginBottom: '6px' }}
+                            >
+                              <div className="toggle-card-info" style={{ textAlign: 'left' }}>
+                                <span className="toggle-card-title" style={{ fontWeight: 600, display: 'inline-flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '8px' }}>
+                                  <span style={{ color: opt.iconColor, display: 'inline-flex' }} aria-hidden="true">
+                                    {opt.icon}
+                                  </span>
+                                  {opt.title}
+                                </span>
+                                <span className="toggle-card-desc" style={{ fontSize: '0.8rem', display: 'block', opacity: 0.75 }}>
+                                  {opt.desc}
+                                </span>
+                              </div>
+                              <div className={`switch-toggle ${opt.active ? 'on' : ''}`}>
+                                <span className="switch-slider" />
+                              </div>
+                            </button>
+                          ))}
+
+                          {/* Password lives in the same group: it is the access half
+                              of "who gets to see this page". Applies to Published and
+                              Unlisted; a Disabled page 404s before the gate. */}
+                          <div className="password-input-wrapper" style={{ marginTop: '6px' }}>
                             <span className="password-icon"><IconLock size={12} /></span>
                             <input
                               type="password"
@@ -1225,40 +1331,11 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                               onChange={(e) =>
                                 updateSubpage(spIndex, { password: e.target.value || undefined })
                               }
-                              placeholder="Leave empty for public access"
+                              placeholder="Password protection (optional) — leave empty for public access"
+                              disabled={sp.enabled === false}
                             />
                           </div>
                         </div>
-
-                        <div className="admin-field" style={{ marginTop: '1rem' }}>
-                          <label>Page Visibility Status</label>
-                          <button
-                            type="button"
-                            className={`admin-toggle-card ${sp.enabled !== false ? 'active' : ''}`}
-                            onClick={() => updateSubpage(spIndex, { enabled: sp.enabled === false })}
-                            style={{ padding: '10px 14px', width: '100%', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between', borderRadius: '8px', cursor: 'pointer' }}
-                          >
-                            <div className="toggle-card-info" style={{ textAlign: 'left' }}>
-                              <span className="toggle-card-title" style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>
-                                <span
-                                  className={`page-status-dot ${sp.enabled !== false ? 'is-on' : 'is-off'}`}
-                                  aria-hidden="true"
-                                />
-                                {sp.enabled !== false
-                                  ? 'Page Active (Published)'
-                                  : 'Page Disabled (Hidden)'}
-                              </span>
-                              <span className="toggle-card-desc" style={{ fontSize: '0.8rem', display: 'block', opacity: 0.75 }}>
-                                {sp.enabled !== false
-                                  ? 'Visible in header menu and reachable via URL'
-                                  : 'Hidden from navigation menu. Returns 404 if accessed directly.'}
-                              </span>
-                            </div>
-                            <div className={`switch-toggle ${sp.enabled !== false ? 'on' : ''}`}>
-                              <span className="switch-slider" />
-                            </div>
-                          </button>
-                        </div>
                         <div className="admin-field" style={{ marginTop: '1rem' }}>
                           <label>Page Layout Style</label>
                           <select
@@ -1313,8 +1390,9 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                         </div>
                       )}
 
-                      <div className="settings-section-divider" />
+                        </div>
 
+                        <div className="admin-sheet-col admin-sheet-col--divided">
                       {/* Albums (if no sections) with DnD */}
                       {(!sp.sections || sp.sections.length === 0) && (
                         <div className="subpage-albums">
@@ -1437,7 +1515,8 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                           </button>
                         )}
                       </div>
-                        </>
+                        </div>
+                        </div>
                       )}
                     </div>
 
@@ -1503,6 +1582,8 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                   form already shows (password state, custom hero) is not
                   repeated as a read-only stat. */}
               <div className="album-drawer-body">
+                <div className="admin-sheet-columns">
+                <div className="admin-sheet-col">
                 <div className="modal-cover-container">
                   {heroThumb ? (
                     <img src={`/api/admin/thumbnail/${heroThumb}`} alt="" loading="lazy" />
@@ -1551,6 +1632,40 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                   </div>
                 </div>
 
+                </div>
+
+                <div className="admin-sheet-col admin-sheet-col--divided">
+                <div className="admin-field">
+                  <label>Layout override (Experimental)</label>
+                  <select
+                    value={album.grid?.layout || ''}
+                    onChange={(e) => {
+                      const layout = e.target.value || undefined;
+                      // Only the layout is exposed here; drop the grid object
+                      // entirely when it goes back to "inherit" so the YAML
+                      // stays clean.
+                      onUpdate({ grid: layout ? { ...(album.grid || {}), layout } : undefined });
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    <option value="">Inherit from page / global settings</option>
+                    <option value="masonry">Masonry</option>
+                    <option value="uniform">Uniform Grid</option>
+                    <option value="showcase">Showcase</option>
+                    <option value="filmstrip">Filmstrip</option>
+                    <option value="editorial-flow">Editorial Flow</option>
+                    <option value="justified">Justified (Experimental)</option>
+                  </select>
+                </div>
+
+                <div className="admin-field">
+                  <label>Cover focal point (Experimental)</label>
+                  <input
+                    value={album.coverPosition || ''}
+                    onChange={(e) => onUpdate({ coverPosition: e.target.value || undefined })}
+                    placeholder={'e.g. "50% 25%" or "top" — where the cover crop should anchor'}
+                  />
+                </div>
+
                 {/* Hero Image Selection */}
                 <div className="admin-field">
                   <label>Custom Hero Image</label>
@@ -1627,6 +1742,8 @@ export default function PageBuilder() {
                     </div>
                   )}
                 </div>
+                </div>
+                </div>
               </div>
               <div className="album-drawer-footer">
                 <button

app/admin/components/SettingsEditor.tsx

@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ interface Settings {
     email?: string;
     website?: string;
   };
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: external links appended to the header navigation */
+  navLinks?: Array<{ label?: string; url?: string }>;
   legal?: {
     enabled?: boolean;
     name?: string;
@@ -71,9 +73,9 @@ interface Settings {
 }
 
 const PRESETS = ['studio', 'studio-modern', 'minimal', 'editorial', 'classic', 'noir', 'monograph'];
-const LAYOUTS = ['masonry', 'uniform', 'showcase', 'filmstrip', 'editorial-flow'];
+const LAYOUTS = ['masonry', 'uniform', 'showcase', 'filmstrip', 'editorial-flow', 'justified'];
 const PHOTO_FRAMES = ['none', 'passepartout', 'shadow'];
-const HERO_STYLES = ['split', 'fullbleed', 'minimal', 'stacked', 'typographic', 'mosaic'];
+const HERO_STYLES = ['split', 'fullbleed', 'minimal', 'stacked', 'typographic', 'mosaic', 'cover'];
 const ASPECT_RATIOS = ['1', '3/2', '2/3', '16/9', 'auto'];
 
 /**
@@ -760,6 +762,7 @@ export default function SettingsEditor({ section }: SettingsEditorProps) {
                       stacked: { label: 'Stacked', desc: 'Title stacked directly over photo' },
                       typographic: { label: 'Typographic', desc: 'Oversized magazine masthead' },
                       mosaic: { label: 'Mosaic', desc: 'Dynamic photo collage layout' },
+                      cover: { label: 'Cover (Experimental)', desc: 'Fullscreen splash with a single Enter link' },
                     }[s] || { label: s, desc: '' };
                     const isActive = (settings.theme?.heroStyle || 'split') === s;
 
@@ -888,6 +891,7 @@ export default function SettingsEditor({ section }: SettingsEditorProps) {
                       showcase: { label: 'Showcase', desc: 'Featured hero photos mixed with smaller tiles' },
                       filmstrip: { label: 'Filmstrip', desc: 'Horizontal scrollable film strip timeline' },
                       'editorial-flow': { label: 'Editorial Flow', desc: 'Magazine story layout with varying photo sizes' },
+                      justified: { label: 'Justified (Experimental)', desc: 'Equal-height rows that fill the full width' },
                     }[l] || { label: l, desc: '' };
                     const isActive = (settings.grid?.layout || 'masonry') === l;
 
@@ -930,6 +934,12 @@ export default function SettingsEditor({ section }: SettingsEditorProps) {
                                 <div className="demo-row"><div className="demo-tile" /><div className="demo-tile" /></div>
                               </div>
                             )}
+                            {l === 'justified' && (
+                              <div className="demo-editorial-flow">
+                                <div className="demo-row"><div className="demo-tile wide" /><div className="demo-tile" /></div>
+                                <div className="demo-row"><div className="demo-tile" /><div className="demo-tile wide" /></div>
+                              </div>
+                            )}
                           </div>
                         </div>
                         <div className="preset-card-info">
@@ -1050,6 +1060,59 @@ export default function SettingsEditor({ section }: SettingsEditorProps) {
                   />
                 </div>
               </div>
+
+              <div className="settings-section-header" style={{ marginTop: '2rem' }}>
+                <h3><Icons.IconLink size={18} /> Header Navigation Links (Experimental)</h3>
+                <p className="settings-section-sub">External links shown after your pages in the header menu. Only http(s) URLs are allowed; they open in a new tab.</p>
+              </div>
+
+              {(settings.navLinks || []).map((link, i) => (
+                <div className="admin-field-row" key={i}>
+                  <div className="admin-field">
+                    <label>Label</label>
+                    <input
+                      value={link.label || ''}
+                      onChange={(e) => {
+                        const next = [...(settings.navLinks || [])];
+                        next[i] = { ...next[i], label: e.target.value };
+                        update('navLinks', next);
+                      }}
+                      placeholder="Shop"
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                  <div className="admin-field">
+                    <label>URL</label>
+                    <input
+                      value={link.url || ''}
+                      onChange={(e) => {
+                        const next = [...(settings.navLinks || [])];
+                        next[i] = { ...next[i], url: e.target.value };
+                        update('navLinks', next);
+                      }}
+                      placeholder="https://shop.example.com"
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    className="admin-btn admin-btn-sm"
+                    style={{ alignSelf: 'flex-end' }}
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      const next = (settings.navLinks || []).filter((_, j) => j !== i);
+                      update('navLinks', next.length > 0 ? next : undefined);
+                    }}
+                    title="Remove link"
+                  >
+                    Remove
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              ))}
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                className="admin-btn admin-btn-sm"
+                onClick={() => update('navLinks', [...(settings.navLinks || []), { label: '', url: '' }])}
+              >
+                + Add external link
+              </button>
             </div>
           )}
 

app/api/exif/[id]/route.ts

@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import { checkRateLimit, getClientIp, retryAfterSeconds } from '@/lib/rate-limit
 export async function GET(request: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id: string }> }) {
   const config = getConfig();
 
-  // Security: If EXIF is globally disabled, do not serve it via API either
+  // exifOnHover only gates the *technical* fields below. The asset description
-  if (!config.exifOnHover) {
+  // (EXPERIMENTAL caption) is editorial content, so the route stays reachable
-    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'EXIF metadata is disabled' }, { status: 403 });
+  // and serves captions even when EXIF display is disabled.
-  }
+  const exifEnabled = config.exifOnHover;
 
   // ── Rate limiting ──────────────────────────────────
   const ip = getClientIp(request);
@@ -64,17 +64,23 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{
   }
 
   const exif = asset.exifInfo;
+  const caption = exif.description?.trim() || undefined;
   return NextResponse.json(
     {
-      make: exif.make,
+      ...(exifEnabled
-      model: exif.model,
+        ? {
-      lensModel: exif.lensModel,
+            make: exif.make,
-      focalLength: exif.focalLength,
+            model: exif.model,
-      fNumber: exif.fNumber,
+            lensModel: exif.lensModel,
-      exposureTime: exif.exposureTime,
+            focalLength: exif.focalLength,
-      iso: exif.iso,
+            fNumber: exif.fNumber,
-      city: exif.city,
+            exposureTime: exif.exposureTime,
-      country: exif.country,
+            iso: exif.iso,
+            city: exif.city,
+            country: exif.country,
+          }
+        : {}),
+      ...(caption ? { description: caption } : {}),
     },
     {
       headers: {

app/api/exif/__tests__/exif-route.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+
+/**
+ * EXPERIMENTAL captions (L10): the route serves the Immich asset description
+ * as a caption. Captions are editorial, not technical — so exifOnHover: false
+ * must strip the technical fields but still serve the caption, instead of the
+ * old blanket 403.
+ */
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/config', () => ({
+  getConfig: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/immich', () => ({
+  immich: { getAssetInfo: vi.fn() },
+  ImmichUnavailableError: class ImmichUnavailableError extends Error {},
+}));
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/tokens', () => ({
+  decodeAssetId: vi.fn(() => 'asset-uuid'),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/rate-limit', () => ({
+  checkRateLimit: vi.fn(() => ({ success: true, resetAt: 0 })),
+  getClientIp: vi.fn(() => '127.0.0.1'),
+  retryAfterSeconds: vi.fn(() => 60),
+}));
+
+import { GET } from '../[id]/route';
+import { getConfig } from '@/lib/config';
+import { immich } from '@/lib/immich';
+import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
+
+const mockConfig = getConfig as unknown as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+const mockAssetInfo = immich.getAssetInfo as unknown as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+
+const EXIF_ASSET = {
+  exifInfo: {
+    make: 'Fujifilm',
+    model: 'X-T5',
+    lensModel: 'XF 35mm',
+    focalLength: 35,
+    fNumber: 2,
+    exposureTime: '1/250',
+    iso: 200,
+    city: 'Vienna',
+    country: 'Austria',
+    description: '  A quiet morning at the Danube.  ',
+  },
+};
+
+function makeRequest() {
+  return new NextRequest('http://localhost/api/exif/token123');
+}
+
+const params = { params: Promise.resolve({ id: 'token123' }) };
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks();
+  mockAssetInfo.mockResolvedValue(EXIF_ASSET);
+});
+
+describe('GET /api/exif/[id] captions', () => {
+  it('includes the trimmed description alongside technical fields', async () => {
+    mockConfig.mockReturnValue({ exifOnHover: true, rateLimitRpm: 120 });
+
+    const res = await GET(makeRequest(), params);
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.model).toBe('X-T5');
+    expect(body.description).toBe('A quiet morning at the Danube.');
+  });
+
+  it('serves only the caption when exifOnHover is disabled', async () => {
+    mockConfig.mockReturnValue({ exifOnHover: false, rateLimitRpm: 120 });
+
+    const res = await GET(makeRequest(), params);
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.description).toBe('A quiet morning at the Danube.');
+    expect(body).not.toHaveProperty('model');
+    expect(body).not.toHaveProperty('iso');
+  });
+
+  it('omits the description entirely when the asset has none', async () => {
+    mockConfig.mockReturnValue({ exifOnHover: true, rateLimitRpm: 120 });
+    mockAssetInfo.mockResolvedValue({
+      exifInfo: { ...EXIF_ASSET.exifInfo, description: null },
+    });
+
+    const res = await GET(makeRequest(), params);
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body).not.toHaveProperty('description');
+  });
+});

app/globals.css

@@ -244,6 +244,76 @@
   overflow: hidden;
 }
 
+/* ── Cover / Splash hero (EXPERIMENTAL) ───────────── */
+/* Fullscreen welcome page: one image, the title, a single Enter link. */
+.hero--cover {
+  position: relative;
+  min-height: calc(100vh - 56px);
+  min-height: calc(100dvh - 56px);
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.hero--cover > span,
+.hero--cover > img {
+  position: absolute !important;
+  inset: 0;
+  width: 100% !important;
+  height: 100% !important;
+  object-fit: cover;
+}
+
+.hero__cover-overlay {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 2;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  text-align: center;
+  padding: 64px 40px;
+  background: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 75%);
+  color: #fff;
+}
+
+.hero--cover .hero__title,
+.hero--cover .hero__subtitle {
+  color: #fff;
+}
+
+.hero__cover-enter {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 10px;
+  margin-top: 36px;
+  padding: 12px 32px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-lg, 4px);
+  color: #fff;
+  font-family: var(--font-caption);
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  letter-spacing: 0.18em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  transition:
+    background var(--transition-normal),
+    color var(--transition-normal);
+}
+
+.hero__cover-enter:hover,
+.hero__cover-enter:focus-visible {
+  background: #fff;
+  color: #000;
+}
+
+.hero__cover-enter-arrow {
+  transition: transform var(--transition-normal);
+}
+
+.hero__cover-enter:hover .hero__cover-enter-arrow {
+  transform: translateX(4px);
+}
+
 /* HeroCarousel images fill the entire container */
 .hero--fullbleed > span,
 .hero--fullbleed > img {
@@ -1084,6 +1154,55 @@
   }
 }
 
+/* ── Justified Rows Layout (EXPERIMENTAL) ───────── */
+/* Row-based justified layout: every row fills the container width, all
+   images in a row share the same height, aspect ratios stay intact.
+   Flex sizing (grow = aspect ratio) lives inline on the .fade-in wrapper. */
+.photo-grid--justified {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: var(--grid-gap, 12px);
+  column-count: unset;
+  /* More columns → shorter rows, mirroring the density of the other layouts */
+  --grid-row-height: calc(900px / var(--grid-columns, 3));
+}
+
+/* Filler that soaks up leftover space so the last row keeps natural sizes
+   instead of stretching a lone image to full width */
+.photo-grid--justified::after {
+  content: '';
+  flex-grow: 999999;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.photo-grid--justified > .fade-in {
+  height: var(--grid-row-height);
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.photo-grid--justified .photo-grid__item {
+  height: 100%;
+  width: 100%;
+  margin-bottom: 0;
+  /* The base .photo-grid__item rule forces aspect-ratio from the grid
+     setting. Combined with height: 100% that pins the item width to
+     height × ratio, so it never fills the flex-grown wrapper and rows end
+     ragged. The wrapper's flex sizing is the only geometry source here. */
+  aspect-ratio: unset;
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 1024px) {
+  .photo-grid--justified {
+    --grid-row-height: 240px;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 640px) {
+  .photo-grid--justified {
+    --grid-row-height: 160px;
+  }
+}
+
 .photo-grid__item img {
   width: 100%;
   height: 100%;

app/page.tsx

@@ -137,6 +137,38 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
 
   const heroStyle = config.theme.heroStyle;
 
+  // ── Cover (EXPERIMENTAL): fullscreen splash + single "Enter" link ─
+  // Welcome-page splash: one fullbleed image, the site
+  // title, and one link into the portfolio (the first nav entry).
+  if (heroStyle === 'cover') {
+    const entries = heroNavEntries(subpages, albums);
+    const enterHref = entries[0]?.href ?? '/about';
+
+    return (
+      <div className="hero hero--cover">
+        <HeroCarousel images={heroData} />
+        <div className="hero__cover-overlay">
+          <FadeIn delay={0}>
+            <h1 className="hero__title">{config.siteTitle}</h1>
+          </FadeIn>
+          {config.siteSubtitle && (
+            <FadeIn delay={100}>
+              <p className="hero__subtitle">{config.siteSubtitle}</p>
+            </FadeIn>
+          )}
+          <FadeIn delay={250}>
+            <Link href={enterHref} className="hero__cover-enter">
+              Enter
+              <span className="hero__cover-enter-arrow" aria-hidden="true">
+                →
+              </span>
+            </Link>
+          </FadeIn>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
   // ── Typographic: no image, pure text ───────────────────────────
   if (heroStyle === 'typographic') {
     return (

components/FadeIn.tsx

@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ interface FadeInProps {
   direction?: 'up' | 'none';
   /** CSS class name for the wrapper */
   className?: string;
+  /** Extra inline styles for the wrapper (e.g. flex sizing in justified grids) */
+  style?: React.CSSProperties;
 }
 
-export function FadeIn({ children, delay = 0, direction = 'up', className }: FadeInProps) {
+export function FadeIn({ children, delay = 0, direction = 'up', className, style }: FadeInProps) {
   const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
   const reveal = useCallback(() => {
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ export function FadeIn({ children, delay = 0, direction = 'up', className }: Fad
     <div
       ref={ref}
       className={`fade-in ${direction === 'up' ? 'fade-in--up' : ''} ${className ?? ''}`}
-      style={{ transitionDelay: `${delay}ms` }}
+      style={{ ...style, transitionDelay: `${delay}ms` }}
     >
       {children}
     </div>

components/Lightbox.module.css

@@ -184,6 +184,17 @@
   animation: exif-slide-up var(--transition-normal) ease forwards;
 }
 
+/* EXPERIMENTAL: editorial caption (Immich asset description) above the tech rows */
+.exifCaption {
+  margin: 0 0 12px;
+  max-width: 280px;
+  font-family: var(--font-caption);
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  font-style: italic;
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+}
+
 @keyframes exif-slide-up {
   from {
     opacity: 0;

components/Lightbox.tsx

@@ -326,6 +326,9 @@ export function Lightbox({
             </div>
           ) : exifData ? (
             <>
+              {exifData.description && (
+                <p className={styles.exifCaption}>{exifData.description}</p>
+              )}
               {exifData.model && (
                 <div className={styles.exifRow}>
                   <span className={styles.exifLabel}>Camera</span>

components/SubpageNav.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import { immich } from '@/lib/immich';
+import { getConfig } from '@/lib/config';
 import { listJournalEntries } from '@/lib/admin/journal-service';
 
 export async function SubpageNav() {
@@ -13,6 +14,9 @@ export async function SubpageNav() {
     immich.getStandaloneAlbums(),
     listJournalEntries().catch(() => []),
   ]);
+  // EXPERIMENTAL: external nav links from settings.yaml, appended after the
+  // internal entries. Sanitised to http(s) in getConfig().
+  const navLinks = getConfig().navLinks;
 
   const hasPublicJournal = journalEntries.some((e) => !e.frontmatter.draft);
 
@@ -33,6 +37,17 @@ export async function SubpageNav() {
           {album.albumName}
         </Link>
       ))}
+      {navLinks.map((link) => (
+        <a
+          key={link.url}
+          href={link.url}
+          className="header__nav-link header__nav-link--external"
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+        >
+          {link.label}
+        </a>
+      ))}
     </>
   );
 }

content/gallery.yaml.example

@@ -51,12 +51,17 @@ subpages:
     title: "My Creative Projects" # Optional: Header title, defaults to Navigation key ("Projects")
     subtitle: "A collection of 2026 highlights in 35mm film." # Optional: Sub-text for headers
     password: "your-password" # Optional protection
+    # hidden: true # EXPERIMENTAL: reachable by direct link, but not shown in navigation
     albums:
       - "album-uuid-5"
       - "album-uuid-6":
           title: "Private Project #7"
           description: "Shot on 35mm film in Vienna, spring 2025." # Optional: shown below album title
           password: "scrypt:..." # Recommended: secure hash (generated via logs)
+          # grid: # EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid override (wins over page/global grid)
+          #   layout: "justified"
+          #   columns: 2
+          # coverPosition: "50% 25%" # EXPERIMENTAL: focal point for the cover crop ("top", "center bottom", "50% 25%")
 
 # ── Subpage with Sections ──────────────────────────────────────────
 # Use sections to group albums by location, theme, or any other logic.

content/settings.yaml.example

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ theme:
   # accent: "#e60012"
   # photoFrame: "passepartout" # none, passepartout, shadow
   # grain: true
-  # heroStyle: "split" # split, fullbleed, minimal, stacked, typographic, mosaic
+  # heroStyle: "split" # split, fullbleed, minimal, stacked, typographic, mosaic, cover (EXPERIMENTAL)
   #   Note: "mosaic" needs at least 3 hero images in gallery.yaml (optimal: 6)
 
 # ── Grid configuration ───────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -47,7 +47,16 @@ grid:
   columns: 3
   gap: 12
   aspectRatio: "1" # "1" (square), "3/2", "2/3", "16/9", "auto"
-  layout: "masonry" # masonry, uniform, showcase, filmstrip, editorial-flow
+  layout: "masonry" # masonry, uniform, showcase, filmstrip, editorial-flow, justified (EXPERIMENTAL)
+
+# ── Navigation ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# EXPERIMENTAL: external links appended to the header navigation.
+# Only http(s) URLs are allowed; they open in a new tab.
+# navLinks:
+#   - label: "Shop"
+#     url: "https://shop.example.com"
+#   - label: "Instagram"
+#     url: "https://instagram.com/your-handle"
 
 # ── Footer & Social ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 footer:

hooks/useExif.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ export interface ExifData {
   iso?: number | null;
   city?: string | null;
   country?: string | null;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: editorial caption from the Immich asset description */
+  description?: string | null;
 }
 
 export function useExif() {

lib/__tests__/config.test.ts

@@ -12,7 +12,38 @@ vi.mock('@/lib/env', () => ({
   },
 }));
 
-import { slugify, buildSubpageGrid } from '@/lib/config';
+import { slugify, buildSubpageGrid, sanitizeNavLinks } from '@/lib/config';
+
+// EXPERIMENTAL: external navigation links — rendered as <a href> in the
+// header, so only http(s) URLs may survive sanitisation.
+describe('sanitizeNavLinks', () => {
+  it('keeps well-formed http(s) links', () => {
+    expect(
+      sanitizeNavLinks([
+        { label: 'Shop', url: 'https://shop.example.com' },
+        { label: 'Blog', url: 'http://blog.example.com/a?b=c' },
+      ]),
+    ).toEqual([
+      { label: 'Shop', url: 'https://shop.example.com' },
+      { label: 'Blog', url: 'http://blog.example.com/a?b=c' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('drops non-http schemes and entries without label or url', () => {
+    expect(
+      sanitizeNavLinks([
+        { label: 'Bad', url: 'javascript:alert(1)' },
+        { label: 'AlsoBad', url: 'data:text/html,x' },
+        { label: '', url: 'https://x.example' },
+        { label: 'NoUrl', url: '' },
+      ]),
+    ).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty for undefined input', () => {
+    expect(sanitizeNavLinks(undefined)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
 
 describe('slugify', () => {
   it('converts a simple name to lowercase with hyphens', () => {
@@ -79,6 +110,12 @@ describe('buildSubpageGrid', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('preserves the experimental justified layout', () => {
+    expect(buildSubpageGrid({ layout: 'justified' })).toEqual({
+      grid: { layout: 'justified' },
+    });
+  });
+
   it('falls back to masonry for an unknown layout', () => {
     expect(buildSubpageGrid({ layout: 'unknown-layout' })).toEqual({
       grid: { layout: 'masonry' },

lib/__tests__/derive-gallery.test.ts

@@ -156,6 +156,66 @@ describe('deriveGallery accepts valid structures', () => {
     expect(result.albumManualOrders[A]).toEqual([B]);
   });
 
+  // EXPERIMENTAL: hidden keeps a subpage reachable by direct link while
+  // removing it from navigation — distinct from enabled:false, which 404s.
+  it('derives the hidden flag on array-style subpages', () => {
+    const result = deriveGallery({
+      subpages: [{ name: 'Preview', hidden: true, albums: [A] }],
+    } as unknown as GalleryYaml);
+
+    expect(result.subpages[0].hidden).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.subpages[0].enabled).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('derives the hidden flag on map-style subpages, defaulting to falsy', () => {
+    const result = deriveGallery({
+      subpages: { Preview: { hidden: true, albums: [A] }, Open: [B] },
+    } as unknown as GalleryYaml);
+
+    const preview = result.subpages.find((sp) => sp.name === 'Preview');
+    const open = result.subpages.find((sp) => sp.name === 'Open');
+    expect(preview?.hidden).toBe(true);
+    expect(open?.hidden).toBeFalsy();
+  });
+
+  // EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid overrides — merged over subpage/global grid.
+  it('collects per-album grid overrides, dropping unknown layouts to masonry', () => {
+    const result = deriveGallery({
+      albums: [
+        { [A]: { title: 'Panoramas', grid: { layout: 'filmstrip', columns: 2 } } },
+        { [B]: { grid: { layout: 'not-a-layout' } } },
+      ],
+    } as unknown as GalleryYaml);
+
+    expect(result.albumGrids[A]).toEqual({ layout: 'filmstrip', columns: 2 });
+    expect(result.albumGrids[B]).toEqual({ layout: 'masonry' });
+  });
+
+  it('leaves albumGrids empty for entries without a grid', () => {
+    const result = deriveGallery({ albums: [A] } as unknown as GalleryYaml);
+    expect(result.albumGrids).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  // EXPERIMENTAL: coverPosition feeds object-position on cover images, so it
+  // must be a strict CSS position value — anything else is a typo or an
+  // injection attempt and both should fail loudly.
+  it('collects a valid coverPosition', () => {
+    const result = deriveGallery({
+      albums: [{ [A]: { coverPosition: '50% 25%' } }, { [B]: { coverPosition: 'top' } }],
+    } as unknown as GalleryYaml);
+
+    expect(result.albumCoverPositions[A]).toBe('50% 25%');
+    expect(result.albumCoverPositions[B]).toBe('top');
+  });
+
+  it('rejects a malformed coverPosition, naming the album', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      deriveGallery({
+        albums: [{ [A]: { coverPosition: 'javascript:alert(1)' } }],
+      } as unknown as GalleryYaml),
+    ).toThrow(new RegExp(A));
+  });
+
   it('ignores an empty asset order rather than storing one', () => {
     const result = deriveGallery({
       albums: [{ [A]: { sort: 'manual', assetOrder: [] } }],

lib/config/index.ts

@@ -76,6 +76,32 @@ export function buildSubpageGrid(raw?: {
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * EXPERIMENTAL: keep only nav links that are safe to render as header <a>
+ * tags. Non-http(s) schemes (javascript:, data:) and incomplete entries are
+ * dropped with a warning rather than throwing — a bad external link should
+ * not take the site down.
+ */
+export function sanitizeNavLinks(
+  raw?: Array<{ label?: string; url?: string }>,
+): Array<{ label: string; url: string }> {
+  if (!raw) return [];
+  const links: Array<{ label: string; url: string }> = [];
+  for (const entry of raw) {
+    const label = entry.label?.trim();
+    const url = entry.url?.trim();
+    if (!label || !url || !/^https?:\/\//i.test(url)) {
+      console.warn(
+        `[Folio] settings.yaml navLinks: dropping entry ${JSON.stringify(entry)} — ` +
+          'label and an http(s) url are required.',
+      );
+      continue;
+    }
+    links.push({ label, url });
+  }
+  return links;
+}
+
 /** The parts of AppConfig that come from gallery.yaml. */
 export interface GalleryDerivation {
   albums: string[];
@@ -87,6 +113,8 @@ export interface GalleryDerivation {
   albumHeroImages: Record<string, string>;
   albumSortModes: Record<string, AlbumSortMode>;
   albumManualOrders: Record<string, string[]>;
+  albumGrids: Record<string, Partial<GridConfig>>;
+  albumCoverPositions: Record<string, string>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -108,6 +136,8 @@ export function deriveGallery(gallery: GalleryYaml): GalleryDerivation {
   const albumHeroImages: Record<string, string> = {};
   const albumSortModes: Record<string, AlbumSortMode> = {};
   const albumManualOrders: Record<string, string[]> = {};
+  const albumGrids: Record<string, Partial<GridConfig>> = {};
+  const albumCoverPositions: Record<string, string> = {};
 
   function processAlbumEntry(
     entry: string | Record<string, string | AlbumEntryObject>,
@@ -162,6 +192,29 @@ export function deriveGallery(gallery: GalleryYaml): GalleryDerivation {
           validateUuid(assetId, `${context} assetOrder[${i}] for album ${validatedUuid}`),
         );
       }
+
+      // EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid override — reuses the subpage-grid
+      // normalisation so unknown layouts degrade identically.
+      if (value.grid) {
+        const built = buildSubpageGrid(value.grid);
+        if ('grid' in built) albumGrids[validatedUuid] = built.grid;
+      }
+
+      // EXPERIMENTAL: coverPosition lands in a style attribute, so only a
+      // strict CSS position grammar is allowed. Throw like `sort` does — a
+      // silent fallback would leave the owner wondering why nothing moves.
+      if (value.coverPosition != null) {
+        const pos = value.coverPosition.trim();
+        const keyword = /^(center|top|bottom|left|right)( (center|top|bottom|left|right))?$/;
+        const percent = /^\d{1,3}% \d{1,3}%$/;
+        if (!keyword.test(pos) && !percent.test(pos)) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `${context}: album ${validatedUuid} has an invalid coverPosition "${value.coverPosition}". ` +
+              `Use two percentages ("50% 25%") or CSS keywords ("top", "center bottom").`,
+          );
+        }
+        albumCoverPositions[validatedUuid] = pos;
+      }
     }
     return validatedUuid;
   }
@@ -218,6 +271,7 @@ export function deriveGallery(gallery: GalleryYaml): GalleryDerivation {
         essayFile: sp.essayFile,
         essayText: sp.essayText,
         enabled: sp.enabled !== false,
+        hidden: sp.hidden === true,
         ...buildSubpageGrid(sp.grid),
       };
     });
@@ -244,6 +298,7 @@ export function deriveGallery(gallery: GalleryYaml): GalleryDerivation {
         essayFile: sp.essayFile,
         essayText: sp.essayText,
         enabled: sp.enabled !== false,
+        hidden: sp.hidden === true,
         ...buildSubpageGrid(sp.grid),
       };
     });
@@ -262,6 +317,8 @@ export function deriveGallery(gallery: GalleryYaml): GalleryDerivation {
     albumHeroImages,
     albumSortModes,
     albumManualOrders,
+    albumGrids,
+    albumCoverPositions,
   };
 }
 
@@ -316,6 +373,9 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
       albumHeroImages: {},
       albumSortModes: {},
       albumManualOrders: {},
+      albumGrids: {},
+      albumCoverPositions: {},
+      navLinks: [],
       cacheTtl: env.CACHE_TTL * 1000,
       staleMaxAge: env.STALE_MAX_AGE * 1000,
       immichTimeoutMs: env.IMMICH_TIMEOUT_MS,
@@ -337,6 +397,8 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
     albumHeroImages,
     albumSortModes,
     albumManualOrders,
+    albumGrids,
+    albumCoverPositions,
   } = deriveGallery(gallery);
 
   const siteSeoTitle = settings.seo?.title || settings.title || env.SITE_TITLE || 'Gallery';
@@ -412,6 +474,9 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
     albumHeroImages,
     albumSortModes,
     albumManualOrders,
+    albumGrids,
+    albumCoverPositions,
+    navLinks: sanitizeNavLinks(settings.navLinks),
     cacheTtl: env.CACHE_TTL * 1000,
     staleMaxAge: env.STALE_MAX_AGE * 1000,
     immichTimeoutMs: env.IMMICH_TIMEOUT_MS,

lib/config/schema.ts

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ export interface SubpageConfig {
   essayFile?: string;
   essayText?: string;
   enabled?: boolean;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: reachable by direct link, but not shown in navigation */
+  hidden?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface SubpageObjectValue {
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@ export interface SubpageObjectValue {
   essayFile?: string;
   essayText?: string;
   enabled?: boolean;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: reachable by direct link, but not shown in navigation */
+  hidden?: boolean;
   // Both album lists reuse AlbumEntryObject rather than inlining the shape:
   // the inline copies had already drifted (they never gained `heroImage`), and
   // this path is live for map-style subpages.
@@ -42,6 +46,12 @@ export interface SubpageObjectValue {
   }>;
 }
 
+/** EXPERIMENTAL: external link shown in the header navigation. */
+export interface NavLinkConfig {
+  label: string;
+  url: string;
+}
+
 export interface FooterConfig {
   name?: string;
   instagram?: string;
@@ -70,14 +80,21 @@ export interface ThemeConfig {
   photoFrame: 'none' | 'passepartout' | 'shadow';
   grain: boolean;
   headerDot: boolean;
-  heroStyle: 'split' | 'fullbleed' | 'minimal' | 'stacked' | 'typographic' | 'mosaic';
+  heroStyle: 'split' | 'fullbleed' | 'minimal' | 'stacked' | 'typographic' | 'mosaic' | 'cover';
 }
 
 export interface GridConfig {
   columns: number;
   gap: number;
   aspectRatio: string;
-  layout: 'masonry' | 'uniform' | 'showcase' | 'filmstrip' | 'editorial-flow' | 'essay';
+  layout:
+    | 'masonry'
+    | 'uniform'
+    | 'showcase'
+    | 'filmstrip'
+    | 'editorial-flow'
+    | 'essay'
+    | 'justified';
 }
 
 export interface AppConfig {
@@ -119,6 +136,12 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   albumSortModes: Record<string, AlbumSortMode>;
   /** Pinned asset UUIDs per album for `sort: manual`, in display order. */
   albumManualOrders: Record<string, string[]>;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid overrides, merged over the subpage/global grid. */
+  albumGrids: Record<string, Partial<GridConfig>>;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: per-album focal point for cover crops (CSS object-position). */
+  albumCoverPositions: Record<string, string>;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: external links appended to the header navigation. */
+  navLinks: NavLinkConfig[];
   cacheTtl: number;
   /** How long (ms) an expired cache entry may still be served while Immich is unreachable. */
   staleMaxAge: number;
@@ -152,6 +175,10 @@ export interface AlbumEntryObject {
   sort?: string;
   /** Pinned asset UUIDs for `sort: manual`. Everything else follows automatically. */
   assetOrder?: string[];
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: per-album grid override, merged over the subpage/global grid */
+  grid?: { columns?: number; gap?: number; aspectRatio?: string; layout?: string };
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: focal point for the cover crop, e.g. "50% 25%" or "top" */
+  coverPosition?: string;
 }
 
 export interface GalleryYaml {
@@ -174,6 +201,7 @@ export interface GalleryYaml {
         essayFile?: string;
         essayText?: string;
         enabled?: boolean;
+        hidden?: boolean;
         grid?: {
           columns?: number;
           gap?: number;
@@ -223,6 +251,8 @@ export interface SettingsYaml {
   };
   footer?: FooterConfig;
   legal?: Partial<LegalConfig>;
+  /** EXPERIMENTAL: external links appended to the header navigation. */
+  navLinks?: Array<{ label?: string; url?: string }>;
   protection?: {
     disableRightClick?: boolean;
     disableImageDrag?: boolean;

lib/config/theme.ts

@@ -81,8 +81,17 @@ export const VALID_HERO_STYLES = [
   'stacked',
   'typographic',
   'mosaic',
+  'cover', // EXPERIMENTAL: fullscreen splash with a single "Enter" link
+];
+export const VALID_LAYOUTS = [
+  'masonry',
+  'uniform',
+  'showcase',
+  'filmstrip',
+  'editorial-flow',
+  'essay',
+  'justified', // EXPERIMENTAL: row-based layout with equal heights
 ];
-export const VALID_LAYOUTS = ['masonry', 'uniform', 'showcase', 'filmstrip', 'editorial-flow', 'essay'];
 
 export function resolveTheme(raw?: SettingsYaml['theme']): ThemeConfig {
   if (!raw) return { ...THEME_PRESETS.studio };

lib/immich.ts

@@ -461,7 +461,12 @@ class ImmichClient {
    * Get enriched subpage summaries for the homepage.
    */
   async getSubpages(forceFresh = false): Promise<SubpageSummary[]> {
-    const activeSubpages = this.config.subpages.filter((sp) => sp.enabled !== false);
+    // hidden (EXPERIMENTAL) drops a subpage from every list this feeds (nav,
+    // homepage, hero) while getSubpageAlbums()/isValidSubpage() still resolve
+    // it — unlike enabled:false, which 404s the page entirely.
+    const activeSubpages = this.config.subpages.filter(
+      (sp) => sp.enabled !== false && sp.hidden !== true,
+    );
     if (activeSubpages.length === 0) return [];
 
     const albums = await this.getAlbums(forceFresh);