JAlbum

Name: JAlbum
Availability: InStock
Author: David Ekholm

JAlbum is a photo gallery creation tool that turns folders of images into browsable HTML albums ready for web hosting. The free version adds a small watermark; the paid license removes it. It runs on all desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) since it is Java based.

What it does

Drag a folder of photos into the JAlbum window, pick a skin (theme) from the built in collection, adjust any settings you want, and click Make Album. JAlbum generates a complete HTML gallery with thumbnails, full size images, navigation, and a responsive layout. The output is a folder of static HTML files you can upload to any web host.

Skins control the entire look of the gallery. Options range from minimalist grid layouts to slideshow viewers with lightbox effects. Each skin has its own settings panel where you adjust colors, thumbnail sizes, column counts, and caption placement. You can add titles and descriptions to individual photos by clicking them and typing in the Comment panel.

Upload works over FTP directly from JAlbum (Make Album > Upload). Sub-albums are created by nesting folders - each subfolder becomes its own gallery page with automatic navigation between them.

Advantages

Generates static HTML that works on any web host without server side code
Large selection of free and premium skins
Built in FTP upload to publish galleries directly
Works on all desktop operating systems thanks to Java

Drawbacks

Free version adds a watermark to gallery pages
The interface looks dated compared to modern web gallery tools
Photo editing features are very basic (crop and rotate only)
Requires Java runtime, which adds overhead on some systems

Who it is for

I found JAlbum useful when I needed a simple photo gallery on my own hosting without relying on Google Photos or Flickr. If you want control over where your images live, JAlbum handles that with minimal effort. For sharing albums quickly, Flickr or Google Photos are simpler. But if you want self hosted galleries with no monthly fees, JAlbum is one of the few tools still doing this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JAlbum free?

The free version is functional but adds a small watermark to gallery pages. A paid license removes the watermark and adds priority support.

Where can I host JAlbum galleries?

JAlbum generates static HTML files that work on any web host. Upload via the built-in FTP client to your own hosting, or use JAlbum's own hosting service for an additional fee.

Does JAlbum require coding knowledge?

No. The workflow is drag and drop: add photos, pick a skin, click Make Album. Customization is done through the skin's settings panel, not code.

Can JAlbum handle video files?

Yes. Most skins support video files alongside photos. Videos are embedded with HTML5 players in the generated gallery pages.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	HTML photo gallery creation	Drag folder with photos to JAlbum › Choose skin › Make Album. Generates HTML page with thumbnails.
2	Skin selection and editing	Settings › Choose skin from list (e.g. Turtle, Tiger, Minimal). Customize colors and layout in Skin Settings panel.
3	Adding descriptions to photos	Click photo in tree › Comment panel › Type title and description. Displayed under photo in gallery.
4	Gallery server upload	Make Album › Upload (FTP) › Type host/login/password › Upload. Gallery published on hosting.
5	Photo sorting and organization	Select photos › Sort › By Date/Name/Manual. Drag photos in tree to change order.
6	Photo editing (cropping and rotation)	Click photo › Edit › Crop/Rotate. Changes applied to thumbnails and full sizes in gallery.
7	Album subcategory creation	Right-click in tree › New Folder › Name. Drag photos to subfolder. Gallery generates subpages.
8	Gallery export to disk	Make Album › Gallery saved locally in output folder. Open index.html in browser for preview.