Understanding why the Hide Images for QC setting applies to users with insufficient permissions.

When you’re juggling lots of documents, especially in a project with sensitive data, visibility isn’t just about convenience—it’s a safety feature. In Relativity’s workflow, one setting that often sparks questions is the Hide Images for QC feature. It’s a straightforward idea with real-world impact: if you flip this setting on, certain users won’t be able to see the actual document images. So who gets blocked, and why does it matter in everyday project management?

What Hide Images for QC actually does

Think of this as a permission gate for visuals. When the feature is enabled, the images embedded in documents become invisible to users who don’t have the right access. The rest of the document’s data—the text, metadata, and other non-image content—can still be accessible, depending on your overall permissions. In short, it’s a targeted shield that limits who can view potentially sensitive visuals, without tearing down the rest of the workflow.

This isn’t about making things harder for everyone. It’s about preserving confidentiality while keeping teams productive. You’re not locking people out of the entire project—you’re tailoring what each role can see at the image level.

Why this matters in project management and quality control

Security and compliance aren’t buzzwords here; they’re daily realities. In many cases, images in documents can contain sensitive information—redacted sections, scanned IDs, contract graphics, or client-identifying visuals. If everyone could see those images, even unintentionally, you’d be inviting risk. The Hide Images for QC setting helps you:

• Enforce data governance: Only authorized eyes should view sensitive visuals.

• Reduce risk of leakage: Even well-intentioned team members won’t stumble into restricted content.

• Align with policies: Many organizations have strict rules about who can view visual content in their documents.

From a project-management perspective, this feature supports clean handoffs. QA teams, reviewers, and external participants often need access to document text and metadata to do their jobs. But when the moment comes to verify image-quality or assess visual details, you can control who gets that peek. It’s a practical balance between transparency and security.

Who is affected by this setting?

The core concept is simple: it targets users with insufficient permissions. In real terms, that often means:

• External reviewers who don’t have full access rights to the project

• QA staff or contractors who are scoped for text review but not image viewing

• Team members who have delegated roles that exclude image visibility

• Anyone who lacks the specific permission level required to view document images

Administrators and staff with higher clearance aren’t automatically blocked. If those users are granted the appropriate privileges, they can still see images. The goal isn’t to blanket everyone’s access; it’s to layer permissions so images stay visible to those who truly need them—and hidden from those who don’t.

A quick mental model helps: imagine a two-story office building. The ground floor is open to most visitors (the non-image parts of documents), while the upstairs gallery (the images) is accessible only to people with the right pass. The Hide Images for QC setting is a gatekeeper at the stairs, ensuring only the right folks reach the art.

How to think about implementing it without chaos

If you’re coordinating a project with multiple teams, here are practical considerations to keep things smooth:

• Map roles to visibility needs: List who needs to see images for their work and who doesn’t. This clarifies why some people get images and others don’t.

• Test with a controlled account: Use a test user that mirrors a “insufficient permissions” profile to confirm what’s hidden and what isn’t. A quick sanity check before rolling out saves headaches later.

• Keep an audit trail: When visibility changes, it’s helpful to have logs showing who accessed images (or not) and when. It supports accountability and incident response if questions arise.

• Communicate policy clearly: Let teams know that images may be hidden for certain roles. A brief note or onboarding tip goes a long way to reduce confusion.

• Review regularly: As teams shift and projects evolve, permissions should be revisited. What’s appropriate today might need adjusting tomorrow.

A few practical reminders for project leaders

• Least privilege first: Grant the minimum image-access needed for each role. It keeps the system lean and reduces potential exposure.

• Align with data governance: If your organization has a data-protection framework, ensure this visibility gate aligns with those rules.

• Balance efficiency with security: Yes, security is essential, but so is progress. Fine-tune the visibility to avoid bottlenecks—especially for teams that rely on image data for QA checks.

• Document the rationale: A short note on why certain teams can’t view images helps new members understand the workflow and reduces back-and-forth questions.

A light touch of practicality: what this looks like in day-to-day work

You’re managing a review project with dozens of documents. Some images contain sensitive visuals. With Hide Images for QC enabled, your external reviewers can see the textual content and metadata, but the actual image visuals stay hidden unless they belong to the authorized group. Internal QA leads who do have image access can perform their checks, while others don’t have to wade through image-heavy screens.

This setup isn’t about creating barriers for the sake of it. It’s about shaping a responsible, efficient process where teams focus on the right tasks with the right information. When used thoughtfully, it reduces the risk of accidental exposure and helps keep stakeholders comfortable with how data is handled.

A few riffs on related topics that matter

• Roles and permissions aren’t just admin toys. They’re the backbone of how your project runs. When you design them, you’re not choosing a rigid ladder—you’re sketching a flexible map that adapts to teams, cases, and compliance demands.

• Visual data carries weight. Images aren’t decorative; they can convey context, identity, and verification cues. Controlling who sees them is not about hiding value—it’s about safeguarding what could cause trouble if misused.

• Technology choices can support governance. Relativity’s feature set, when paired with clear policies and routines, creates a steady rhythm in how you review, approve, and close cases.

A closing thought

Visibility is a delicate craft. The Hide Images for QC setting is a practical tool in the PM toolkit, designed to ensure that only the right people access sensitive visuals. By tying access to permissions, you protect confidentiality while keeping work flowing. It’s a small adjustment with a meaningful impact on governance, risk, and collaboration.

If you’re building or tweaking a workflow, you’ll find that this kind of control, properly understood and deployed, makes everything feel more deliberate and safer. And isn’t that what good project management is all about—clear rules, responsible access, and teams that can move forward with confidence?