Image Preparation

This information has been prepared for customers with Online Shop solutions from TOSD, based on osCommerce. Following these guidelines will ensure that optimum results are achieved when the images are uploaded.

It would be nice if we all had studio quality images to work with, but the reality if often far removed from that ideal. Typically, many people must resort to taking product images themselves with rather "ordinary" lighting and only basic equipment - e.g. a 3mp "happy snapper". Fortunately in many situations this will suffice when combined with image editing software such as Photoshop Elements or the free version of Photo Filtre (http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm).

While the use of either of these applications is beyond the scope of this article a little perseverance will pay off. They are not particularly difficult programs to come to grips with and the time you invest in the learning curve will be well worth it. Having images professionally shot and prepared can be costly.

I suggest that four images are prepared and stored - each in their separate directories:

* While JPEG images may not be a normal choice for printing, the reason for suggesting this format in this context is that the images are often stored in databases and used (ultimately) for printing catalogues in pdf format. In such situations the smaller file size produced by a JPEG format, as opposed to a TIFF format, is an advantage.

Often clients preparing images for an online shop may not have an immediate need for print images. In such cases I still suggest that they be prepared as the "working masters" from which the print images are generated. It is also often the case that further down the track requirements change.

A common situation is that you may wish to offer a downloadable catalogue in pdf format for your customers to print out. This cannot be done unless you have high quality "print" versions of your images available.

NOTE: for osCommerce shops developed by TOSD the standard and large images of each item should have exactly the same file name. To achieve this they will need to be stored in different directories on your PC. Later they will likewise be uploaded to different directories on your server.