Image Manager addon

[buildingblocks]

So to follow a client senario - is this how it works?

A client uploads an image via their add product
They go into IM and find the image
Then create the three images from the original.

Is that correct?

What directory should they upload the original to? The main one or the large one?
Once the images have been created the original is now not required, can it be deleted?

This is what I found

If I create a subfolder

images/books

and upload my products main image to images/books, Image manager creates a subfolder for medium and large images this way

images/medium/books
images/large/books



If I upload the image to Main Directory (which is the /images/ folder) , then Image manager creates the medium and large images in

images/medium
images/large

So your client would upload the main image to the images folder or if they are going to upload them by category type then create a subfolder in the images folder

Ex.
images/books
images/glassware
images/tools

Image manager will automatically create the corresponding folders in the medium and large folders.

Once the medium and large images are created, the small image offers a link to shrink the original image and that becomes the small image so you won't need to delete the original because the original is now resized to small.

[paulcreedy]

Ah! Got it - I think!

From a client point of view it's a shame they just cant upload a single photo and then have them automatically create the three images without all the fuss.

[boudewijn]

Ah! Got it - I think!

From a client point of view it's a shame they just cant upload a single photo and then have them automatically create the three images without all the fuss.

Hi Paul,

From a developers point of view it's a shame that out of 2000 downloaders none has ever donated a cent for the free use of this tool

But anyway, IM 1.5 will have two extra functions:

- one for new images, uploaded throught the add product page: one-click creation of medium and large images, applying the watermark(s) and resizing the original small one;

- one for replacement images, uploaded from IM or the edit product page: after upload, one-click deletion of the existing medium and large image, then same as above.

This will at least save 2 or 4 extra clicks.

@buildingblocks: thanks for clarifying the client scenario!

Boudewijn

[boudewijn]

original image
Size: 44 Kb
Dimensions: 485 x 640

In configuration > Image Manager I set the max large image width and height to 600

no watermark file present

Image manager generates the large image at
Size: 236 Kb
Dimensions: 455 x 600

LOL

Does anyone else notice this happening in their installation?

The images are resized, and the watermark is applied by using the standard functions in the PHP-GD library. As far as I know I cannot influence the way these functions handle this, or at least I have no idea yet how to do this.

[boudewijn]

Found it.

The size of the copied/resized image depends largely on the parameter that defines the quality of the destination file. More quality, larger files.

IM 1.5 will have a configuration option to enable the admin to determine the quality, and therewith the size of the created files.
Note that this option only works for jpg and png files, NOT for gif files.

[buildingblocks]

""new options:
- one for new images, uploaded throught the add product page:
- a configuration option to enable the admin to determine the quality, and therewith the size of the created files.""

perfect!!!!
I find so many folks who are nervous about getting involved with ftp or just don't want to learn it. Having an extra area to add the additional images on the product page is a huge plus and a control to determine the quality.......I'm looking forward to the next release!!

It didn't take you long to find where the quality control is.

I was playing with the firefox macro mentioned in a previous post. That works great for dealing with existing images. I never knew about that.

[paulcreedy]

Found it.

The size of the copied/resized image depends largely on the parameter that defines the quality of the destination file. More quality, larger files..

The 'smaller' file being larger is something that's quite common after resizing even when reducing the image quality. However whilst the image size may be larger the dimensions are smaller so it at least fits better on the page.

Is 1.5 ready? Where do I get it from to try it out?

[boudewijn]

Well, the code is ready, but I want to do some more testing, especially to see if the new functions also handle errors well.
If you want to help me on this and try the new 1.5, please send me a private message with your email adress, and I will send you the new package.
It also contains installation instructions.
If anything goes wrong, it's very easy to roll back to 1.4 (just copy 1.4 package to the server and it will overwrite 1.5).

The quality setting was easy to find in the PHP documentation once I realised that it has a relation with file sizes. Previously I hardcoded the quality to 100, but experience from others is that a lower value of 75 is the best trade off between filesize and visible quality.

I remember the discussion about macro's. The problem with online systems, is that they are transaction oriented and not batch oriented. Due to execution time restrictions on servers it's not handy to process large numbers of images in one transaction. If the time limit is exceeded, you're left with half done or broken work. Macro's can help here, but for multiple actions on one single image it's better to build another (combined) action in the code itself.

Btw it's fairly easy to set the defaults for IM in such a way, that the user always starts with a page with files that need attention.

[boudewijn]

The new version of Image Manager, 1.5, is available from the download section.

New features:
- Added configuration option to set the copied/resized image quality
- Added one-click 'fix new image'
- Added one-click 'fix replacement image'
- Added option to completely remove an additional image
- Added check for correct configuration settings
- Added Show popup image loads image on mouseover
- Added RW folder/file check to unattached files list

Fixes:
- Fixed full file path shows in URL
- Fixed language selector disappears
- Fixed wrong page count if # of images is multiple of # of pages
- Fixed width of upload additional image bar
- Fixed setting vertical bottom margin has no effect
- Fixed jump back to page 1 after file delete
- Fixed cannot re-upload image if small is missing

Thanks to all that gave feedback and to buildingblocks for extended testing of the new version!

[dutchy]

I use 1.4, amazing add-on!
looking forward to installing and testing 1.5!

Excellent work and thank you for sharing with us.

What are your paypal details to allow us to donate?