Getting creative with product images

[pricediscrimination]

This might be a little crazy for ZC, but what I want to attempt is this:

Images are set up as a smaller main image that is used to display the item throughout the site, including all modules and main product page.

How can ZC be taken to the next level where if you're looking at the products listing or new products module and hover over the product image, it shows and alternative image (perhaps the second pic in the series). In other words, a bit more interaction.

The other thing would be to use a .gif that switched views of the item, but then the other additional images won't work since they are based on all being a series of jpg.

Let's get creative!

[mc12345678]

This might be a little crazy for ZC, but what I want to attempt is this:

Images are set up as a smaller main image that is used to display the item throughout the site, including all modules and main product page.

How can ZC be taken to the next level where if you're looking at the products listing or new products module and hover over the product image, it shows and alternative image (perhaps the second pic in the series). In other words, a bit more interaction.

The other thing would be to use a .gif that switched views of the item, but then the other additional images won't work since they are based on all being a series of jpg.

Let's get creative!

I don't think that it is an issue of being crazy with ZC, but personally may find it a little confusing if not aggravating for some of the options/suggestions provided. None-the-less, I don't understand the first main paragraph and whether it is a statement or a request.

The second paragraph IH4 offers a popup image on hover over the image. This could be modified to provide the first alternate image if it exists. Thing is, if wanted to see the original image larger, then this alternate image would seem like a mistake.

The last paragraph, not sure what the issue with the image types is as ZC can handle gif or jpg imges, but they need to all be the same type for a product. So, could offer all of the images as a switch location and apply image swap to this series of thumbnails.

All of this would be custom coding, but possible (like just about anything considered...)

[pricediscrimination]

Thanks for the reply mc12345678!

It is "getting crazy with ZC" because theme-wise it hasn't really advanced much since it's inception. Out of the box it still looks like, well, zencart. Which is not a diss because thanks to ZC thousands of people have been able to become internet business owners since before becoming such a thing was popular.

But if one actually shops online, in big and trendy stores, one might find that displaying of images, and other templates based designs are moving in to different directions beyond what zencart templates have offered up to this point. Even basic (and almost essential) features like tags.

Thanks for the IH4 info, what I am referring to is on product listing pages not on actual product info pages. What I was asking was for a way to create an effect of hovering over the say 300x300px image on the homepage or product listing pages, and showing an alternative view, instead of having to click through to the product info page itself for additional images. Nothing to do with enlarging, which should be handled on the product info page.

So it's possible to have an animated GIF that rotates between product views, then switch to the default use of JPG on the product listing page?

The problem is probably that we're all old school web people using ZC and the new school is probably using the other newer stuff that allows for more hip ways to sell online. Hoping that this post will inspire and not stir up defensiveness. Please no one say to move to another platform if I like them so much haha. I like ZC, just want to make it better, er more modern.

[mc12345678]

The default template certainly is only a starter template. Even those supporting further development of ZC recognize that it is dated, it even has it's own validation issues, but that all set aside.

Regarding IH4, the part I'm talking about, which is a "small" part of the software is in fact expand an image on hover anywhere in the cart. The code though currently pulls the same photo rather than some alternate version of it, which would require custom coding. There are other plugins I'm sure that do a popup on hover type option. As far as zoom, in most of those cases there is no more zoom than the original picture size, but I would consider resizing as a feature at that point in relation to the request.

I'm not sure I follow on the requirement of a gif being a part of jpg being shown. Now, again, IH4 can be setup to convert certain images to different filetypes, the thing is that the source files should all be of the same filetype.

As for the concept of showing an alternate image upon hover, I mean as a shopper, unless each and every product had at least one such alternate image, the alternate image made some form of sense with the original (back side of a product, applicable to male on one image as well as female from the other, second image is positioned in some way related to first to continue the effect of something from the first (dating myself, but old days with sesame street when say a character was in a box pointing/talking with another in a side box, but during filming they weren't actually there. Or brady bunch opening of each looking, pointing, waving at the other.)) I means that type of "effect" would be relatively easy with a small store, but to carryon such a layout for all product may become "difficult".

Yes, though there are certainly more updated ways of presenting a site. If in fact you are using the ZC default template (even if slightly modified) I would suggest taking a look at the responsive templates available from this site as most have a large number of other addons integrated to give an iimproved look, feel, and operation.

Last but not least, remember that you need to first get a customer to your site in order to impress them with the look of your site, but once there you want to keep them. :)

[pricediscrimination]

The default template certainly is only a starter template. Even those supporting further development of ZC recognize that it is dated, it even has it's own validation issues, but that all set aside.

Regarding IH4, the part I'm talking about, which is a "small" part of the software is in fact expand an image on hover anywhere in the cart. The code though currently pulls the same photo rather than some alternate version of it, which would require custom coding. There are other plugins I'm sure that do a popup on hover type option. As far as zoom, in most of those cases there is no more zoom than the original picture size, but I would consider resizing as a feature at that point in relation to the request.

I'm not sure I follow on the requirement of a gif being a part of jpg being shown. Now, again, IH4 can be setup to convert certain images to different filetypes, the thing is that the source files should all be of the same filetype.

As for the concept of showing an alternate image upon hover, I mean as a shopper, unless each and every product had at least one such alternate image, the alternate image made some form of sense with the original (back side of a product, applicable to male on one image as well as female from the other, second image is positioned in some way related to first to continue the effect of something from the first (dating myself, but old days with sesame street when say a character was in a box pointing/talking with another in a side box, but during filming they weren't actually there. Or brady bunch opening of each looking, pointing, waving at the other.)) I means that type of "effect" would be relatively easy with a small store, but to carryon such a layout for all product may become "difficult".

Yes, though there are certainly more updated ways of presenting a site. If in fact you are using the ZC default template (even if slightly modified) I would suggest taking a look at the responsive templates available from this site as most have a large number of other addons integrated to give an iimproved look, feel, and operation.

Last but not least, remember that you need to first get a customer to your site in order to impress them with the look of your site, but once there you want to keep them. :)

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this detailed reply. I will check into IH4.

What I meant by gif and jpg was to have pic-small.gif on the homepage/listing pages with animation flipping it from one view to the other, and the regular image-large.jpg displaying as additional images. I see how this would require a tremendous amount of custom coding and ultimately not worth it.

Just feeling stuck in terms of trying new things with zencart and watching lots of other sites zoom past with awesome designs. It's a bit like having a folding table under a tent at a pop-up art show compared to a beautiful boutique on a trendy shopping district street.

[Freddiec2385]

This might be a little crazy for ZC, but what I want to attempt is this:

Images are set up as a smaller main image that is used to display the item throughout the site, including all modules and main product page.

How can ZC be taken to the next level where if you're looking at the products listing or new products module and hover over the product image, it shows and alternative image (perhaps the second pic in the series). In other words, a bit more interaction.

The other thing would be to use a .gif that switched views of the item, but then the other additional images won't work since they are based on all being a series of jpg.

Let's get creative!

I'm looking for something similar. In which all the images are static through-out the site, then when you are in the individual product page and click larger image, it displays a second image(in this case the second image would be an animated GIF). Does anyone know if it exist for ZC?

[Freddiec2385]

Answered my own question. I upload a static image, say image xxx.gif with the product. Then I save the animated GIF to the folder 'large' , I call it xxx_LRG.gif and voila. You have an animated product preview.

[DivaVocals]

The default template certainly is only a starter template. Even those supporting further development of ZC recognize that it is dated, it even has it's own validation issues, but that all set aside.

Yes, though there are certainly more updated ways of presenting a site. If in fact you are using the ZC default template (even if slightly modified) I would suggest taking a look at the responsive templates available from this site as most have a large number of other addons integrated to give an iimproved look, feel, and operation.

I agree with these statements.. The classic template is simply a starting point for NEW shop owners.. It is not the end all be all of templates, it's not even an indicator of what you CAN do with Zen Cart (which IS a lot given all the new template & module options), finally and IMHO it's not even the BEST place to start building one's template.. I do believe that responsive should be (and is planned for future versions) part of the default template..

"Modern" options are TOTALLY possible (and being DONE) with Zen Cart, but IMHO all of these "modern"options do not necessarily NEED to be part of the DEFAULT.. not all shops or shop owners need these "fancy" features.. This is not me being old school at all.. This is recognizing that some of these fancy features should be added as needed/desired via modules..