HOW-TO: Image Preparation

**Ryk** · 30 Oct 2005, 09:56 AM

Check that the image IS in the large folder, and check that the name is the same as that of the small; if you have not changed the default suffix ie _LRG, make sure you actually have the suffix!

Otherwise, please supply a url so we can take a look.

**Ryk** · 30 Oct 2005, 10:00 AM

PS. Some may wonder why we keep asking for urls...well, apart from the old adage that "a picture paints a thousand words" there is a LOT of information we can gather by the use of right click, View Source and, when using Firefox as the browser, the Web Developer Toolkit.

So, anything that is wrong visually or in your cart's behaviour - do supply a URL if you want help.

**SammyD** · 1 Nov 2005, 12:43 AM

Originally posted by Ryk@Oct 30 2005, 08:56 AM
Check that the image IS in the large folder, and check that the name is the same as that of the small; if you have not changed the default suffix ie _LRG, make sure you actually have the suffix!

Otherwise, please supply a url so we can take a look.

THank you so much for the quick reply, I sincerely apologize for not replying sooner. I was going to include a URL but had an ERROR_DB_NOT_FOUND this was followed by ERROR_PLEASE_REMOVE_COMPONENT_BETWEEN_DESK_AND_CHAIR.

I ended up uninstalling and reinstalling Zen Cart and ta da no problems. I do think is was in the way I named the files - no underscores between words.

**Yyrkoon** · 1 Nov 2005, 06:03 PM

And I have a update to my problem. With good help from Ryk i made sure there were nothing wrong with ZenCart. Instead it was my migrated DB that had some error in it that caused the whole issue.

Now that I've fixed the DB and regenerated the image url's everything works as intended.

Thanks Ryk :).

**hostile** · 17 Nov 2005, 05:29 AM

Am I missing something here? I am just starting up Zen-Cart and the way I upload my pictures is by using the admin product add new product and point to the picture using the browse function. It seems that when I choose one picture ZC takes care of the rest and they show up automatically. Should I be uploading things differenctly? And if I do upload them differently how do I link a specifiic product with a specific picture?

I am trying to broaden my knowledge and use of ZC. Thanks.

Jason

**Ajeh** · 17 Nov 2005, 05:48 AM

You will want to read up on the Zen Cart Product Images in the FAQs or as a convenient search try looking for fred.jpg

The Admin has you add the Products base image name (small image) ... from this you can FTP to the site Medium, Large and Additional images, small and Large ...

These are all auto loading based on the base image name for the product ...

**Ryk** · 17 Nov 2005, 10:12 AM

Just to expand a little...

When you use the standard method you are only uploading the one image AS IT IS from your hard drive. ZenCart will display that image at the dimensions you declare in admin>configuration>images for small or medium, but it will NOT resize the image.

So, if the only image you upload is 600x480 pixels with a file size of 40KB, then, although your medium and small images will display at your selected dimensions, the file size wil remain at 40KB.

Conversely, if your original image is 100x100 pixels with a file size of 3KB, your medium image will look dreadful (although the page will load like lightning!!) because ZC will stretch it to fit the dimensions set, and your large image will not be large.

Therefore, to make everything work properly using the ZC core system, you need to make 3 copies of the image as discussed at the beginning of this topic; the small one is uploaded via admin>product etc and becomes the base image; you then FTP the medium and large to their respective folders.

Alternatively, you install the Image-Handler mod which allows you to upload any image at the Product Entry stage and it will automatically create the 3 copies for you at your set dimensions and at the correct file size, AND put them in the correct folders/directories!::tup

THIS is why we would like to see the functionality of Image-Handler incorporated into the core files.

Note that with I-H you must use an image at least as large as your largest image for this to work properly. (A smaller one would still be stretched and therefore look dreadful)

**hostile** · 17 Nov 2005, 10:11 PM

Thanks Ryk,

That was the explanation I was looking for. Now I understand that if I take my 60K images and only use them for my Large image, and make a small image for the overview pages where many images are displayed then that page will load quicker. As is, I assume that it is loading all my small images sized 60k and displaying them smaller.

Thank you!.

**vintagelover** · 16 Jan 2006, 10:32 AM

I have the image handler. Iunderstand that I have to upload my largest image.

Is this image to be my "default image" or my "large" image. Because the menu says you must have a default image first, so the previous tutorials are a little confusing.

Also,
Are the small images, new products, featured products and catalog images all the same size? Or is this where you set your preferences? because I noticed that the default dimensions were the same for all of these.

Thanks.
Sandra

www.debutanteclothing.com

**Ryk** · 16 Jan 2006, 10:50 AM

1. Default (NB the tutorial was written before the arrival of I-H)

2. For best results, set all the listing and small image settings to the same; the medium image is the one displayed on your product info page.

Note that I-H will create your images according to the settings you have made in configuration>images for small, medium and large.