I don't know if I need to install Image Handler 2 or Slimbox or Lightbox, please help

I'm building an industrial clothing website and want to be able to add multiple images to my product area. I want the zoom, hover capability and I want to be able to have a fast load of my pictures.

I initially thought that I would download Image 2 Handler and use it, but then I started reading about Slimbox, and I was reading about Lightbox, so now I'm really confused.

Can someone give me some guidance as to which one of these products will do a good job and be user friendly. I'm a total newbie at this.

Here is my site link, I just have the bare bones installed, and the categories inserted, and I'm now to the point that I want to start entering product, but I want to install one of these products first.

Thanks for any help you can give me. Here's my site

http://redkapworkwear.com/testsetup

I have one other question. Sometimes when I'm on other clothing sites, when you mouseover an image, say of a shirt, , it enlarges quite a lot, doesn't show the whole image, just a portion of it really large and up close. Do you know which application has that capability? Thanks again for anybody that can give me some direction.

You might look into IH2, Fual Slimbox, and AJAX Image Swapper in the Free Software Add Ons.

That combination is working for some of our customers. Bear in mind that some may not play well with PHP 5.3 and higher.

IH2 is close to releasing a newer version compatible with 5.3

Thanks so much for your response. My php is version 5.1.47, so that shouldn't be a problem.

If I might ask one other question. Remember, I'm a total novice at this, I am good about backing up my files so I don't lose data. I have learned that much.

I am using a Cherry Zen template. I literally spent two weeks installing and uninstalling my site from my server because I didn't understand how the files laid into the template until Stevesh told me to just drag the entire Cherry Zen includes folder into the existing includes folder. I was trying to take files out of my Cherry Zen inlcludes folder and manually insert then into the appropriate folders and it wasn't working.

So now here I am trying to install a simple little Paypal Verified Logo into my sidebox. But the instructions aren't specific - they say (complete with typo)

***1) Extra the files to the appropriate locations for example:

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/paypal_logo_sidebox.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/template_default/images/verification_seal.gif

So here's my dilemma - do I drop this entire includes folder into the existing includes folder - or do I open each folder, extract the files and put them in the appropriate folders as listed above. I don't want to make the same mistake I did before.

I'm sorry to ask so many questions, this is so difficult for me. I'm sixty years old now, my brain isn't as sharp as it once was, but I'm sure trying. Thanks - Jan

First of all, BACKUP!
Secondly, BACKUP!
And do this before every mod install.
Make a file somewhere in your site that named something like mymods.txt and add the name, version, and date installed for every mod you add.
PPPPPP Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

Always extract mods to your local machine and check to see if any of the files are already in your override directory.

It's also a good idea to have a copy of your latest zen version and check any new files against existing files in your site. For instance if the file in the mod was tpl_breaks_everything.php and you didn't have one in either the templates_default or your custom directory, you'd upload the file to its rightful place in your template.

If it exists in either your custom folder or the templates_default, I'd use WinMerge to make sure the changes for the mod are not breaking something that is already there.

I'm not to keen on the paypal mod as it will show up on the checkout page soon enough and I want to present sales opportunities as much as possible. I wouldn't use the space unless I put a small paypal logo as part of the header. A sidebox is a little too much overkill for me.

Lastly, the mod is not (as you noticed) presented in the best way. If you are properly using the custom template/override system, instead of > includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/paypal_logo_sidebox.php

includes/modules/sideboxes/paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/template_default/images/verification_seal.gifthe files should go to > includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/YOUR_TEMPLATE/paypal_logo_sidebox.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/YOUR_TEMPLATE/paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/sideboxes/tpl_paypal_logo.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/verification_seal.gifThat way, they won't suddenly disappear on the next upgrade.