Working with Product Images - Let's improve it!
 

I just spent a few days on the new 4.2 X-Cart beta version. They said we will have an easy way to work with product images, generating thumbnails. I was not impressed. Actually, yes you can create one thumbnail using GD library, but this will not help you anyway. Those who used a photo editor for resizing an image, can continue working in this way with better results. If you expect an alternative to Telefirma (who just dissapeared) module you will be dissapointed.

I would like to make the things easy, and with a little help from you, a small customization, being able to have an alternative to Telefirma module.

Let's tell you the steps:

1. When creating a product in Admin section, to be able to insert the following images:

- product_thumbnail - used when listing the product in a category (100 x 100)
- product_image - used as default image in product page (300 x 300)
- product_fullsize - used when the customer clicks on the default product image (600 x 600)
- product_xthumbnail - used as default image in "Customer who bought ..." area. (50 x 50)

2. Now, the detailed images:

- product_detailed_thumbnail - used as thumbnail for detailed image (50 x 50)
- product_detailed_fullsize - used when customer clicks on the thumbnail (600 x 600)
Also great to be able to order these images.

3. Let's use these images in Customer Frontend -> product page

- product_image (300 x 300) with link to product_fullsize (600 x 600)
- if exists detailed image, bellow the default product image to show all product_detailed_thumbnail (50 x 50) with links to product_detailed_fullsize (600 x 600)

For image sizes, you can decide if need to set up the values, or not (in X-Cart store configuration)

For showing the full size images I will use HighSlide JavaScript (http://highslide.com/) or other script (Lightbox, ...)

Can anyone help with this customization?

THANKS

Re: Working with Product Images - Let's improve it!
 

I got a private message with a good tip for this:

1. To have the ability to enter the dimensions of all images in a configuration page. For example:

- extra small thumbnails: 50 x 50 px
- thumbnails: 100 x 100 px
- fullsize: 600 x 600 px
- product page default: 300 x 300 px

2. It is not necessary to create and upload all the image sizes. Just upload the biggest ones. Then a resize PHP script with a unsharp filter effect will do everything. This Unsharp Mask should be configurated for every type of size (Amount, Radius, Threshold). All the small sizes will be generated automatically by this script.

So, could anyone help?

Re: Working with Product Images - Let's improve it!
 

Doesn't the mod discussed at http://forum.x-cart.com/showthread.php?t=41912 do what you are asking?

Re: Working with Product Images - Let's improve it!
 

JWait did you installed that module? If yes, please let me know your comments about it. Could it be close to my requests?

Re: Working with Product Images - Let's improve it!
 

We had the Telafirma dynamic image mod back when we were using the 4.0.x version of X-cart, but when the 4.1.x version came out we found the mod was incompatible. The lack of product support also influenced our decision.

Because of this (and several other reasons) when we decided to upgrade to the 4.1.x version we abandoned the mod and are now using the standard method x-cart has. About the only modification we added as far as images was Thickbox (mainly because it works better and can easily be removed if need be).

To answer your question, no we have not looked into using this modification for the reasons I already stated, and the fact that it most likely will not be compatible with version 4.2.x, and this sounds like something we really want to do.

The only reason I referenced the thread at http://forum.x-cart.com/showthread.php?t=41912 is that it sounded like what you were proposing and it didn't seem to make sense that you should start at square 1 when there was already a similar project underway.