"Demystifying" the display only workflow...  In short.... Spend your valuable time working on only those images that SELL!

Some of the most often asked questions are about our "Display Only" workflow.  We would like to try and explain it for you in detail.

"Display Only" defined:  An image is uploaded for Display purposes only.  If that image is purchased, then, only AFTER the purchase, is the final image file uploaded to go into the printing process.

What does "Display Only" mean for you, the photographer?  Here are the advantages:

• You don't have do a final prep to every file prior to uploading.  You only spend time "fine-tuning" those images that actually get ordered.
• You maintain complete control over the cropping.  Once the image is ordered, you do the final image file preparation with the exact crop ratio in mind.  No more "chopped off" heads.  No more leaving cropping to chance by the customer or the lab.
• Speed.  You don't have to upload full-res. files to be displayed the first time around.  You can elect to down-size the initial "display images' to reduce transfer time.
• Control. You have a chance to review every order for possible problems prior to going to the printer.  The order is in pending status until  you upload the final-resolution file.

Here is a typical Display Only workflow:

Step 1) Take your new images and use a "quick" photo editor workflow program to do a quick overall crop and exposure correction, if necessary.  Cull out and delete all but your best work!  Such programs are ACDSee, Picasa, Lightroom - there are many others - but this is entirely up to you...

Step 2) Upload your photos to Shutterbug Storefront using either of these 2 basic uploading methods:

1. Shutterbug Storefront web-uploader
2. FTP uploading. 

Use the "Display Only" option. (Print Ready = "No") You only need to do this once...and only ONE file per image.   The photos that are uploaded are resized for display viewing in the Shutterbug Storefront gallery and only the "display-sized" file is stored.  At this point, the image files are too small and NOT print-ready.  Shutterbug Storefront generates both thumbnail and display size(s), with your applicable watermark (if you choose this feature).   

Step 3) Images get viewed by your customers....An order for photo(s) comes in, and you get notified via email.  (If you happen to log in, you will also see a notice on the overview page that there are photos waiting to be uploaded.)

Step 4) To upload the final "print ready" file, you either click on the link in the notification email (that came to you), or log in directly to Shutterbug Storefront.  When you log in the entry screen has a notice that you have pending orders.

Step 5) You determine what has been ordered and determine the appropriate crop ratios for image images being printed.  You take your original file(s), do all your final color correcting, and do your final crop based on those apect ratios. You would then save the final image on your hard drive - one for each "crop version/size" ordered.  (A suggestion for file naming conventions:  "Pict0001" gets saved as "Pict0001_5x7" for a 5x7" ratio, etc. )

Note:  Our system requires this!  PLEASE be sure to rename each files something slightly different to assure everyone knows which uploaded file goes to which print.

6) You would then go to the "required files" / upload page, click into the browse field for each image filesname, browse to the image file to upload, and upload the finished (full-res) images you prepared under step 5.   Click on each "Update File" button and leave the browser window open until all have been completed.

NOTE:  BE SURE you understand how to upload for order fulfillment! 

This workflow saves you lots of time, because you are not doing a final "tweak" to every image displayed... only enough to make it look good in the gallery.  THEN, the final tweaking comes only if the image is actually ordered.

We hope this helps "demystify" the process "Display Only" workflow for you.

A review of the steps to this workflow...

1. You captured the images
2. You organize the images and prepare a gallery on your Shutterbug Storefront storefront
   
3. You uploaded web sized images for display on your storefront (too small for prints, but great for web viewing) 
4. An order is placed for the following 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 all of the same image(for illustration purposes)
5. You are notified of the order and that you need to upload the optimized images for the order
6. You find the original image that on your computer, apply enhancements and save three images with three different crops for each of the prints ordered, 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10
7. Login to your Shutterbug Storefront account, Click the Required Photos link and upload the full resolution images using that interface to complete the order.
8. Our system receives the full resolution images that you just uploaded, we send them to the lab.
9. The lab prints and ship the prints to the customer. (or you, if you ordered them)