There are 2 basic ways to upload photos for printing in the "Display Only" workflow:
- Via the interface in the "Required Files" page...
- Via FTP
The most common way is to upload files using the interface "Required Files" page. (See how here) However, some people would like to upload via FTP for fulfillment as well.
This page specifically addresses how to upload to fulfill orders using FTP as the upload method.
Uploading to fulfill orders using FTP:
Step 1:
You receive the order/upload notification via email...
Then, log into your account and click on the "required files" link...
...then take a look at the list of fulfillment images required on the "Required Photos" page:
Step 2:
You will note that each image file required has the gallery, the image file name, and the product description - followed by the (unique product ID) in parentheses. The "product ID" is a unique number used by the Shutterbug Storefront database for that particular product in your site alone.
Step 3:
You would go to your hard drive for each image listed. You would crop that image based on the product ordered, and apply any final color-corrections and adjustments you wish to make in your photo editor.
Step 4:
Then, you would save that optimized file using the SAME EXACT IMAGE NAME and you would add an "underscore" ("_") followed by the exact "Product ID" for that image.
Step 5:
You would repeat this for each of the required images called for. Some users leave these optimized and renamed files in the same folder on their hard drives, and others choose to create an "upload folder" that stores just those images that were prepped for upload. The choice is yours.
Step 6:
You would then FTP those optimized images up to your Shutterbug Storefront site. Unlike files being uploaded via FTP for display purposes, DO NOT process these JPG image files into a folder. Upload these image files for fulfillment just as files. This puts those files into the generic FTP folder used for your site where you upload files.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: Again... When you log back into your site, you will see there are files to be processed... DO NOT elect to "process" these files! Go directly to your "Required files" screen again!
Step 7:
Go back into your "Required Files" screen. If you have done the renaming correctly, the required files interface will recognize the files that match up with the "required files" and tell you that the "Photo found in FTP dir" (See 4th photo in the example above...)
Step 8:
For each file that has is recognized with an optimized file (See step 6) you would click the "Update File" button next to each one.
As an example:
If you look at the 2nd required file in the screen shot above....
- You would look up the location of image "DSC_4662.jpg" on your hard drive.
- You would crop it to exactly match the aspect ratio of a 3.5" x 5" image.
- You would apply and other color-corrections or adjustments you deem necessary.
- You would save the optimized image as the following name: "DSC_4662_214.jpg"
- You would repeat this same process for any other required files.
- You would use your FTP (program of choice) to upload this and any other images.
- You would then go in back to the "Required Files" page and look to see all of the images that say "Photo found in FTP dir" and click the "Update File" button next to each one.
Some things to remember:
- You MUST use the "_" underscore followed by the exact product ID indicated in parentheses.
- You will have to repeat multiple products for identically sized images. For example: If you have a 4x6 matte and 4x6 metallic print ordered of the same exact image, and it is asking for you to upload these as different files, you would have to repeat the process using the 2 different product IDs for each, even though you were, in effect, using the same uploaded image renamed with different product IDs for each product.
- The "required files" interface will only recognize the files if they are renamed exactly according to the naming convention described above. It doesn't recognize them even if you "get close!" It has to be exact.
- Please note that this is for fulfilling orders and that uploading via FTP for displaying photos is a different workflow. (See uploading via FTP for display here...)
