All uploads to Fotomerchant go through an automatic process that makes sure your website always uses the best possible image for speed and quality.
The original file uploaded to Fotomerchant is never shown directly on your website and is kept in secure storage. Instead, a web preview of your uploaded file is shown on your website. These web previews are automatically managed by Fotomerchant so that even a 20 Megabyte file will always load fast and look great on your website.
Generally speaking, it is our recommendation that uploads are at least a medium resolution image. This is an image that is at least 2048 pixels on the long edge at 72 DPI with the JPEG quality scale set to 80%.
The JPEG quality scale can be adjusted to your preference, however the greater the compression the lower the quality, which will affect the look of the images displayed on your website. High compression can lead to images appearing blurry on a website after it has gone through the automatic processes in Fotomerchant.
Every image is different, so you might want to test which size and quality settings give you the right balance of file size to quality for your purposes.
FAQ
What if I only want to upload files for web display purposes?
In this case, it is our recommendation to not upload original files and resize images to the recommended medium resolution size outlined above. This will provide files that are small in file size and large enough in resolution for great looking images on your website.
What if I would also like to sell prints and digitals?
Please refer to the below guides relating to each of the different products that can be sold and the general recommendations about file sizes provided.
Uploads for Digital Downloads
Uploads for Self Fulfillment
Uploads for Direct Fulfillment
What if the image isn't big enough for the print or digital product purchased?
When the size of the image isn't sufficient for the size requirements of the digital download or print product, the system will allow you to Change or Upscale the image in the order before it is delivered as a digital or to our print partners for printing.
I do not expect many orders from a gallery, what size images should I upload?
It is our recommendation to not upload original files and resize images to the recommended medium resolution size outlined above. If the image isn't large enough to meet the size requirements of the ordered product, the system will allow you to upscale or change the image in the order before it is delivered as a digital or to our print partners for printing.
I expect lots of orders from a gallery, what size images should I upload?
For high sales galleries it is recommended to upload the images that meet the size requirements of the largest product available for purchase. This will ensure that the best possible image is available for prints and digitals with little manual intervention required for orders.
Please refer to the below guides relating to each of the different products that can be sold and the general recommendations about file sizes provided.
Uploads for Digital Downloads
When offering Digital Download products, it is our recommendation to upload images that will meet the largest Digital Download product offered based on the Megapixel size of the product. This can be reviewed in your account by going to the Store > Products > Digital area and reviewing the resolutions listed:
If your Catalog includes a low-resolution 1 Megapixel Digital Download product and and 10 Megapixel Digital Download product, then the images uploaded should cater to the 10 Megapixel Digital download product.
When choosing the resolution for the Digital Download product, it will mention an approximate pixel size for the image. This can be used as a guide for the minimum pixel size of the image that should be uploaded into galleries.
If your uploaded image is lower in resolution than the Digital Download product purchased, then this is OK. You will have the option of either Change or Upscale the image to better accommodate the Digital Download product that the customer has chosen before approving the order to be delivered.
Uploads for Self Fulfillment
When using Self Fulfillment products, it is our recommendation to not upload original files and resize images to the recommended medium resolution size outlined above.
As Self Fulfillment products are self managed by the photographer, Fotomerchant does not need high resolution files to support the sale of Self Fulfillment products.
It is the responsibility of the photographer to collate the Self Fulfillment orders from Fotomerchant and send this with their full resolution image files to a print lab to process.
Uploads for Direct Fulfillment
When offering Direct Fulfillment products, it is our recommendation to upload images that will meet the largest Direct Fulfillment product offered in your catalogs.
The image size recommendation for a Direct Fulfillment product can be reviewed in your account by going to the Store > Products > Direct Fulfillment area and reviewing the resolutions listed:
Next to each product listed in an "information" icon.
By hovering your mouse over the "information" icon, a pixel size recommendation is shown:
In this example, the system shows that in order to print a 4x4" Print, the print lab requires an image that is at least 800 x 800 pixels in size.
Direct Fulfillment with Manual Approval of Orders
Using the Change or Upscale function before approving and printing orders.
If you are using Direct Fulfillment and plan to manually approve each of your customer orders, then you will have the option to Change or Upscale the source image before approving the order to be sent to the print lab.
In this case you can upload medium resolution images initially (for fast uploading) and then Change to a high resolution file or Upscale the existing file when the customer order comes through.
To make sure Direct Fulfillment orders are held for your approval simply go to the Store > Settings page of your account, flick over to the Direct Fulfillment tab and make sure that the Check Orders radio button is set to On.
Direct Fulfillment with Automatically Approved Orders
No approval required before sending direct to the print lab.
If you prefer to run your account using a more hands off approach without an Approval step then you will need to ensure that you upload full resolution images to your galleries to accommodate the dimensions of the largest print products offered through your Catalogs.
You may also need to ensure that the aspect ratio of your images matches that of the print products offered. This will help avoid the need for cropping of images at the time an order is placed which should further streamline the process for you. Here's a good article on Aspect Ratio that illustrates the problem facing every photographer.
Once you've allowed for the resolution and aspect ratio points, you can then change the Check Orders radio button to Off so that your customer orders are sent directly through to the lab for processing.
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