making prints for customers and shopping cart

01/28/2006 01:04:54 PM · #1

I couldn't think of what to name this thread, but here is my question dear dpc friends:

On my website, I would like to set up a page where customers can go to order prints from someone I can trust. I used to use a paypal shopping cart and then order from MPIX myself, but the paypal cart is slightly counterintuitive to ordering pictures because I can't make it accept multiple pictures with multiple quantities and sizes.

Looking at some of laurilblack's stuff, it made me think that perhaps smugmug is the way to go. How is their printing? I have had severe problems with every printer I have ever gone to except MPIX, only because I can check the box that says "do not color correct my image". It seems that most printers (walmart, CVS, Walgreens, even my local camera shop) run a sort automatic exposure compensation or something. If I use a dramatic vignette on the edges, it tries to make that have some detail, and blows out the highlights.

I haven't asked a question really... just meandering. So, do you folks trust whoever prints for smugmug? do you know of another way to have customers order prints? DPC prints really doesn't let you select multiple quantites and multiple sizes at the same time either. The smugmug engine isn't perfect either, but it is close.

I am not good enough at PHP to build my own yet.
any ideas?

drake

fotomann_forever

01/28/2006 01:09:43 PM · #2

Originally posted by fstopopen:

I am not good enough at PHP to build my own yet.
any ideas?

drake

I've set up several online stores... I suggest you look at ZenCart... //www.zen-cart.com ... it's an opensource e-commerce package. It's very intuitive and rather easy to set up. It's PHP/MySQL based.

Just an option I wanted to through in front of you.

Edit: It will hook into your paypal account seemlessly and allow you to take credit card orders. It supports quite a few CC processors.

Message edited by author 2006-01-28 13:12:03.

Prof_Fate

01/28/2006 01:35:25 PM · #3

I have used 2 local walmarts and winkflash.com and have had no issues with them tinkering with my images.
Are you sure your images are correct to start with (proper size, color profile, format, etc?)

Does smugmug print? Most of the sites i have looked at for on-line image sales have 'partner labs' or just email you a list of what was bought and you fulfill it anyway you choose.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

01/28/2006 05:33:30 PM · #4

I don't really know how smugmug handles it. I was curious.

drake

cbeller

Nikon D300

01/28/2006 07:22:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by fstopopen:

I don't really know how smugmug handles it. I was curious.

drake

I tried posting this before the site went down for maintenance, but it didn't take...

Take a look at ImageQuix. It's similar to PhotoReflect, but without the outragous commission charges (you purchase credits). You can accept payment via PayPal, and submit your images directly to a lab for printing, or to CD to have printed locally.

Edit: typo

Message edited by author 2006-01-28 19:23:25.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

01/28/2006 07:33:52 PM · #6

Originally posted by fstopopen:

I'm doing this on my website. I have a paypal button for each size that I have available... It seems to work fine. I receive the orders and then order the prints myself.

Studio18

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/28/2006 07:50:32 PM · #7

I just set up a website at multiply.com. I can order prints right from there, however I have not tried them as I am just finishing my site at this very moment. I can let people order their own straight from my site but then they would get the discounted price so I chose not to let them order. They have to contact me directly and then I can place the order. I have however used MPIX.com to order my prints and they do a stnad up job!!! I have been supremely happy with their work. My monitor is calibrated well and the prints have come back to look just like my monitor. That is very important to have an accurate ICC profile. Anyway, thought I would add my two cents. Oh my website at Multiply.com is //eleanor18.multiply.com/

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/28/2006 07:53:45 PM · #8

jmsetzler: I used to have mine like that, but I had a lot of complaints. If someone wanted one pose with 5-8x10's, 3-5x7's, 16-wallets, 10-4x6's, and 1-11x14, they will spend a lot of time going back and forth from the cart back to my page, pluse I have had people who can't understand that they can change the quantitiy in paypal cart.

fotoman: I have installed that cart, but man, for some reason I can't figure out how to customize it at all yet. I'll keep trying.

cbeller: I will check that out.

anybody else have any suggestions?

drake

wavelength

Nikon D300

01/28/2006 08:11:48 PM · #9

I read in one thread that you can set Smugmug to print your pics with "faithful" colors or something. This lets you control the colors in your own processing.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

01/29/2006 12:37:58 AM · #10

Originally posted by fstopopen:

That makes sense... I'm not selling stuff like that so it works well. I rarely sell multiples of any one image to the same customer.

I think it would be in your best interest do find a way to do it yourself though. Using a direct printer who ships to the customer is gonna cut your profit severely.

Message edited by author 2006-01-29 00:38:36.

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

01/29/2006 02:12:25 AM · #11

I think you are right. I am trying to make a free shopping cart work, but appearantly I am too stupid to figure out the "easy" implimentation with my website ;) I am going to keep trying though.

drake

coolhar

01/29/2006 07:17:16 AM · #12

I don't know about the shoping cart part of your site but I have had good experience with prints from winkflash.com. Fast shipper, reasonably priced and no color issues. Check them out.

Message edited by author 2006-01-29 07:17:56.

mcrael

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

01/29/2006 12:17:55 PM · #13

I'm in Canada (Ontario). Can anyone recommend a Canadian-based solution?

jdw91479

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

01/29/2006 12:25:45 PM · #14

I haven't used this before, but I ran across it and it seems like it would fit your purposes. It does look a bit expensive though.

Photo Shelter

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/29/2006 01:11:25 PM · #15

I use PhotoReflect and it works great! You can choose from hundreds of print labs (I use All American Photo). It links directly from my website and is easy to use.

Look at the link "View and Order Your pictures" My webpage

fotomann_forever

01/29/2006 01:35:48 PM · #16

Originally posted by fstopopen:

Any progress?