Before looking at the various types of configurable images available in PAPs, it is worth bearing in mind the significance of the original image you upload before configuration:

The Original Uploaded Picture - This is the picture you upload from your local computer which you will use to create any of the PAPs images later on. The most important thing to remember about this image is that no PAPs-generated picture will ever be bigger than the image you originally upload. This is because there would bea noticeable loss of picture quality if PAPs attempted to blow the picture up. For performance purposes therefore, it is advisable to upload an image whose size is equal to the largest picture type you wish to create.

There are four kinds of images available in Product Attribute Pictures.

Type I) Thumbnail Image - this is the standard picture unit. Any PAPs-enabled product info page MUST have at least one thumbnail in it. Depending on other configurable factors, thumbnails can be displayed with their names, price differentials and radio button controls shown beneath them. The size of thumbnails can also be configured, and although traditionally small, PAPs thumbnails can be as big as your uploaded picture allows. As with the 'Enlarged Image', only the width of the thumbnail is configurable since PAPs will automatically maintain the aspect ratio of the image and calculate the height accordingly. This ensures that pictures never get pulled or squashed in any direction.

Type II) Enlarged Image - this is the image - usually larger than the thumbnail - which changes to display a larger version of a thumbnail which has been activated via click, hover or radio button. If required, enlarged images can be displayed with either the name of the enlarged thumbnail or a static title shown above them. Also, if appropriately configured, enlarged images can be clicked to activate a Javascript popup. Enlarged images can be switched off via admin if only thumbnail - perhaps large ones - are required.

Type III) Popup Image - the popup is the biggest type of image used in PAPs. Popups can be triggered by clicking enlarged images, or if enlarged images are switched off, by clicking thumbnails. PAPs automatically checks if the original uploaded image size is bigger then the configured 'Enlarged Image' size. If it is, the popup is displayed. If not it, it isn't. This is because a popup would be redundant if the image it showed was not bigger than an existing image on the page. Therefore, if you want to use Javascript popups, always ensure that the size of the image you upload is bigger than the intended size of the 'Enlarged Image'.

Type IV) Composite Image - a composite image can be used when offering users 2 or more sets of images, or attribute images. A composite image represents the currently selected combination of attribute options from each attribute set, and is not an individual attribute image itself. There are two types of composite image:

• Linked Attribute Picture (LAP) - upload a separate image for each possible combination of selected attribute options. Each LAP represents a separate and distinct combination of selected attribute options.
• Merged Attribute Picture (MAP) - no need to upload extra images, this image is dynamically created on-the-fly by merging all currently selected attribute picture together to produce a single image.
  

Back to Product Attribute Pictures Feature List