Ordering Photos

When ordering premium prints or standard photos, drag the required photos into the editor, either individually or by directory.The product specifications (e.g. quantity, format, and aspect ratio) are then displayed and set in the toolbar.

Outline of the Program Interface



Menu bar

For controlling the software

SELECTION AREA

Photo explorer

Buttons to see the current path directory
and to select files

Product options

With entries to set the product specifications

Workspace

This is where the selected photos, which can then also be ordered, are displayed for formatting and editing.

View options and ordering

With a zoom control to change the view size of the photos in the workspace
and the order button.

Photo display

With photo thumbnails

Toolbar for selecting objects

With zoom buttons to change the view size of the thumbnails.

The Selection Area for Ordering Photos

One of the selection options is a button showing the path of the selected photo directory. If you click on this button, a new dialogue will open up, enabling you to select the origin of the photo in the upper dropdown list. If the selection is a storage location on your computer, a directory tree is displayed, through which you can navigate to the desired directory. Alternatively, a different dialogue window will connect you to your internet image galleries on Locr, Flickr or T-Online. You can also search for photos on Locr, either via a keyword or by using GPS co-ordinates. The photos are then displayed as thumbnails in the preview display. Photos already selected for this order are marked with a tick.

 

You can change the view size of the thumbnails using the zoom buttons below or by making the selection area wider or narrower. There are other buttons next to the zoom buttons that you can use to control the use of the photo as a background and the display in the Photo Explorer (sort, filter, add/remove file names). You can also retrieve a highlighted photo in the photo product and filter the photos according to occasion (taken at the same time) or similarity (colour). The dropdown menu (right mouse click on the preview display) contains various viewing, ordering and pasting options:

"Refresh Directory"

If you have added or removed photo files to the current directory since you began working with the photo software, these new photos may not be displayed straight away. This command forces the software to re-import the directory, and thus to import the thumbnails.

"Start Photo Editor"

Launches the CEWE PHOTOSHOW (see the chapter "CEWE PHOTOSHOW".) You can also start the photoshow (with image editing functions) by double-clicking on the thumbnail.

"Sort by Colour"

Shows the photos in a separate window grouped by their colour mood. You can place images side by side and below each other. Double-click on a photo to add it to the photo product.

"Find Similar..."

If you have highlighted a photo, this function will search within the same directory for photos that were either taken at the same event (by date and time) and/or look similar. You can use the slider to set the degree of similarity.

"Insert Selected Items"

Adds the selected photos in the workspace.

Insert Photos

To add a photo to the photo order, drag it from the selection area to the editor workspace by clicking and holding down the left mouse button. You can also drag an entire directory into the workspace. All photos in this directory (apart from those in sub-directories) are then added to the workspace. Or you can select the photos you want in the preview and use the command "Add selected items".

Product Options for Ordering Photos

The product options contain the following settings that you can apply to one or several photos:

Quantity

Specifies the number of highlighted photos. You can use this to order a special photo or all highlighted photos several times.

Size

If you are simply placing an order for traditional prints, you can enter the quantity and size of all the photos in the workspace, provided there are no photos highlighted in the workspace. You can enter a quantity and size for each individual photo (click on the thumbnail in the workspace), e.g. if you want several prints of some of the photos or prints in a different size.

Coloured Border

Only present if you are ordering photos with a coloured border. If you want photos with a border, you can choose the colour of the border here.

"Optimisation" - Only for Premium Prints

Automatic Image Optimisation (AIO) corrects the exposure, the white balance and other image properties in the photo lab, in order to obtain the best quality from the photo. You can turn this automatic photo optimisation on and off by ticking or unticking "Optimisation". It is a good idea to switch off AIO if, for example, you have optimised a photo yourself using an image processing program, or in the case of particularly colour-sensitive images, such as sunsets or photos taken by candlelight (the automatic white balance would distort the red sky or the yellowish candlelight). You can turn optimisation on or off for each individual photo (including standard photos) by clicking on the respective thumbnail in the workspace.

Choice of Aspect Ratios

The traditional image format in photography is 3:2 (equivalent to 35mm format), but today's digital cameras often take pictures with different aspect ratios. In the top margin of the workspace, you can pre-select how photos with an aspect ratio other than 3:2 should be printed. If you have not highlighted a photo in the workspace, this setting will apply to all images. For the "Variable Length" format, photos with an aspect ratio other than 3:2 are printed and cropped so the photo is shown in full.

 

For the "(3:2) Classic Size" format, photos with an aspect ratio other than 3:2 are cropped so they fit on the photo paper in 3:2 format without borders. This means protruding parts of the photo are lost. These parts are hatched in the photo preview window in the workspace. For most photos, it will not matter if they are partially cropped, but for some, important image details may be lost (e.g. feet and hair). It is therefore possible to mix "Variable Length" and "(3:2) Classic Size" within one order. To set the format of an individual photo, highlight this photo in the workspace and select "Variable Length" or "(3:2) Classic Size" at the top. This changes the format of the highlighted photo only.

"Show File Name"

Shows the relevant photo file name in the editor.

"Remove Selected Objects"

Does exactly what it says. Removes the highlighted photo or photos from the workspace.

The Workspace for Ordering Photos

Every photo added to the workspace is listed with a thumbnail in the workspace. The following settings can be applied to a highlighted photo and/or thumbnail:

At the top of the relevant thumbnail in the editor, you can turn optimisation (AIO) for this photo on or off. You can choose the size of a highlighted photo by going to the selection field in the bar at the bottom left of the thumbnail. On the right, you can set the quantity of this individual photo that you would like to order. You can also specify these options as well as aspect ratio settings in the toolbar at the top. If at least one photo is highlighted, these settings will only apply to the highlighted photo or photos. If you have not highlighted any photos, these settings will apply to all photos.

 

 

The colour of the bar at the bottom of the thumbnail indicates whether the resolution is sufficient for a good quality photo. Green means: The image resolution is sufficient for a good quality photo and there will be no loss of quality if the photo is printed in its current size. Yellow means: The image resolution is not optimal and there will be a slight loss of quality if the photo is printed in its current size. You can choose to take this risk or to reduce the photo (e.g. 4" format rather than 5" format). Red means: The image resolution is too low to achieve a good quality photo and there will be a clearly visible loss of quality. (This is also indicated by a "Warning!" icon in the photo). You can either order the photo in a smaller size (if it is better this way) or not use it at all.

View Options and Ordering

Product Overview

The type of paper chosen is shown at the bottom on the left and on the right is an (unclickable) overview of the total number of prints you have selected, plus the cost of the prints.

"Zoom"

With the zoom control, you can adjust the view size of the product. This does not change the size of the finished product, it just enlarges or reduces the view, so more details are identifiable or to give a better overview.

"Order"

Opens up the shopping cart so you can check and place your order.

 

You cannot order premium and standard prints within the same order for production reasons. If, for example, standard prints have been chosen and you would like to add some premium prints, the standard prints already chosen will be converted into premium prints. The opposite also applies. A notice will be displayed.