Requests for New Features

Re: Larger images!

hillz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:21:25 GMT

I am a member since August 06. When I was looking for a hosting site I opened up trial accounts at Smugmug and Zenfolio and asked about 15 of my friends on both sides of the pond to choose which one was better. Most chose Zenfolio because of the speed of the slideshow.

Well, now 3 years later the technology has evolved and Smugmug slideshow is just as fast. But full screen pictures (1920x1200) make such a huge difference!

For example:

http://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/DR650/10352016_5eybB#716302478_KLMfz

I am really looking forward for Zenfolio to catch up!

Thanks, Zach.

Re: Larger images!

vapte — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:14:34 GMT

Completely agree!

Larger image sizes would be wonderful.

Apart from automatic scaling to fit the monitor screen/gallery frame, what would be nice is the ability for users to specify what size image they'd like to view (e.g Small, Med, Large, Xlarge, Original - pretty much like the competition 'SM'). I think the larger image size will definitely improve the viewing-experience.

BTW I am really enjoying the "Organizer" feature of Zenfolio. Its pretty much exactly what I wanted in terms of managing my photos/galleries and controlling access to them. Kudos to ZF for a fantastic implementation.

-V

Re: Larger images!

weddingsbyrobert — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:32:26 GMT

Count me in. I was an avid Flickr user for a few years and their full-screen slideshows always seemed fantastic to me no matter what monitor I was viewing them on and I limited my file size to a max of 800px on the largest dimension. I totally understand the idea that image quality is king but as others have said (or at least I think they did), I would like to have the option to allow my clients to view full-screen in their gallery with no other visible navigation, etc. That said, it's not a dealbreaker for me but it sure would be nice.

Re: Larger images!

Kevin Thompson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:59:29 GMT

Thorne:

Also, I appreciate that the portrait-oriented images are scaled to fit within the browser window, and I want it to stay that way by default. But a 2x zoom feature (that added a scrollbar for the viewer) would be nice.

Only comment I would have on that is rather than '2x', maybe a 'fit to width' with a vertical scrollbar would be nice. :)

Ok now I'm already rethinking that.. I guess depending on the width of the original, and your monitor resolution, you 'could' get a really crappy 'fit to width' if you had to enlarge it past it's original width. Maybe either option, '2x' or 'fit to width' should constrain to max width of the original.

Re: Larger images!

Thorne — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:20:04 GMT

I'm not gonna threaten to leave over this, but it IS really frustrating. I do big prints (usually 24" or more). I don't really do small prints. But the presentation here would mislead someone to believe the opposite.

On any screen I use for viewing (including my merely 15" HP laptop, let alone my cinema-ratio Macs), there is lots of wasted screen real estate that could be dedicated to my image. Strangely, the slideshow sometimes seems to take less advantage of available space than the Dim the Lights mode? Besides the need for larger sizes, it seems the current sizes aren't very optimum.

I appreciate that adding new sizes isn't trivial, but when numerous other services offer larger and more effective presentation of images, zF seems increasingly dated by comparison. Let's catch up!

Also, I appreciate that the portrait-oriented images are scaled to fit within the browser window, and I want it to stay that way by default. But a 2x zoom feature (that added a scrollbar for the viewer) would be nice.

More picture, less wasted space. Please.

Re: Larger images!

jaakko — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:25:08 GMT

I'm also standing in the deal-breaker queue when it's time to renew my subscription.

Sure, I may not find as stylished looks and easy site building tools elsewhere, but 1100px with current big monitors?! Even low-end consumer computers now come with 1920x1080/1200px resolutions so it's hard to believe that 5 % study…

Re: Larger images!

Petri — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:54:44 GMT

I do hope the upcoming Zenfolio upgrade includes a considerably larger image size. This is a deal-breaker for me also. I won't be renewing my subscription (and I know I'm not the only one) if we don't get a bigger image size (or two) very soon. And I'm talking about a larger, high-quality conversion from the uploaded original file, not a stretched full-screen image made from a current 1100-pixel file.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Re: Larger images!

JdP — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:41:21 GMT

Has there been any updates on this front in the 3+ months since this thread was last posted too?

I have been searching for a suitable host that can provide an ecommerce solution for a while. ZF fits the bill for me not least of all because it supports businesses and customers outside the US. So I set up a free trial account.

I accept the trade-off between the currently fairly limited themes/site layout options and the excellant ease of use/maintence. However I was very supprised when I created a gallery and uploaded a few images and went to "so called" full screen.

I get ZF' need to ensure they meet their own quality standards and I also get some customers being satisfied with slight image degradation. I would fall down on ZF side on this one. As a Fine Art Photographer it is critical that my images are displayed at the highest quality possible. However on the flip side it is unacceptable that the largest image available is 1100px. While ZF have completed analysis from visitors to the site and established just 5% would benefit from larger sizes my own research from visitors to my sites indicate 37% would benefit. And TBH even if it were just 5% of my visitors that would benefit I'd still want it!

At this point this is a deal-breaker for me and I may decide to continue running my own site for now and continue the search.

Re: Larger images!

slin916 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:02:43 GMT

This is great news. Zen is the top choice. Thank you Vitas. Now I am very happy. No more complaints.

Re: Larger images!

KB21 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:29:29 GMT

Awesome Vitas! Great to hear the good news. I am a happy camper.

Re: Larger images!

skysi — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:26:14 GMT

Sounds great, Vitas. That's one thing I love Zenfolio for: quick response to customers' needs. Kudos!

Re: Larger images!

Vitas [Zenfolio] — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:14:15 GMT

Please clarify the point above. The size of the uploaded original is not related with the visitor's monitor resolution and browser window size. I posted before the results of our research, which shows that the majority of viewers have the resolution of at most 1280 pixels horizontally.

In any case, this thread highlights that there are some customers who are willing to sacrifice some quality for achieving the true full-screen viewing experience. We are working on a solution that will accommodate that, as well as introduce a larger image size.

Re: Larger images!

cjnoyes — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:19:55 GMT

Considering higher resolution images being uploaded with 10meg pixels 1068 width is less than 33% of the original size

Re: Larger images!

KB21 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:54:30 GMT

I love Zen. I argue with people that Zen is better than Smugmug or anything else out there. I initially did the Smugmug 2 week preview and didn't like their design or themes. I chose Zen for a reason, but wanting the larger images I feel is a basic and reasonable request. If Zen had larger images, no else could compete with them! Let's just do that and get it done with. You won't hear another complaint from me.

Re: Larger images!

Laura — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:33:37 GMT

skysi:

To the credit of Zen folks, I have to say they've done pretty good by us since Zen's inception.

We really try, thank you for the love.