Digital Downloads - Very confusing to me...

MT Stringer

I've tried to set up pricing for digital downloads but I can't figure it out.

As I understand it, when someone buys a digital download, they get it instantly and the photographer has no way of replacing the picture with the proper size.

My images are larger than 1000x1000. I have been resizing my images to 1600 pixels on the wide side which equals about 2160 on the long side. That comes out to about 3.8mb.

So, I'm stuck. Smugmug won't allow me to sell a personal digital high res image at the 4mb level because the image is only 3.8 On the other hand, I can't offer the personal digital low res image because the image is much largere than the 1mb size and prints much larger than 8x10 can be printed by the individual.

If I resize the images to the 1 mb size, then the customer is limited to the smaller sizes of prints that are available for purchase.

I don't kow how you guys do it, but it is confusing to me. I read all the info I could find in threads and the help section.

Since most of my photos are sports, I wanted to offer the personal downloads for the youngsters.

Your thoughts? All help appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

schmoo

Hi MT,

I'm a bit confused here, too, I think. So let's see if we can't work this out.

The whole purpose of us offering three different digital download sizes is so that you don't have to do any resizing yourself. Just upload the original file, whatever it is, and when you're pricing the digital download licenses just enter a zero (0.00) into the custom pricing field.

http://www.smugmug.com/help/sell-digital-downloads

This way when your customers purchase the 1 MP or the 4 MP size, that's what they get. We take care of resizing those for you! And entering zeros into any custom price field removes that item from your catalog. They won't see the option to purchase full-resolution downloads at all.

However, I think you may be confusing what the customer gets when they purchase downloads versus when they purchase prints. If you want to offer prints, then go ahead and price your prints and they can order those directly. Digital downloads are for when you want your customers to be able to have a digital copy to share with others on the web, or print the file on their own.

If this isn't more clear, please let us know and we'll be happy to explain it further.

-Steph

MT Stringer

This way when your customers purchase the 1 MP or the 4 MP size, that's what they get. We take care of resizing those for you!

Thank you, Schmoo. That is exactly what I couldn't figure out. I will go back and reprice some of my galleries to include the 1 mb personal digital download.

Thanks again.
Mike

Mdel

Hi,
This one seems pretty basic, and I'm sure there's an answer in one of these threads or help sections, but honestly I'm just not finding it anywhere. I'm offering the 4Mpix digi download option to clients, what size is this safe for them to print to on their own?
Thanks in advance.
Maureen

Andy

Mdel wrote: »

Hi,
This one seems pretty basic, and I'm sure there's an answer in one of these threads or help sections, but honestly I'm just not finding it anywhere. I'm offering the 4Mpix digi download option to clients, what size is this safe for them to print to on their own?
Thanks in advance.
Maureen

What size prints do you want them to make?

Mdel

Exactly. When putting this in my price sheet, I'd like to feel comfortable saying something like "digi images for printing images sized at XXX or smaller"... or something along those lines as far as the wording. What is the largest a client could print that 4mpix the file is made available at? Basically, I just want to make them aware that the file will is meant for a certain size print or smaller.

Andy

Mdel wrote: »

Exactly. When putting this in my price sheet, I'd like to feel comfortable saying something like "digi images for printing images sized at XXX or smaller"... or something along those lines as far as the wording. What is the largest a client could print that 4mpix the file is made available at? Basically, I just want to make them aware that the file will is meant for a certain size print or smaller.

OK Lots of info here This: http://smu.gs/rfb8LR
and here: http://smu.gs/mYzaFE

Mdel

Thanks, Andy. I previously read through the first link you have there, and just read through the other. "most reasonable sizes" is what it says, doesn't note print size restrictions, so I'm going to just leave notes out my price sheet on it and let it be. The pixel size is pretty big, so I can't imagine there will be issues.

Andy

Mdel wrote: »

Thanks, Andy. I previously read through the first link you have there, and just read through the other. "most reasonable sizes" is what it says, doesn't note print size restrictions, so I'm going to just leave notes out my price sheet on it and let it be. The pixel size is pretty big, so I can't imagine there will be issues.

Very likely not - if they want to go big (over say, 11x14) you'd want to sell them the original image.

jchin

IMHO ... people who go cheap would print a 8x10 from a 1mpixel image. I've seen some online sites (like Walgreen) only requires 900x720 to print a 8x10 (ref: http://walgreens.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/77/~/what-is-the-best-resolution-for-my-photos%3F). The prints quality is low and then the customer blames the photographer for bad photos. Not a way I want to present myself; it becomes bad press. This is the reason I've not been selling digital prints on smugmug, it basically kills my print sales and may hurt my reputation.

SamirD

jchin wrote: »

IMHO ... people who go cheap would print a 8x10 from a 1mpixel image. I've seen some online sites (like Walgreen) only requires 900x720 to print a 8x10 (ref: http://walgreens.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/77/~/what-is-the-best-resolution-for-my-photos%3F). The prints quality is low and then the customer blames the photographer for bad photos. Not a way I want to present myself; it becomes bad press. This is the reason I've not been selling digital prints on smugmug, it basically kills my print sales and may hurt my reputation.

Yep. I take this stance as well. When someone sees a medicore or bad photo of yours, it makes as much an impression, if not more, on your entire body of work. I want every shot to wow the client--even if the camera they have in their hands is much better than mine.