product images, zoom functionality

[AffiliateDreamer]

Can someone shed some light on how once can go about getting that product image zooming functionality.

Is there software one can buy or is this a service you have to pay for?

Has anyone trasitioned from normal images to 'zoomable' images and noticed a increase in their conversions?

[oldpro]

I sometimes use simple javascript to open a smaller window with the image enlarged. It does seem to help with conversions. The zoom thingys I have seen only enlarge by about 20%...I don't know how it is done though.

[rocknbil]

The "organic" way: If the image exceeds the browser window, both IE and FireFox will size the image to the window and provide a zoom tool. This will not work within an html page, it has to be a link to a raw image.

The method oldpro explains is not really a "zoom" method, but it's one I also employ - if you structure your Javascript correctly it will work whether Javascript is disabled or not. Either with a new window or another page, show a larger version. If your products warrant larger views it is a definate plus, I cannot help on conversions because I wouldn't think of creating an image-based site without it (I've always used it.)

The only other zoom method I know of would involve Flash or a technology called DejaVu, either of which require plug ins and affect your site accessibility.

[AffiliateDreamer]

Actually what I am referring to is this, some pretty high quality sites have a image zoom feature. The zoom feature is I think written in flash.

Know what I'm talking about?

[pageoneresults]

Are you referring to Zoom On Demand?

[AffiliateDreamer]

pageone,

Yeah that seems to be the type of zooming I am referring to. There must be quite a few software packages out there and I just thought you guys would have some advice on which services/software package is the best.

[pageoneresults]

I pretty much stick to the tried and true. In most shopping cart environments that I work with, we have 3 images. A thumbnail, then a medium sized image for the product page and then a large image which can be viewed in a new window. We utilize a javascript popup that is sized to the image. This way those who want, can easily print it if they need to. I don't know if those image zooming tools give you that capability. I've not had a request yet for zoom on demand.

Another thing I have to look at is image search. I want to make sure that I have individual images that can be indexed and found in image search. I need that file name, the file size, etc.

[corbing]

There are a bunch of companies doing "Rich Media" applications that you can buy. The magazine that does nothing but cover the industry in this subforum (ecommerce) has a great resource guide and one of the areas of that resource guide is "Rich Media". It should give you a starting point for your research.

[AffiliateDreamer]

thanks for all your replies! (as always)

[cxlasl]

Depending on your budget Scene7 has some real nice technology. I use it on 1 of my sites. If the original image is around 2000pixels, you get multiple zoom levels with clarity that is life like. Not to mention the ability to "move" the images in all directions.

[corbing]

Here a bunch of commercial solutions that might help you. Hopefully this link is allowed since it doesn't go to any one solution?

[internetretailer.com...]

[edited by: tedster at 12:02 am (utc) on Jan. 2, 2007]