Printing photos on Shutterfly

Shutterfly has a business solution which allows one to set their own retail prices for printing photos. Does anyone know how to add the partner ID that you get from Shutterfly to achieve this from Gallery?

Thanks,

- Mark

Bharat,

Here is what I got from Shutterfly. I am not a developer, so I do not know exactly what you use, but I have pasted their API below. I am not sure how similar this is to what Gallery uses already. I certainly would like the ablility to enter a "partner ID" and thus generate a bit of cash on the side for those who make prints from my site. (Fund raising for food distrubution program).

Thanks,

-Zuggie

Shutterfly Click-for-Prints (C4P) Premium API
Last updated 8/27/02

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Protocol:
The C4P protocol is an "add-to-cart" protocol. Shutterfly implements all the shopping cart pages and the partner site uses the C4P protocol to add an image to the Shutterfly-hosted cart.
The shopping cart pages implemented by Shutterfly allow the user to set print quantities (of different sizes), specify their shipping and billing information, and place the order. After the order is placed, Shutterfly handles all the e-commerce transactions, customer communication, and order fulfillment.
The C4P protocol is based on HTTP form post with hidden name-value pairs.
Shutterfly uses a session cookie to maintain the shopping cart state from page-to-page and when the user goes back to partner site to select more images.
If the user does go back to select more images, the partner site should not include previously selected images in the new post - the previous images will already be in the user's C4P shopping cart. The subsequent communication between the partner site and the Shutterfly C4P cart should be one of "adding to cart".
Shutterfly currently only prints JPEG images. Partner should prevent non-JPEG images from being selected for posting to the C4P service.
To allow Shutterfly to properly fulfill orders, partners must not delete images (even if user specifies deletion) for 96 hours after an order is placed. Possible solutions that can be used: copy to "print" cache, lock so can't be deleted, delete from user's account but don't remove from image archive, etc.
The image URLs passed to Shutterfly C4P server must never be reused for different images (else Shutterfly could pull an image from its C4P cache thinking the new order is a reorder for a previously printed image). Specifically, the image URL for each image should be unique for that image.
The Shutterfly C4P service doesn't pull over the thumbnail images - the posted thumbnail URLs are just inserted into the first page of the C4P process (the "order details" page).

Parameters: Field Description Name Need Chars
command type The active command for the post. Current value is "1". Included so as to be able to support multiple commands in the future. addim required 8
protocol The protocol being used and the version of that protocol. Current value is "SFP,100". protocol required 8
partner ID Current value is "C4PP". pid required 8
partner sub ID Will be provided. For testing only, use the value "TEST". psid required 8
number of images Number of images in post to be included in order. imnum required 8
high res image URLs List of URLs for the high resolution jpegs of the images to be ordered. imraw-# required 128
thumbnail res image URLs List of URLs for the thumbnail resolution jpegs of the images to be ordered. These will be re-used on order pages. imthumb-# required 128
selected images Useful if partner has many images on a form page and uses javascript to select/deselect images. Allows long list to be included in post with isolation of images that should be included in order. Use "0" if not in order and "1" if image should be included in order. This tag is typically the name of a checkbox in an HTML form. imsel-# required 1
high res image height The height, in pixels, of the raw images. Used to warn user about print quality. imrawheight-# required 16
high res image width The width, in pixels, of the raw images. Used to warn user about print quality. imrawwidth-# required 16
thumbnail image height The height, in pixels, of the thumbnail images. Used to set space in HTML pages. imthumbheight-# required 16
thumbnail image width The width, in pixels, of the thumbnail images. Used to set space in HTML pages. imthumbwidth-# required 16
image backprint text Text to be printed on the back of each photo. Can be surfaced for a user message or set by default.. Max length on print is 60 characters (any more gets truncated). imbkprnta-# optional 64
return URL URL that should be used to return user to pages on partner site where user selected images. returl required 128

Samples:

Simple C4P post:

<form action="http://www.shutterfly.com/c4p/UpdateCart.jsp" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="addim" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="protocol" value="SFP,100">
<input type="hidden" name="pid" value="C4PP">
<input type="hidden" name="puid" value="TEST">
<input type="hidden" name="imnum" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="imraw-1" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/12345.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawheight-1" value="1800">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawwidth-1" value="1200">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumb-1" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/12345_thumb.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbheight-1" value="150">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbwidth-1" value="100">
<input type="hidden" name="returl" value="http://www.partner.com/alice">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

Complex C4P Post with multiple images:

<form action="http://www.shutterfly.com/c4p/UpdateCart.jsp" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="addim" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="protocol" value="SFP,100">
<input type="hidden" name="pid" value="C4PP">
<input type="hidden" name="psid" value="TEST">
<input type="hidden" name="imnum" value="2">
<input type="hidden" name="imsel-1" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="imraw-1" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/12345.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumb-1" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/12345_thumb.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawheight-1" value="1800">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawwidth-1" value="1200">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbheight-1" value="150">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbwidth-1" value="100">
<input type="hidden" name="imbkprnta-1" value="Jane and John hiking">
<input type="hidden" name="imsel-2" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="imraw-2" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/6789.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumb-2" value="http://images.partner.com/foo/6789_thumb.jpg">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawheight-2" value="480">
<input type="hidden" name="imrawwidth-2" value="640">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbheight-2" value="120">
<input type="hidden" name="imthumbwidth-2" value="160">
<input type="hidden" name="imbkprnta-2" value="Photos by Robert Smith Photography">
<input type="hidden" name="returl" value="http://www.partner.com/alice">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

Issues:

Security. High resolution images will be fetched by the Shutterfly print fulfillment lab when the images are to be printed. These images are fetched from firefly.shutterfly.com. One method of restricting access to high resolution images would be to only allow access from firefly.shutterfly.com. Shutterfly does not currently support any HTTP authentication schemes. Thumbnail images are not fetched by the Shutterfly servers at any time; the URLs are included in the HTML pages and fetched by the user's browser directly.
Cropping. Shutterfly will automatically crop the high-resolution image to fit the aspect ratio of the print. The cropping algorithm crops from the top (vertically) when the image is too tall. When the image is too wide, the cropping algorithm retains only the middle section (horizontally).

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Is it possible to put my own customer ID in? Where would I do it if so?

If you want to get something out of the deal Bharat, you need to set your own pricing with them. I suppose that you could make it default that your ID gets passed with a markup price which would generate a small income for Gallery for all those who use the defaults. Otherwise, if there is someone like myself trying to do some fundraising, there is the option to change it.

Can you tell me if it is possible for me to do this and where?

Thaks.

Bharat,

Yes, that is what I am saying. They DO have a program for this... Here is the letter I got from their sales rep.

+This is a free to setup service for websites who have visitors who want prints
+of images in your galleries. It is also a way for you to earn revenue on your
+digital artwork because you will have the option to set your own pricing. If
+you want to set your own pricing our business model typically is that we will
+keep the cost to make the print ( normal shutterfly pricing of 4x6 $.49, 5x7
+$.99, 8x10 $3.99, and wallets (sheet of 4) $1.79) plus 10% of the retail or
+markup price and send you the difference at the end of the quarter. Of course
+you can elect to just have Shutterfly print your images at our standard pricing
+and have this as a great service that you provide your visitors.

You have to generate $250.00 a quarter, but if not, they just wait till the next quarter to send it to you. So if you set the price of .59 cents instead of .49 cents of a 4x6, they will keep a penny of that profit, plus their original .49 cents and send you the rest.

In the meantime, could you tell me where, if possible I would replace your customer ID with mine?

If you like, I can send you the e-mail of the sales rep and you could set your own pricing, that way by default, anyone who installs gallery and uses shutterfly, and people print pics from the site, it will generate a small revenue, (who knows, depending upon the install base, it could be a decent income), the gallery people would get it which would help with dev costs. Otherwise people could go through the trouble of getting their own ID, or it could be an option in ./configure mode in the future.

At any rate, I am ready with my customer ID if you can help me get it in there.

Thanks,

- Zuggie

Has anyone followed up on C4P (Click for Prints) and gotten it to work with your own account information and pricing?

After much back and forth with Shutterfly "yes you can, no you can't, here are the files" (same as posted above--same as already in Gallery) I received a disappointing e-mail today from Lance at Shutterfly:

"Hi Carl,

You should really take a look at our Pro Galleries www.shutterfly.com/pro

This service is specifically built for event photographers and you can use it in conjunction with your Gallery software and also add an affiliate program to your website.

The c4p service now carries a hefty $965 pricetag to integrate and its the same as Gallery, without the ability for you to charge your customers more...which is exactly what you can do with the Sfly Pro Galleries.

Let me know any other questions,
Lance"

1. Their webpage specifically says: "...you can choose to have standard Shutterfly pricing or customize the pricing. We will track and pay you your share of the revenue..."

2. I don't understand a $965 charge for integrating something that is already there! As far as I can tell only the partner subid need be changed for this to be a workable solution.

I've spoken w/Manager Customer Service at Shutterfly and am waiting for a call from one of their salesmen and engineers. He doesn't think they ever implemented the custom pricing. He also thinks the $995 would be to modify my software (not required). I will post back what they say.

If they won't play ball we need another solution. With the force behind Gallery I can't see why they wouldn't play ball. Every sale at increased cost nets them a percentage.

Regards,
Carl

Beckett,

Please clarify something for me. My understanding from Shutterfly and from Bharat's posts is that the Gallery project is NOT getting any money...that the link is being ignored.

With the affiliates program where are you hosting your prints? Are you encouraging your customers to join shutterfly before placing an order from your site? From their literature, the only way you get a commission is if your affiliates link was the last way they entered shutterfly before signing up (and placing the order?).

I think I understand the affiliate program, but my understanding from talking to the Business Solutions guy (Lance Dildine) at Shutterfly is that they are distinctly different. ie. C4P customers never "login" to Shutterfly, thus do not qualify you for the linkshare kickback. I, too, was interested in implementing that feature.

They failed to call me back today and a follow up call netted me zero so far. I have noticed a trend of poor customer support at PhotoReflect and now at Shutterfly. What gives? The guy I spoke with today (Steve Walker, manager Customer Service) said they print somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 4x6 prints per day on one of 13 Fuji Frontiers. (These are like the machines you see in your local Walmart or Costco).

I tried to give him an idea of the userbase that Gallery has--which he should already know--and indicated that they should want to find a workable solution.

FWIW I placed a photo order from my site last night and it works fine. Steve even told me where my order was in the print queue while I was on the phone with him.

I feel like I'm soooo close and can't get there.

Regards,
Carl

P.S.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001Fpb
The last entry in the above link may lead the way to doing both C4P and get the affiliate bonus. I will continue to follow up directly with Shutterfly, but this deserves some exploration.

Beckett,

Thanks for the clarification! I'm having a tough time just talking to the right people at Shutterfly right now. From conversations so far, the only way to take advantage of the Pro System is for them to host your images on Pro Galleries--at a fee or $99/$149/$169 per year. I'm already paying for my website, so I don't want to get hit twice.

Your post gives me some hope. So far the email traffic has been sparse and confusing. I just sent it your way.

For all the trouble I would almost rather just print my own and keep the profits. I've been eyeing the PayPal scripts out there...

Regards,
Carl

Last rant and I'll shut up!

Heard back from Printroom. They're willing to work with the price if you host the images.

I also had a long productive conversation with Shutterfly. When I finally got ahold of Lance he was able to explain everything to me and was more than helpful. I'm still not sure what direction to head, but he gave me some good things to think about.

Shutterfly were unaware of the amount of traffic this topic has generated. Perhaps they'll pop in for a visit.

In any event, I plan to PayPal a chunk of change into the Gallery fund when things get settled.

Regards,
Carl

Many thanks to Bharat and Beckett!
I've made a little PayPal contribution to the Gallery cause.
You should also be hearing from Chris Hooks at Printroom.

I came across some discussion that integrated Shutteryfly's affiliate program (through Linkshare) and what appears to be their "free" shared galleries. The link mentioned in the post is dead, and I had no luck with a follow-up e-mail. This allows you to benefit from signing up people with Shutterfly, but does not allow you to set prices. It does allow for an easy way to generate a little revenue while sharing your photos. It would also require duplicating efforts in uploading to both sites, though it would be nearly transparent to your visitors.

How hard would this be to pull off?

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fet ... _id=001Fpb

The meat of the post (dated Feb 2001) is quoted here:
"I'm the affiliate program manager at LinkShare Client Services and work with Shutterfly. There are two ways to address your inquiry, one pretty simple and one a bit more complicated.

The simplest way would be to create a link that would send your visitors to Shutterfly to receive their promotional prints. Your affiliate code will carry your site ID and Shutterfly will capture that along with the registration information of your customer. You will receive a $2 bounty for the initial order (including the 25 promotional prints) that your customers place. In order to give them access to ordering hard prints, you can upload your images to your Shutterfly account and then create an open share (non-password protected). This will create a URL that you can build into your image link, e.g., a href="Shutterfly share URL" img src="Your picture.jpg". This will take the visitor to a share page on Shutterfly with a thumbnail of your picture and they can then go through the order process. This can be kind of messy for the end-user if you want to build an affiliate link that they need to register through first.

If you are more technically oriented, please see this site for information on how to build a Perl script that will create albums on your site and a buy button that drive the end user directly to an order page. Much cleaner, but you'll need to hardcode a bit to include affiliate linking. http://www.mikespice.com/perl/and click on the readme for My Photo Gallery."

Thanks again,
Carl

I've been a customer of ezprints.com for years (it's ezprints.com -- not ezprint.com) -- has there been any update on this? I'd definitely recommend ezprints, as they offer many more options than shutterfly.

Brad,

Bharat is the man. Send him a PM using this link: http://gallery.menalto.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=privmsg&mode=post&u=8

I'm trying to integrate gallery with EZ Prints also. Has anyone actually done it yet? Is it something that may happen with G2? Or is it just a pipe dream? If it isnt possible I may have to look for alternatives, and I really dont want to do that!

Actually, yes.
We plan to have EZ Prints running for the 1.4.1 release.
We're currently working out the account details with Brad.

-Beckett (

)

muskiediver, you mean "can we generate revenue FROM Shutterfly" right?

And Beckett, any updates on the EZ prints situtation?

Cheers,

Shutterfly: I don't know what the situation is with this. Presumably you can just substitute in your own C4P username? I really don't know the details.

EZ Prints: there's now support for EZ Prints from 1.4.1-cvs-b104 onwards. Right now, we get a small revenue (I believe) from each purchase. Unfortunately, unlike the other services, EZ Prints requires us to be a little more "involved" in the ordering scheme, but we're working on improving this.

I'm also looking for volunteers willing to spend some time "cleaning up" the interface of the EZ Prints store. The "out-of-box" layout is pretty sloppy... I'm not sure why they don't provide a "nice looking" interface out of box... but if someone wants to help out, please contact me.

-Beckett (

)

bump.

any to make money off of printing services yet?

thanks