Image Manipulation with ColdFusion

[Albion]

I am creating a photo album in Cold Fusion. The problem I have is image manipulation. My code is able to upload images and add information to a database for the display. The problem I have is that most users are not savey enough to know how to manipulate the images, such as resizing a 5meg 1280x1024 image to a more reasonable size for viewing on a web page.

I have done some searching on the net for a way to do it but I can't find a way. My problem here is that I am constrained to using the web service providers Cold Fusion server. With that I cannot add any type of plugins to the server so I need something that will work on the client side.

So, without requiring a user to purchase a $200 image manipulation program such as PaintShop Pro or even Photoshop and/or teaching them how to use it, is there any way I can program a CF client to change the image size on the fly while uploading?

Thanks

-Al

 

[webmigit]

Javascript can resize the dimensions for you, but it won't change the image, it will just display a different size..

ALFII.com

http://www.alfii.com

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[TruthInSatire]

I use this. it's $50 but does a lot with your image. I use it for thumbnails. I've posted this on other threads too. It's quick, easy and very reliable, never had a problem with it.

http://www.alagad.com/index.cfm/name-aic

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

 

[Bammy217]

Hi Albinon,

What you're looking for is: cfx_GifGD and it's evolution: cfx_image, so far the most powerfull image manipulation tools i have found on the web...

try cfx_GifGD, there is a full reference posted here

and the tag can be gotten here

Enjoy
B.

We never fail, we just find that the path to succes is never quite what we thought...

 

[TruthInSatire]

cfx_GifGD and it's evolution: cfx_image, so far the most powerfull image manipulation tools i have found on the web...

You didn't go to the alagad site then did you?


Alagad is more powerful, has more options, features and you get better quality images. I've used both, so i can speak with authority.

If you do decide to use cfx_gifGD download the cfx_image instead (if you're using MX). CFX_gifGD crashes the MX server pretty hard when trying to read some JPG images. it causes cf to loose all sessions and everything on EVERY website not just the site the crash occured on.

I emailed him about it, and although he did respond with the cfx_image fix it took two months. Alagads support will probably be much faster. (I'm assuming, i've never needed it.)

For a free program, it can't be beat. If i didn't need a tax write off I'd still be using it probably. However now that i've used alagads' I would rather pay the $50/license.

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

 

[ecobb]

My problem here is that I am constrained to using the web service providers Cold Fusion server. With that I cannot add any type of plugins to the server so I need something that will work on the client side.

That's going to make things tough. You won't be able to use any of the cfx tags mentioned above if you can't install anything (like .dll's) on the server.

bombboy's solution sounds perfect for you, here's quote taken from the page in the link he supplied:

The Alagad Image Component is a 100% native ColdFusion Component used to create and manipulate image files. Written entirely in ColdFusion CFML, the Image Component does not require installation of any additional software. The Image Component is not a CFX tag and is not Platform dependant.

I'm actually thinking about getting it myself.



Hope This Helps!

Ecobb
Beer Consumption Analyst

"My work is a game, a very serious game." - M.C. Escher

 

[TruthInSatire]

ECOBB is exactly right. You don't have to have your host provider install it.

If you want to use the Image Component in only one website, copy the Image.cfc file into the website’s root or any directory under your web site’s root.

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

 

[DrumAt5280]

SimulatedFun,

I respect your opinion a lot on this forum and i am looking at the Alagad Image Component for a couple of my sites. However i am also looking for a bit more than Alagad has to offer, i am looking for a front end that is "bullet proof".

I currently use CFX_Image (poor image results) and i have a pretty lame front end for it built. (users complain they can't upload sometimes, and my error checking is poor)

I would be interested in your front-end that you use with the Alagad product. If you don't mind sharing your front end, i can post all my lame front-end code that i use currently on this site:

http://www.boulder-fsbo.com.

My Boulder-FSBO site has a front-end that allows the user to upload jpg's or gif's, resizes them, creates a thumbnail and then compresses them.

Just let me know and i can post my spaghetti code here on this thread.

 

[TruthInSatire]

DrumAt5280,
I'd be happy to help you by showing my code however I'd rather not post it all over TT. we can try to fix your code or you can contact me via my webform on

http://www.cannedradio.com

and i'll share my code and coding methods.

somethings you want to think about is

users complain they can't upload sometimes, and my error checking is poor

Why can't they upload? do they give reasons, or errors? what types of errors do you get that you're not sure how to trap for?

if you want to post your code you should probably do it in a new thread.

Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand. - Putt's Law

 

[TruthInSatire]

sorry i was unable to get back to you. I got your second email but didn't get a chance to respond. Yes i think it would be best to use your existing code and mod it to fit with alagad. the only thing that should change is the small script from cfx_image to the alagad component.

as far as your error trapping goes a second thread would be good for the benefit of all the other TT members. be sure to include the problems you're having and the errors your users get.



We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

 

[imstillatwork]

OK.
Here is what to use.

It is FREE and AMAZING quality. Based on ImageMagick, by the creator of CF_Image

http://www.kolumbus.fi/jukka.manner/cfx_openimage/

cfx_openimage

Simply Awesome and FREE.

The resizes and thumbnails are so smooth. a million times better then cf_image.

ok. have at it.