Q&A product photo guidelines: Technical Aspects 

1. What is a reference code (i.e. photo ID)?
A photo ID consists of: 
- The company code of your company (GLN) that is filled in automatically by your software package or by the central image bank.
- A maximum of 13 alphanumeric characters. You make your own code with these characters. Create a code that you will find easy to use. For instance, add a serial number, article code or grading characteristic.

2. Can one photo ID code be used for more than one photo? No.

3. Can I make a link to a characteristic value?
This differs per software package. For more information, consult the user's manual you received from your software provider.

4. What is better: an automatic ID code or a standard ID code per product?
If you are using a photo module, your software package will always generate an ID code for you which is sent together with the EAB. You do not need to do anything. If you are uploading your product photos to the central image bank manually, you can use a standard ID that you have created yourself. Be sure to include a version number, too, in this ID. This will help the code remain unique and allow you to use new photos in the future. It is also possible to add the auction date to the standard ID code when uploading photos manually. In this case, the ID would consist of: 'yymmdd'-product code-serial number. This order is also easy to remember.

5. How will I know that my lot photo has been shown on the auction clock front and on KOA?
The photo ID used to auction the lot is stated under the lot information included in the EPT/EDA that you receive daily from FloraHolland. Your software can check that the photo ID of the auctioned product is the same as the photo you submitted. 

6. How can I change the size of an image file?
Photos that end up in the central image bank have a maximum size of 100 kB. If you submit a photo with a higher resolution, the number of kilo or megabytes will be reduced automatically. Photos larger than 5 MB will be refused.

7. FloraHolland talks about 'supplier photos', but my software package lists 'assortment image' or 'lot photo'. Which one should I choose?
Choose 'lot photo' if you are taking representative photos daily. If you take a photo several times annually and use them for multiple lots, choose 'assortment image'. Since the creation of the new 'central image bank', the terms 'lot photo' and 'assortment image' are no longer used. 

8. What is the difference between a supplier photo and a commercial photo?
You can now choose between 'supplier photo' and 'commercial photo' in your software system. Supplier photos are shown on the auction clock front and commercial photos are submitted as extras. Commercial photos do not need to comply with the product photo guidelines. Buyers can include commercial and supplier photos in their own web shops.

9. I always use 'S 96', but I no longer see a photo.
Your old photos have been moved to another location. You can find these photos by clicking the 'Import my old photos' button. In Aalsmeer, old photos can still be found by the auction system automatically until mid-2011. Afterwards, old photos will be deleted from the archive. Be sure to migrate your old photos to a new photo with a photo ID. You can read how this works in the user's manual. Note: your old photos have no photo IDs and will not be made available to your customers to assist purchasing through their web shops. You will be missing an opportunity to present your company to the end customer.

10.Can I perhaps create a test lot with the EAB to see if the photo comes over well?
It is not possible to submit a test lot. However, FloraHolland's new software provides better feedback on your submitted photos to your software package. Your software package guarantees that the correct photo ID is submitted with the EAB. If you manually upload product photos to the central image bank and you create your photo ID yourself, we cannot check whether or not your photo ID exists. 

11. Is it possible that my photo does not appear on the auction clock front even though I uploaded it to the central image bank?
Yes, this can happen when the coupling between the photo and the EAB is incorrect. Check that the ID has been filled in correctly and in the right place.

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