Photojunction LabFTP Beta PDF Print E-mail

It's Photojunction LabFTP Beta's job to upload your files for printing, but it has several other special features. Built-in forms ensure that the vendor knows exactly what you want done when your upload arrives (in fact the software refers to “orders” rather than “uploads”). The software checks to ensure that your files comply with your lab's specifications and warns if any of them fail to do so. It retains a complete history of all the work you upload. Finally, LabFTP's “Resume” function means you don’t need to start again if your upload link fails.

In its current beta form the software is restricted to Queensberry's printing clients. Contact Queensberry for the download URL and password you'll need to use the service.

Overview

Since version 6.2, Photojunction Retro has been able to to save to disk your Photojunction files for an album (including the printing files) ready for FTP upload. This function is also available in PJ Remix's Send Order Wizard, which saves "Bundles" of files to your hard disk for upload to your album supplier and lab. (The contents of Bundles depend on the services you want and the vendor's requirements.)

The following notes assume you are using Photojunction v6.23, the latest version of PJ Retro.

Step 1: Contact the vendor for a username, password and the download URL

You’ll need a username and password to upload to the vendor's server.

Step 2: Download and install LabFTP

Make sure you download the correct version (for Windows or Macintosh). Double click the installer file (labftpWinfull or labftpMacfull) and the wizard should guide you through the process.

To start the program for the first time on Mac go to Macintosh HD:Applications:labFTP: and double-click on LabFTP.app. On Windows click Start, then Programs (or All Programs), then open the LabFTP folder and double-click LabFTP (the application).

Step 3: Enter preferences for your preferred “lab configuration”


When you start LabFTP you’re taken to the main screen, where you’ll find a list detailing all of your previous sent and unsent orders. Obviously this will be empty the first time you use the software.

Before you can send your first orders you'll need to complete User Preferences for each "lab configuration" you want to use. These configurations (created by the lab) filter your uploads – to ensure that your files comply with the lab specifications – and include “order forms” to ensure that the lab receives from you a clear, comprehensive and unambiguous set of instructions.

Preferences are accessible from the Edit menu (Windows) or LabFTP menu (Mac) and include:

  • Your vendor account name and number, which you can get from an invoice or directly from the vendor, as well as your contact email address.

  • Your FTP login username and password (emailed to you with the download URL).

  • Your SMTP settings, which you can get from your ISP, although you may have entered these into Photojunction already: leave the authentication blank (unchecked) to start with, but you may find your ISP requires a username and password of its own.

  • There is also provision to enter Regular Print Preferences, which will be sent to the vendor with every order: you can edit these at any time.

Be sure to click Save before leaving Preferences.

Step 4: Create and upload an order

Back on the main screen, click the Add an Order button at the bottom left. You will be asked to select a Lab Configuration and then a Product Order Form. To complete your order, enter the following information on the main Order Entry screen:

  1. Enter your order reference and make service selections using the drop-down menus and check boxes. (You won’t be able upload until you’ve made these selections.)

  2. Enter any Special Instructions in the box provided (you’ll see that your Regular Preferences also appear).

  3. Drag all the image files you want printed to the top right-hand box.

  4. Drag all the other “support” files you want to upload to the bottom right box (typically your Photojunction PJF and PJT files, and your Low-Res proxy folder) to the bottom-right box.

  5. When you’re ready, click the Next button. LabFTP will check all your files for printing to ensure that they comply with our file specifications.

If LabFTP finds any problems it will report these on screen and ask you to either cancel and make the necessary changes so that your files do comply, or agree to pay any charges incurred in having Queensberry undertake this file manipulation for you.