Need your ideas.... (dynamic picture frame)

[VB Programmer]

I am creating an online, interactive, art gallery using ASP.NET.

I want the user to be able to select (1) a frame type & size, (2) a matte
type & color and (3) a picture. I will then display what it would look like
together and they can purchase it online. It's kind of like an interactive
framining page.

What do you suggest is the best way to dynamically switch these looks?
There could be literally hundreds of combinations.

3 Images (1 for frame, 1 for matte, 1 for picture) on top of each other?
Panels? Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Simon Harris]

How about a 9x9 cell table, with the outer cells holding images of the
chosen frame, the inner one cell holding the image of the picture.

Obviously you'd have to chop your frame into 9 chunks, the top/bottom/side
edges could be repeating background of 1px, this would then work for
pictures of various sizes.

Still be a lot of on going work, chopping the frames up when ever a new one
is available.

 

[billmiami2]

This can be accomplished simply with absolution positioning. Absolute
positioning will enable you to move each of the images directly over
one another. You may use z-index, layer or other browser equivalents
to control which image goes on top, but I think that simply ordering
the images (i.e. frame, matte, picture) will give you the desired
effect.

You may implement absolute positioning by setting the class for your
images and then defining the class in your stylesheet, defining classes
in the page or directly assigning a style to each element as in

<img id=imgframe src="images/frame.gif"
style="position:absolute;top:20;left:20;" />

although in your case, the image would probably be a server control
(runat=server) and would have its src and possible style set
programmatically.

Bill E.
Hollywood, FL

 

[clintonG]

I did some rough design notes for this project a year or so ago.

Aside from the ability to continue to use web controls for the type and size
selections the presentation tier would be done on the client using DHTML and
the DOM which is the only reasonable way to manage the 'layering' and
positioning of the art work, matting and frame(s).

AJAX - A(synchronous) JA(vascript) X(ML) - would be the ideal way to
dynamically access and change the display of matté and frame(s) because AJAX
(and similar methodologies) supports the functionality of doing so without
needing to refresh the entire page.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
METROmilwaukee (sm) "A Regional Information Service"
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL http://metromilwaukee.com/
URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/