Purchase ProofBuddy
ProofBuddy is available in a free Lite version and a Professional version. The Lite version is free for you to download, install, and use as long as you like at no charge. The Professional version of 2.1, priced at $149.95, allows for unlimited albums and images, optionally watermarks your files, and allows you to create packages and digital download products.
If you would like to have the Pro version of ProofBuddy but either do not have hosting yourself or are not comfortable installing it on your server we also have a hosted option available.
Lite vs. Pro
| Lite | Pro | |
| Albums | 10 | Unlimited |
| Images per Album | 100 | Unlimited |
| Users |  |
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| Shopping Cart | |
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| Coupons | |
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| Packages | |
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| Digital Products | |
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| Featured Link | |
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| Image Protection | ||
| JavaScript | |
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| User Verification | |
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| Watermarking | |
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| Image Labels | |
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| Transparent Overlays | |
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| Cost | Free | $149.95 |
To Register
To register ProofBuddy download and install the Lite version. There will be a 'Register' tab in the administrative section with a link to PayPal and a form to fill out. After you have paid through PayPal simply fill out the form to submit your information and I will send the files needed to convert the Lite version to the Pro version.
Note that registrations are valid for a single domain. If after registering you change domains or would like ProofBuddy on additional domains that are part of your company please contact us.
Hi! I am trying to figure out setting up my own stuff but have a slowww learning curve. I am interested in the pro version, it says to download the lite and install. You lost me there. I clicked on the download button and there came up different things to download. I hit the 2.0 I think and then it says to open or save. I saved it to my my documents and then unzipped it. But I don't know what to do from there. There are just a bunch of folders in there that I don't know what to do with. I have a host already to use.
Sorry to need probably such basic help :{
Let's do this. Go ahead and start a post on the forum and we'll work through it there. It's probably a little much for blog comments.
Alright I downloaded. Did all the steps, everything is looking good UNTIL this:
Error: shell_exec() [function.shell-exec]: Unable to execute 'convert -version'
File: D:\home\jlori.com\wwwroot\PhotoCART\user\functions.inc.php(8) : eval()'d code(3) : eval()'d code:1072
Should I do something to fix this oooorrr......???
Just sent you an email. It may be something more than we can fix through comments here.
Hi,
I am very new to all this. I want to start online proofing. How does this work? Specifically, will I get or need my own domain name for the proofing? Also, will this work if I host with godaddy.com? I am very overwhelemed.
Thank you.
We do have a hosted option available if you don't already have a site. Most of our hosted clients either don't have their own site or using something like WordPress.com or Blogger as their primary site. A few just didn't want to install, although we do have an option to install for you if you want to go that route.
If you want it on your own domain, then yes, you'll need hosting somewhere. GoDaddy Linux plans work, their Windows plans don't. It has nothing to do with what you use on your computer, so their Linux plans will do what you need.
Hello;
In the pro version of ProofBuddy are you allowed to upload images in batches larger than 10? I was also wondering if there is an option to sell additional items at a discounted price?
Thanks
Karri
Take a look at http://www.proofbuddy.com/2007/12/15/bulk-uploading-files/ . It shows how to use FTP to upload instead of the web form. Most servers have a limit of either 2 or 8 megs as a max upload size, but the FTP method gets around that.
You can also upload zips of jpegs instead of jpegs and they'll be unzipped and imported.
We're actually working on a plugin right now that would allow a discount on additional copies of the same image & print.
I'm interested in the full version but curious to have a little more information about/see how packages work in terms of from a client's perspective. Is there a demo site I can see?
A package has a set of what we call slots. Each of those slots is a specific item off of your pricing list, say a 5x7. When an item is added to the cart ProofBuddy first tries to find an empty slot to add it to.
Let's say you have a package called Package A with 5 4x6s and 2 5x7s. Client adds the package to their cart and is billed for it. They then add a single 4x6 from 10 different images. The first 5 will fill into the empty slots and the next 5 will be billed normally.
It also works the other way. The client orders 6 4x6s and 3 5x7s and then realizes that it would be cheaper to use a package so they add Package A to their cart. 5 of the 6 4x6s and 2 of the 3 5x7s are put into the package even though they were already in the cart.
Hello,
I have 3 questions regarding digital downloads.
1. I assume that files for digital downloads can be uploaded in bulk via the ftp method, is this so?
2. What is the maximum file size for download?
3. What file formats are allowed?
4. Can I set an entire album for digital download?
Thanks
Karri
1 - Yes
2 - That depends on your server and how you're uploading. ProofBuddy doesn't set a limit, but hosts have a upper limit on file sizes if you're using the Local Files option to upload. The Files on Server / FTP option shouldn't have any limits. Either way, the limit isn't coming from ProofBuddy.
3 - You can upload anything you want. By default ProofBuddy limits it to jpg, png, tif, and zip; but it's an option you can change. We have several clients that use digital attachments for PDFs.
4 - When you upload the images there's a checkbox to add a digital item to each image, but they'll still be downloaded separately. Best solution there would be have that pricing option, but not as a digital product. Then if your client orders it either email the files to them if it's relatively small or send them a link to download.
Hi Ryan,
I like to allow clients to order photo books. It's 40 pages, and they can choose up to 80 pictures. If I buy the pro proofbuddy, would there be a way to allow clients to choose the book option, and then tell me what pictures they wanted in the book? Thanks!
What I've seen users do is have their clients add what they want in the book to their favorites and then submit those favorites to you.
Packages in ProofBuddy don't look at what image is put into a package, only that one of the right item is there.
If I buy the full version - is the script still encrypted?
Yes it is. What are you trying to customize? The user side can be customized by creating a theme and the admin side can be customized through plugins.
SO when a client orders proofs, what happens? Does the photographer get the order amount and have to find a printer on their own or is the printing and delivering of photos integrated in this product. Sorry, Super new to e commerce stuff and just curious!
Correct. ProofBuddy is just the software. You get an email with the order and can use whatever printer you're comfortable with to take care of the prints.
Hi Ryan,
Just purchased the pro version and was wondering approximately when I could expect the new files?
Have some important wedding pictures i need to upload asap.
Thanks Kam
Should be in your inbox.
If I want to use the free lite version of proofbuddy, does that mean I have to have my own website that is hosted by someone ? I dont know alot about hosting and dont have my own website. I just have a blog with blogger that I currently use.+
Yes, you'll need hosting somewhere. Typically free sites don't allow uploading of scripts or access to databases, both of which ProofBuddy needs.
We do have a hosted option available. There's a link on the right side of the page with more information. Or you can sign up with a host like GoDaddy or HostGator for 5-10 bucks a month which will also give you the advantage of a main site other than blogger. If you look at hosts, typically WordPress support will mean that ProofBuddy will also work. We have a hosting board on our forum if you have questions about any specific hosts.
I have my website set up through wixx.com. They do not offer an online proof gallery. Can I use this with that sight? How does it work?
BTW.. I own the website through Godaddy. Wixx is what I used for the template.
Glad you added the part about GoDaddy. ProofBuddy does work on GoDaddy servers, if you're using a Linux account. We've had sporadic luck with their Windows servers.
How long after you buy it do you get the files needed to convert the Lite version to the Pro version?
Should be sitting in your inbox.
I am wondering the same question? When will the Pro Version be in my inbox? Do you have it set up to automatically send to inboxes when payment received?
It should be sitting in your inbox now...
I also have another question about paypal. I have paypal under my business status and they then want to do the different ways to pay... one of which is Express Checkout and they are asking for information about who is my pre-integrated shopping cart with and you are not listed under Proof Buddy or Ryan Nutty. Is this something I need to do? They also have an option where they want to give me a link set up for my buttons.....
I thought this was all done from your site, am I wrong? Do I need to do the Express Checkout or another part of PayPal? Please help... I have parents of 120 kids waiting for access today to view and pay for their children's photos (Today being 11/15) and I need this resolved ASAP.
I thought it was taken care of, but my links aren't working to paypal and maybe this will be resolved once I update with you to the Pro Version (which I did last night). Once I receive the upgrade does this take care of the paypal link?
Thank you for your help.
The only thing you should need to enter is the email address associated with your PayPal account. ProofBuddy builds a form when your visitor checks out and that's used to send the information to PayPal.
Thanks! Got all that done, but now it won't convert images to B&W.
Also, I hate to keep asking questions, but...:)
I have downloaded and activated plugin for packages. I have read several postings on how and where to set it up, but still lost. Where do I set it up? A different folder? How do I get it on the site? Any or all info would be good...Please help! Thx...
Don't worry about asking questions. But let's do this. Shoot me an email and we'll work it that way. Blogs are great, but not so good for troubleshooting.
I feel like I know computers pretty well but when I downloaded the lite version to try out, which was a folder with a lot of files. I've been looking at the readme file and I just get stuck at step 2. first, my file doesn't appear as a zipped file and I don't know how I'm supposed to upload it to my server (I have a Mac and I use Safari). I'm just really confused especially because others has commented how easy it was to set up.
On a mac you should be able to just double click the downloaded file and it'll create a folder for you and unzip everything there.
It's been a while since I tried to install this and I just attempted to try again and had the same issues. The file does not show up as being a zipped file. It's just been a super frustrating process to deal with I'm going to go with a different program.
I'm fairly confused after re-reading your comment. You mention reading the readme which means the file was unzipped.
I currently use a showit website. Can I install and use proofbuddy on my website?
I don't think so. I believe that Showit restricts what's allowed on their server so you won't be able to install 3rd party applications like ProofBuddy. There is an option where we host ProofBuddy for you.
I searched all over the site for my questions before writing this, so I apologize if it is somewhere and I totally missed it.
1) Are the themes for the Lite version or just Pro?
2) Is it 10 albums total ? Or just 10 albums at the same time?
Thanks!
It's probably buried on the forum somewhere.
1 - Themes work for either. Currently, all of our themes work the same on the Lite and Pro versions and we don't have any plans to make a "Pro only" theme.
2 - It's 10 albums at any one time. So if you've got 10 albums and you delete one or it expires then you can add another in its place. The Pro version doesn't have a limit. You can have as many albums active at a time as you like.
I've read through much of what you've posted, but I am still trying to wrap my mind around this. First, I will use the lite version. Second, I will be setting up a blog initially and use my own domain, I think through wordpress. Will this work together and how? I am just starting out and only have a few clients. thanks for the help.
Typically if WordPress works with your hosting then so will ProofBuddy. What you'll do is just link from your blog to your proofing site. The most common thing I've seen is to have a page in your blog called Proofing, Clients, or something along those lines with a link to your ProofBuddy.