Media Profiles

Configure image sizing, formats, and optimization profiles for different use cases.

Media Profiles define how images are processed and displayed in different parts of the system. Each profile automatically resizes, formats, and optimizes images for specific purposes.

Understanding Media Profiles

A Media Profile is a processing template that defines:

• Target Size: Width and height dimensions
• Format: JPG, PNG, WebP, or auto-select
• Quality: Compression level (0-100%)
• Aspect Ratio: How to handle scaling (fit, fill, stretch)
• Optimization: Progressive JPG, interlacing, etc.

When you upload an image to Media Library, profiles automatically create optimized versions for different uses.

Standard Profiles

Product Thumbnail

Purpose: Small preview images in product listings

• Size: 200×200 pixels
• Format: JPG or WebP
• Quality: 85%
• Aspect Ratio: Square (fill if needed)
• Use Case: POS product search, category listings

Product Detail

Purpose: Larger product images for detail screens

• Size: 600×600 pixels
• Format: JPG or WebP
• Quality: 90%
• Aspect Ratio: Square (recommended)
• Use Case: Product information display, customer facing

Receipt Logo

Purpose: Company logo on receipts

• Size: 600×200 pixels
• Format: PNG (preserves transparency)
• Quality: 100% (lossless)
• Aspect Ratio: Custom (3:1 ratio)
• Use Case: Receipt header logo, branding

Receipt Image

Purpose: General images on receipts

• Size: 800×600 pixels
• Format: PNG or JPG
• Quality: 95%
• Aspect Ratio: Maintain original
• Use Case: Receipt graphics, promotional images

Display/Banner

Purpose: Large banner images

• Size: 1920×1080 pixels
• Format: JPG or WebP
• Quality: 85%
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 widescreen
• Use Case: Promotional banners, signage

Creating Custom Profiles

Access Profile Settings

1. Navigate to Admin → Media → Media Profiles
2. Click New Profile or select existing to edit
3. Configure settings (see below)
4. Save profile

Profile Settings

Basic Information:

• Name - Unique identifier (e.g., "product-thumb-small")
• Description - What this profile is used for
• Active - Enable/disable this profile

Image Dimensions:

• Width - Pixel width (e.g., 300)
• Height - Pixel height (e.g., 300)
• Resize Mode - How to handle size mismatches:
• Fit - Resize keeping aspect ratio (add padding if needed)
• Fill - Resize to fill area (crop if needed)
• Stretch - Resize to exact size (may distort)
• Crop - Crop to exact size (no padding)

Format & Compression:

• Format - Output file format:
• JPG - Good for photos (smaller file size)
• PNG - Good for graphics/logos (supports transparency)
• WebP - Modern format (smaller, better quality)
• Auto - Choose based on original format
• Quality - Compression level 0-100:
• 100% - No compression (largest files)
• 90% - Minimal visible loss (good balance)
• 80% - Acceptable for most uses (smaller files)
• 70% - Noticeable loss (very small files)

Advanced Options:

• Progressive JPG - Load gradually (for web display)
• Interlaced PNG - Render progressively
• Strip EXIF - Remove photo metadata (privacy)
• Auto-Rotate - Correct orientation from camera
• Thumbnail - Generate small preview automatically

How Profiles Work

When Image is Uploaded

1. Original file saved to Media Library (preserved)
2. System checks which profiles reference this image
3. For each profile:
4. Resizes to profile dimensions
5. Converts to configured format
6. Applies compression
7. Saves as cached version
8. Cached versions used for display

When Profile Changes

When you update a profile:

1. System marks cached versions as outdated
2. Next access regenerates the image
3. Original file unchanged
4. No manual action needed

Updating Existing Images

If you change a profile:

• Automatic regeneration - Images regenerated on first access
• Bulk regenerate - Option to regenerate all immediately
• Original preserved - Can change profile anytime

Usage Examples

Using Profiles in Configuration

In System → Branding:

1. Upload logo to Media Library
2. Select receipt-logo profile for display
3. System automatically resizes to 600×200px
4. Receipt displays optimized version

In Inventory → Item Masters:

1. Upload product photo (large)
2. System creates versions using:
3. product-thumbnail (200×200) for listings
4. product-detail (600×600) for product screen
5. POS uses appropriate version for each context

Profile Recommendations

For Product Images

If most products are square photos:

Product Thumbnail:
- Size: 200×200 pixels
- Format: JPG (85% quality)
- Mode: Fill (crops to square)

Product Detail:
- Size: 600×600 pixels 
- Format: JPG (90% quality)
- Mode: Fill (crops to square)

If products have varied aspect ratios:

Product Thumbnail:
- Size: 200×200 pixels
- Format: JPG (85% quality)
- Mode: Fit (adds padding)

Product Detail:
- Size: 600×600 pixels
- Format: JPG (90% quality) 
- Mode: Fit (adds padding)

For Receipts

Logo on receipt header:

Receipt Logo:
- Size: 600×200 pixels
- Format: PNG (100%, preserve transparency)
- Mode: Fit (maintains aspect ratio)

Images in receipt body:

Receipt Image:
- Size: 800×600 pixels
- Format: PNG or JPG (95% quality)
- Mode: Fit (maintains aspect ratio)

For Web/Display

Large banner images:

Display Banner:
- Size: 1920×1080 pixels
- Format: WebP (85% quality, auto-fallback to JPG)
- Mode: Fill (crops to exact ratio)

Performance Optimization

Choosing Quality Levels

Quality	Best For	File Size	Visible Loss
100%	Logos, text, detail	Large	None
95%	Receipts, quality images	Medium	Minimal
90%	Product thumbnails	Medium-Small	Slight
85%	General use, thumbnails	Small	Noticeable
80%	Low-priority images	Very Small	Obvious

Format Recommendations

• JPG - Photos, complex images (good compression)
• PNG - Logos, graphics, text (lossless, supports transparency)
• WebP - Best compression, modern browsers (use with JPG fallback)

File Size Tips

For faster POS operation:

• Use JPG format (not PNG) for photos
• Quality 85-90% for most uses
• Reasonable dimensions (not 4000px wide)
• Compress before uploading (don't rely on profile compression)

Troubleshooting

Image Looks Wrong in POS

Blurry or stretched: - Profile mode may be stretching image - Change to "Fit" instead of "Fill" - Ensure source image resolution is adequate

Wrong dimensions: - Check profile size settings - Profile may not be applied - Clear browser cache and refresh

Taking long to load: - Image file may be too large - Profile quality too high - Check network connection

Profile Not Being Used

1. Verify profile is Active (enabled)
2. Check image was uploaded after profile created
3. Profile only applies to images uploaded afterward
4. Existing images need regeneration

Can't Create Custom Profile

• System Admin permission required
• Contact administrator if needed
• Or use standard profile instead

Related Documentation

- **[Media Library](./media_library.md)** - Upload and organize media - **[System → Branding](../system/index.md))** - Configure logos and images - **[Inventory → Item Masters](../inventory/index.md))** - Product images - **[Configuration Checklist](../getting_started/configuration_checklist.md)** - Initial setup