Custom FTP Client for Photo Labs, and More

<div align="center"><h1>What's "DigiDerm?"</h1></div> <p>"Digital Dermatology" was coined by Jerry Fritschle, a wedding and portrait photographer in St. Louis, Missouri; his lovely wife, Nan, followed with the catchy abbreviation, "DigiDerm." It was a whimsical name for the nature of his work, which at the time centered around portrait retouching and photographic restoration (heading out on the weekend to shoot the weddings.) This was at a time when photographic studios in the area were first making the transition to digital technology.</p> <p>It was, of course, a big leap, requiring a complete rethinking of technique and workflow. To be sure, there were some reference materials, but, in practical terms, it was on-the-job training. Those doing it were literally writing the book.</p> <p>With a vast background in photography, and already having significant experience with computers, Jerry set to work with integrating the two disciplines, taking the disparate computers (both Mac and Wintel) in his studio and creating a functional and organized local network. Shortly thereafter came the inspiration to establish FTP services so that files could be sent to the in-house lab from remote locations. Both studio employees, and outside clients of the lab, found this convenient and sometimes life-saving. </p> <p>Services (mostly browser-based) for internet photofinishing were appearing on this time, but they weren't quite what Jerry was looking for. Even after leaving that particular studio, Jerry wanted to have a lean and efficient custom FTP client, tailored to the small to mid-size digital photo lab. None were really out there. </p> <p>So he wrote one.</p> <div align="center"><img src="Images/FTPhoto_logo.jpg" width="200" height="126" border="0"> </div> <br> <p><b>FTPhoto</b>, at its heart, is a custom FTP client. But it is much more than that. It is an intuitive ordering front-end that is customized with your lab's logo, and hard-wired to your server. When you make FTPhoto available for download to your customers, the benefits are many:</p> <li><b>It's a nimble desktop application.</b> Unlike some online photography services, FTPhoto does not creak under the weight of the web browser and Java runtime. The ordering process can be started as simply as by dragging an image file, or a folder full of them, onto the program icon, even if FTPhoto is not already running. Theoretically, a simple order (like a wedding proof job) could be initiated, and the upload started, in just a few seconds. The easier something is to use, the more it <b>IS</b> used. </li> <br> <li><b>It is targeted to your lab.</b> A customer can use a generic FTP client to send a file anywhere. When he or she is using your custom branded version of FTPhoto, the file is coming to <b>you.</b></li> <br> <li><b>The order is organized and clear.</b> If your lab already operates an FTP server, and customers are using standard FTP clients to connect, you are probably sifting through accompanying text files (or separate e-mails) to put together the customer's order. By contrast, with FTPhoto, the lab receives the customer's files in a uniquely named folder, with a clearly formatted order form.</li> <br> <li><b>Server administration is easy</b>. With FTPhoto, it is not necessary to set up server accounts for individual customers--or, on the other hand, allow anonymous access with its attendant risks. FTPhoto clients will all hit a single, password-protected account on the server. As stated before, all orders will be bundled in their own folders. Security is maintained; even the FTPhoto client itself need only be given minimal privileges.</li> <br> <p>Labs already operating FTP services will find FTPhoto to be simple, inexpensive and profitable to implement. For labs that are just now exploring the possibility of offering online photographic ordering services, DigiDerm stands ready to offer consulting services as needed, to the point of actually installing and configuring your server. Web site design and maintenance, and domain registration, are also within our scope.</p> <div align="center"> <table width="33%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td>Digital Dermatology <p>314 Geyer Forest Drive</p> <p>Kirkwood MO 63122</p> <p><a href="%26#109;ailto:j_fritschle@digiderm.com?subject=Inquiry about FTPhoto">E-mail</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p></p> <p>Digital Dermatology, DigiDerm and FTPhoto are ©2004-2005 Jerry Fritschle</p> </div> </body>