Invalid Job Configuration Help

So you tried to set up a job to use both retouching and limited downloads but the system is telling you that this option is not allowed? Don’t worry! You’re not stuck or doing anything wrong. The below page will guide you through this situation.

Why Is This Configuration Not Allowed?

Currently, by design, the system only allows for the use of retouching that you will fulfil later -or- the use of “as is” image downloads that Headshot Tools will fulfil instantly, but not both.

While building these options, we initially built them to coincide. However, in testing we found that not only was this combination of settings confusing for photographers, it was also confusing to participants. When examining the different types of scenarios that these settings could be used in, we found that nearly 70% of the time they caused unneeded issues where simpler settings would provide the same effect without confusion. As a result, we simplified the model and made these settings mutually exclusive.

You may be familiar with and want the options of other one-on-one gallery software. However, these other types of gallery software rely on you as the customer's support system when participants need help. That’s fine for one-on-one customers, but when you scale up to hundreds of individual participants, that’s no longer a viable solution. This is the core reason why this configuration is not currently permitted. We hope that makes sense.

Learning The Configuration Options

We find that users sometimes stumble upon this invalid configuration only to find that what they really wanted didn't even need this configuration. We recommend first reviewing each of the below help topics to fully understand the available settings:

Image Retouch Modes
Think of these modes as the answer to a simple question. “Do you want participants to be able to select and/or purchase images for retouching?”
Image Download Modes
Think of these modes as the answer to another simple question. “What images do you want to be allowed for download?”

Alternate Configuration – Selling Retouching

A very common configuration is to sell only retouching. To configure this type of job, apply the below settings:

Image Retouch Selection: Allow Participants To Select And Purchase Images For Retouching
Image Downloads: Only Retouched Images Are Downloadable

With this configuration, participants can optionally choose a number of free included retouched images and purchase additional retouching. You can set the number of free included retouched images to zero if you choose not to allow any free selections.

Initially while shooting this job, no images will be available for download because none will be retouched yet. Only later when you fulfil your participants retouching via the Retouching Workflow will images be available for download. Alternatively, you can set your “Image Downloads” setting to "All Images Can Be Downloaded" if you want participants to also receive their proofs as a bonus.

Alternate Configuration – Selling Downloads

This configuration is excellent for situations where you just want to sell the images in your galleries as is. Similar to the retouching option, you can also offer free download choices. To configure this type of job, apply the below settings:

Image Retouch Selection: Deactivated
Image Downloads: Only X Number Of Images Are Downloadable And Additional Downloads Can Be Purchased

While these images are sold “as is”, they could be straight out of the camera, slightly edited or fully retouched final images. For example, you could skip uploading images instantly, fully retouch all your images and upload only the final retouched images.

The best thing about this option is that there is no fulfillment work to perform later. Participants purchase the images they want and Headshot Tools automatically fulfils the downloads.

If you still want to offer retouching sales, you can provide that service outside of Headshot Tools later via links or messaging you supply in your gallery customizations.

Will This Invalid Configuration Ever Be An Option?

Headshot Tools might someday offer this currently unsupported configuration as an advanced user feature but only if you let us know! However, we first ask that you try the other options as we believe you likely won’t need this configuration after you see how they work. To request this feature please see our feature request help page here.