Key benefits / use cases
Time savings through direct file transfer without the need to download them from disk
Convenience thanks to quick mapping of quantities and formats chosen by the client to the lab's offering
Full independence, as you ultimately control and pay for the cart in the external print lab panel
Note: Crystal Albums is an external, independent company. Using their services is not required to use Mafelo. Creating an account with the print lab is free – you can do so here.
How to set up the Crystal Albums integration
Step 1: Retrieving access credentials from Crystal Albums
Log in to the new Crystal Albums panel at https://store.crystal-albums.pl/en-GB/login
Click your name in the top right corner of the screen
Select the API tab from the dropdown menu
Your API Key and Secret key API will be generated here
Tip: Leave this browser tab open so you can copy the keys in the next step.
Step 2: Entering the credentials in Mafelo
Go to the Settings tab in the Mafelo side menu
In the list of available print labs, find and click the Crystal Albums - new panel icon
Click the Configure button
In the form that appears, paste the values copied from the CA website: API Key and Secret key API
Click Save and wait for a confirmation message indicating the configuration is correct
How to send photos for printing in Crystal Albums
Once you connect both accounts, submitting client orders to the lab becomes exceptionally simple and does not require manually uploading files.
Selecting orders and formats
Open the selected gallery in Mafelo and go to the Orders tab
Select from the list the orders from which you want to send photos for printing
Click the Order prints from selected orders button
Enter a name for your order
Pro tip: We recommend avoiding the use of special characters in the order name to prevent potential issues on the print lab's system side.
Assign the appropriate print formats from Crystal Albums' offering to the formats your client has chosen
Important: If you select more than one client order from the list, all selected photos will be added to the Crystal Albums cart as a single, combined item.
Managing photos and file transfer
Add or remove additional prints (e.g. those included in the price of a shot)
Upload any missing files from disk if they are not in the Photo Delivery tab (the system will prompt you to provide them)
Important: The names of the photos for printing must be the same as the names in the order, as the system identifies files by their names. If you delivered photos to the client for download under different names than the photos had during selection, Mafelo will ask you to upload them before printing.
Click Send order to print lab to start the file transfer process
After a successful upload you will see a confirmation screen. Click the button to go to the cart in the Crystal Albums panel
In the print lab panel, adjust the print parameters (e.g. borders, cropping), then confirm and pay for your order
Note: Files uploaded manually in step 2 will be sent exclusively to the print lab. They will not appear in the Photo Delivery tab in Mafelo, and as a result, the client will not have access to them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use Crystal Albums print lab services?
No, you do not need to use Crystal Albums services to use the Mafelo platform. It is an independent company. The integration with this print lab is simply a convenient, optional feature for photographers who want to automate the transfer of photos to this specific lab.
Where do I pay for the print order?
To pay for a print order, you need to go to the cart in the Crystal Albums system. The entire billing process and final approval of prints takes place entirely outside the Mafelo platform.
How long does order processing take at Crystal Albums after it's been sent from Mafelo?
The processing time for photos sent to the Crystal Albums print lab can vary depending on the number of photos sent in the order and the print lab's current server load. Mafelo has no influence on this time, as the entire fulfillment process takes place on Crystal Albums' side.
Can multiple orders be sent so they are packed separately?
Yes, Crystal Albums supports bulk packaging. See our guide on bulk packaging with Crystal Albums for details.