Q:

Configurable Dynamic Images: Using Multiple Attributes

I'm using CE 1.9.1 with the rwd theme and am enjoying the power of switching images by clicking on the color swatches. I'm attempting to do something different though.
I have a product available in multiple colors. Aside from that, some colors also come in a striped pattern. (Not all colors come in striped.)
The default product image should show a collection of all the child products. There would be two sets of swatches. Colored, and Text with "solid" and "striped" as choices. When swatch blue is clicked the blue solid image should display and when striped is then clicked, the blue striped image should show. I cannot get this to work.
When I label the images for all the solid as the color name i.e. blue, black, red, They all display as soon as the color swatch is clicked. However, what can I do to get the striped versions to work?
I tried setting an image for the blue striped simple product but this does nothing. If I label this image striped then it will display when the striped swatch is clicked - provided no color swatch was clicked. Once a color swatch is clicked and its solid color is displayed, a click on striped will not change the image. When solid gets clicked though, there is a reaction. The image reverts to the product default.
What is recommended for configurable product images using multiple attributes?
EDIT: The real scenario involves more attributes than just colors. Say size, or even handle type will require different product images.

A:

I can recommend you and alternative for the default color swatches. This free extension.
it allows you to do what the color swatches do and more but without the headache of naming conventions.
You can change the dropdowns to labels, colors or even simple product images.
and the main image can be changed to the simple product image for all attributes not just colors.
Full description of the extension can be found here

