Multiple attributes - product variables

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Hello there, to explain my query, I will briefly explain what I am after:

 

I sell personalised artwork in 7 different styles. Each artwork can have many faces in, which boosts the cost. However, the costs do not raise uniformly, for the more expensive styles the more it costs to add more faces.

 

I also have this artwork printed. Now, it can be not printed (sent as a digital copy), printed on canvas, or printed on a poster (either laminated or not, and either plastic or paper). These prints can be a variety of sizes.

 

 

I am looking to have the customer order their artwork on one page. So I would like them to be able to select the style, number of faces, print media, and print size from one page, and add this to the basket. I figured the best way to do this would be to make it one product, with attributes defining the fine details.

 

So I have one product (call it 'Artwork' or something generic like that). I set the price of this to £0. I then add the attribute style, with 7 options, all applied to the Artwork product.

 

Now, if I add an attribute "number of faces" - I would like the amount added to the order total to vary depending on which style has been selected. Is this possible? In other words, it is almost as though I want to apply the attribute 'number of faces' to the attribute 'styles' individually.

 

 

Previously Tried Ways Round This

Option One

Originally I set each style as a seperate product with number of faces being an attribute which applied differently to each style. However, I then run into the same problem when it came to setting attributes for the printing options. Say I set print medium as an attribute (with digital copy, poster, and canvas as options, for instance) and apply these to the styles (without having them add on any cost), I then have to add a further attribute of sizes to the styles products.

 

However, depending on what medium he customer has chosen, the sizes would add different amounts. So applying the size attribute to the styles would not take into account the medium they are printed on.

 

 

Option Two

I also considered having the print options as seperate products. So the user would choose the style and the number of faces, then would have to select another product, e.g. a canvas, with a size attribute.

 

However this is a bit messy, as it would require the user to have to add a 'style' product then a 'print' product - presumably from different pages. This despite the fact they are, in a sense, only buying one item - e.g. a personalised portrait on canvas.

 

Option 3

Having all the print information in one attribute. So, using each style as a product, having a number of faces attribute (with values one to five faces), and then a print attribute (with a list of values such as Canvas 8x8, Poster (paper) 8x8, Poster (paper - laminated) 8x8, Poster (plastic) 8x8, poster (plastic - laminated) 8x8 etc etc etc). However, given the sheer number of sizes I offer, I would need 81 options for this print attribute.

 

Ignoring the hassle of applying that to 7 different styles, it would simply look bad for the customer. To find their print option from 81 in a drop down list would look unprofessional and put people off ordering.

 

 

 

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So, if I can manage 'sub-attributes' that'd be great. If not, does anyone have any idea how I may proceed.

 

Thanks very much for any help. These forums are invaluable in their help and I am already well on my way to customising the design of my store at least - now just to settle this problem!

 

All the best.

 

Obviously this way I could customise the prices fully, and have everything ordered from one page.