How Can I Retrieve the Product Image Absolute Path

Question

How can I pull the product image absolute path in a product?

This returns the product along with the URL:

Mage::helper('catalog/image')->init($_item, 'small_image')->resize(160, 128)

But I needed to access this the _newFile from this object:

    object(Mage_Catalog_Helper_Image)#3877 (14) {
  ["_model":protected] => object(Mage_Catalog_Model_Product_Image)#3876 (34) {
    ["_width":protected] => int(160)
    ["_height":protected] => int(128)
    ["_quality":protected] => int(90)
    ["_keepAspectRatio":protected] => bool(true)
    ["_keepFrame":protected] => bool(true)
    ["_keepTransparency":protected] => bool(true)
    ["_constrainOnly":protected] => bool(false)
    ["_backgroundColor":protected] => array(3) {
      [0] => int(255)
      [1] => int(255)
      [2] => int(255)
    }
    ["_baseFile":protected] => string(90) "/file/path/media/catalog/product/V/V/123.jpg"
    ["_isBaseFilePlaceholder":protected] => bool(false)
    ["_newFile":protected] => string(151) "/file/path/media/catalog/product/cache/6/small_image/160x128/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/V/V/VV123.jpg"

Thank you!

Answer 1

_newFile is a member of the class Mage_Catalog_Model_Product_Image that is a protected member of the Mage_Catalog_Helper_Image ($_model).
Unfortunately there is no public method to access the _model member of the helper class.
Why? I have no idea. From my point of view you should be able to access it.

I see 2 options here.
Option 1
Rewrite the Mage_Catalog_Model_Product_Image with one of your classes and add this method in your class.

public function getModel() {
    return $this->_getModel()
}

Here is a tutorial on how to rewrite a class..

After that you would be able to access what you need like this:

$image = Mage::helper('catalog/image')->init($_item, 'small_image')->resize(160, 128);
$newFile = $image->getModel()->getNewFile();

Option 2
Get the url of the new image and replace the base url with the base path.

$image = Mage::helper('catalog/image')->init($_item, 'small_image')->resize(160, 128);
$imageUrl = $image->__toString();
$newFile = str_replace(
    array(Mage::getBaseUrl('media'), '/'),
    array(Mage::getBaseDir('media').DS, DS),
    $imageUrl
);

This seams to work, but it may not work if you use a CDN.

I would go with the first option.

Answer 2

I have news for y'all. In Magento 1.9.1 there is a function called getNewFile that will return the value of _newFile. Its located at: line 356 of ./app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Product/Image.php in class Mage_Catalog_Model_Product_Image