Variant image uploads

Absolute noob here; I just got HikaShop yesterday and I'm already in love with it.

I have a question about variant images and reducing multiple uploads of the same image. I searched through docs/forum for a solution but didn't turn anything up.

I have a single shirt in 5 colors and 5 sizes, thus I have 25 variants. For each shirt color, I have two images (for example: shirt_blue_front.png and shirt_blue_back.png). If I want to display these variant images when "Blue" is selected from the drop-down (regardless of what size is selected) I have to edit each variant for Size and Color (i.e. Small Blue, Medium Blue, Large Blue...) and upload the same two images for each one. Not only is this a time consuming, but slowly consumes disk space.

So, my question is this: Is there a way to bulk edit variants that share a single characteristic (such as ALL blue shirts regardless of size)?

I have tried to first add the color characteristic to product, updated the image variants associated each color and THEN add the Size characteristic, but that just ended up wiping everything out because the Variant Code is altered once this happens.

If I have to take the time/server space to upload two images to each variant, so be it. I was just curious if there is something I'm missing or a faster way to complete this process.

Thanks, in advance, for any help!

Derp! I just figured it out. Basically, you CAN do what I had previous tried and this will work. My attempt of adding the color characteristic first, uploading the two images for each color, and THEN adding the Size characteristic was executed on a product that I had been testing previously. But, when I tried to do it with a brand spankin new product...it worked! My guess is that ID in the first position of the Variant Code is what possibly made the difference.

My apologies for taking up the board space, please go on about your business