Posting a photo onto the forum

Leonie2 · Posting a photo onto the forum

Here are some instructions:

Firstly, remember that some members are using dial up, which means that if large photos are posted on the forum it takes a long time for their browser to download the photos in order to view them. With this in mind please keep your pictures to less than 400 x 400 pixels in size and a resolution set to 72dpi.

It is difficult to give exact instructions for sizing your photos because each picture editing programme is different. But somewhere in your photo editing programme you should be able to set the size and dpi of your photo.

Your photo now needs to be stored in cyberspace on a server, and it will always have an address (or "URL" = "universal resource locator") that tells any computer exactly how to find it. Most ISP's (internet service providers e.g. BT internet, Tiscali, Wanadoo etc.) provide some server space for this, and you would need to check with your Internet Provider to find out how to use it. Another option is to use a free photo hosting service. Photobucket seems to work well for this. You need to register and sign up for an account here, click past a few advertisements then follow the instructions to upload your pictures, where they will be stored on their server, each with its own address, and can be added and deleted as you choose. It always helps to carefully write down the exact URL for each image, although one of the nice options with Photobucket is that they have some posting options which not only saves the URL, but adds the "tags" that are needed to post them on the Forum.

The URL ("address on the internet") for your photo should be something like this:

http:/ /www.your_isp_provider.com/your_photo_name.jpg

If you copy (ctrl c) and paste (ctrl v) that text into the address bar of your browser and hit "enter" it will take you right to the photo.

Now you need to link the Photo on the Server to Your Post on the Forum. The easiest way to do this if you're using Photobucket is to find your photo at the bottom of the page on Photobucket, then go to the bottom box labelled "Img". Carefully left click to select the entire contents of that box (all of the symbols and letters within that box have to be blue at this point). Now right click and while the mouse is still over the blue area, left click on"Copy". Go back to the forum post and put the pointer within the box where you type your response and right click again and then left click "Paste". Your picture should appear, and now you could go back and add another picture if needed. Click "Preview" at the bottom of the screen to check that it uploaded correctly.

If you used some other method to host your photos, such as your own web site or ISP option, you will need to know the exact url where the image is stored e.g. http:/ /www.your_isp_provider.com/your_photo_name.jpg Go to the forum post where you want to include your photo and type in [IMG] without leaving any spaces paste the url of your image and then without leaving any spaces again type in [/IMG]

Click the "Preview" option to verify that the picture has uploaded correctly.

If in the preview the url shows as a hyperlink rather than a photo, check that the url name you've pasted in the forum message ends with .jpg or .jpeg. If it doesn't that could be a sign that you've copied the incorrect url for your photo. If it shows as text rather than a hyperlink or photo then check that there are NO spaces in the [IMG] url address [/IMG] coding/text.

In both cases, remember that if you delete your photo from your hosting space, it will no longer show up in your forum post, so please leave it on the server for as long as you can. In most cases this can be "forever".

If you still encounter problems posting photos after following these instructions please post here or pm me and I'll try to help.

lloyd

I'm wondering about doing a "How To post photographs" posting specific to Photobucket, (which is the only one I find easy to use). Does anyone think there is any value in a second "how to" post on this subject?...I notice that many members don't post pictures, and wonder if this is choice or lack of understanding of the process.???? Confused

Kathy

Now that I have discovered the "add image to post" underneath the typing window, I use that, much much simpler and easier for people who struggle with using photobucket. What does everyone else think?

Leonie2

I agree Kathy, it's much easier. But Lloyd if you have the time it would be nice to have all options covered, then members have a choice about how they want to post pictures. Very Happy

Becki

Yes go for it Lloyd, you've volunteerd now Laughing

lloyd

Becki

Depends on what colour your viewing the forum in. I look at it in red which dosn't have the option to post photos. However if you change it to green in your profile you can then post a image.

lloyd

I no longer bother with photo hosting, but may use it again for the "how to" pictorials. Right now I just use the "Insert" button.

muntjac · posting with photobucket

Here it is written in stages for those of you wanting to try it out.
1. Put photos onto your computer from your camera!
Put it in 'my pictures' file!
2. Go to http://photobucket.com/ or another photo host.
3. If you haven't registered with photobucket , do so first!
4. Once you are registered click on BROWSE near the top of the photobucket page.
5.This should bring up your picture file from your computer!!
6. Now find the picture in that file that you want to show and double click it.(It is easier if you resize it to a sensible size first!)
7.It will now be written as code in the browse bar of photobucket .
8. You now need to click UPLOAD , just under the browse button.
9. It may take a while, but your photo will show on that photobucket page soon.
10. It will have three rows of code under your photo.
11. You now highlight the bottom row of code . It starts like this [IMG]http://img.photobuck........ etc
It will have img to the left of the row that you need!
12. Once you have highlighted the bottom row . I double click on it to highlight it (you may prefer to drag across it to highlight it . It will go black) Right click on it whilst it is black. Now go down to copy on the grey box that comes up. Right click on the word copy.
13. Now come onto this forum, where you would normally write your reply and right click and go down to paste in the grey box that comes up. Right click on paste.
It will look like a row of coded writing at the moment on the blank page.
But that is it. You can add any writing to the thread now under the code .
Now just click on the reply button under your post and it will/should show as photo in the thread

Jamanda

Is it because I is a Mac user?

I've tried and tried to attach a picture of a necklace I made for my Mum. I got it down to 3Mb as a PNG (what ever that stands for). It keeps saying it's uploading then saying "done" but it isn't attached to the post. Any suggestions? Do I need to set up a photo bucket account?

Leonie2

perhaps because it's too large, 3Mb is quite a big file. try saving it as a .jpg that should compress the file a bit and try again. Smile

Jamanda

Ok I'll try even smaller.

No even a JPG at 8Kb won't go. And really the picture is too small to see at all at that size. I can't get it any smaller than that. Even with single figures in the number of pixels. Never mind.

Leonie2

Just tried it myself and it's not working for me either so looks like it's not a problem with your computer. Will look into it. Do you want me to host the photo for you in the meantime?

lloyd

Hasn't worked for me in weeks, so went back to using photobucket again.

Jamanda

Becki

I still struggle with this although I am alot better than I used to be. I will have to read up on all your helpful tips!

lloyd

I'm still unable to "add image to post". Confused

Posting a photo onto the forum

posting with photobucket