Picture posting tutorial

[Dan]

There are two ways to post pics.

One way is through a picture hosting website like Photobucket or ImageShack. This method is also the same as linking to an image that is already somewhere on the internet. It looks like this.



The other way is using the attachment option which looks like this.

[Dan]

I try to use the attachment method as little as possible, only for pics that are really relevant to spearfishing and should be a permanent addition to a thread. Unlike the hosting method, with the attachments the forum becomes the host and this significantly increases the data to be stored on the server.

The attachment method always places the pic at the bottom of the post. If you want to post a few pics with some writing pertaining to them it is difficult to maintain continuity in the post this way. It also places a border around the pic which necessitates the pic being smaller. The maximum image size is set at 688 pixels wide. The reason for this is that at that size the picture fits in a screen with 1024 pixel resolution without requiring scrolling sideways which throws off the whole thread. This means that if you upload a bigger image the forum will resize it to 688 pixels. You can attach any size image but it's easier for the forum software to process an image that is closer to the max size, if the image is significantly bigger the forum may not be able to process it. To resize an image a free program like Irfanview can be used.

Irfanview is a free program that will do some basic editing operations like resize and rotate, I don't think it will crop. It can be downloaded here http://www.irfanview.com/



To use the attachment method click on "go advanced" under the quick reply box. Then on the new page scroll down a little and you'll see the "manage attachments" button. Click on that and you'll be prompted to browse your computer for the pic you wish to upload. Find and select it, then click "upload". Close the Manage attachments box, the pic will appear when you submit your post. Allowed pic attachment formats are .jpg .gif .bmp You can add a few pics just repeat the process.

[Dan]

This is my preferred method of posting pics. I use a free image hosting site like photobucket or ImageShack. Photobucket requires registration, ImageShack doesn't. There are other pic hosting sites that do the same thing, you can search for them. I use photobucket for pics I want to keep track of, use again later and organize into albums. I use ImageShack for pics that I don't care about. Photobucket doesn't allow and will delete pics that have nutdity

The forum has software installed that automatically resizes remotely hosted pics. It's still better if you resize your pics to less than 1000 pixels horizontal resolution before uploading them to a hosting service like imageshack, the pics will then look sharper in the thread without clicking on them. When you click on the pic it will show in full size, then you can also navigate through all the pics in a thread as if it were an album.

Here's a quick video tutorial that shows how to post pics with the hosting method, and following is an explanation of how to do it.

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s170/da4095/?action=view&current=InsertImage.flv
When you upload a pic to one of the hosting sites you will be provided with a few links. You are looking for the direct link to the pic. Select and copy it, then click on the "insert image" icon.



Paste the link into the box and click OK.

All the "insert image" does is place [IMG] in front of the link and [/IMG] at the end of it. This is a code that tells the forum to display it as a pic not a link. You can do the same thing typing it.

If you really don't care about the permanence of a pic in a thread you can avoid the process of downloading it to your computer (if it's from the internet) and uploading again to a hosting site. Right click on any image on a website and select "copy image location". Then you can paste that into the "insert image" box. The problem with this is that if at a later time the website removes or changes the location of the picture your post will no longer show it.

Photobucket provides a link with the [IMG][/IMG] code already attached so you can copy and paste it directly into the post. ImageShack has a problem with showing people the direct link to the image, I don't know why, and makes you go through a couple of steps to get it. You have to click on "show image to friends" to get it.

If anyone finds a good free pic hosting site you can post it on this thread.

[monster slayer]

I want to use the image button on the top but it does not allow me to paste any link

[Dan]

Try copying and pasting this: [IMG]Link goes here[/IMG]

The replace Link goes here with your link which should be a direct link to the image and look like this http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7...fanviewzj4.jpg

[LunkerBuster]

Dan who is the goddess in the top pic?

[Dan]

I have no idea, I found that pic online.