I'm going to try to collect some links and simple instruction for those in need of help getting their pics posted to the forum, or just resizing them and formatting so they'll fit. There are several ways to do each of these things ~ use whatever is simplest for you.
Ultimate Easy Tip: If you know how to use a hosting site like Tinypic or the others listed below, but you're still not real clear on resizing -- all of the hosting sites offer automatic resizing when you upload the pics. Just choose your picture, set the resize you'd like from the menu, and upload for the image code. Doesn't give you a lot of options or controls over your pics, but it doesn't get much easier than that either. If you still need more explanation, keep reading
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Resizing:
If you just want the simplest, "let the computer do it for me" method, follow this first example:
If the above method works for you - Skip the next examples and go to Hosting below
If you prefer a little more control over your pics, try using photo editing software. Most photo programs have a built in resizing method, although not all are created equal:
MS Paint's method is pretty crude, but it will work in a pinch.
Most photo editing software is a little more straight-forward. Typically they'll have an Image menu, with an option to Resize. From there you just pick how much you want to reduce the picture, either by % or # of pixels, then save your pic.
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Hosting:
There are two main way to host a pic to display on the forum:
Method 1-
Method 2-
Use an outside website to host your pics, such as:
tinypic -- pros: free, no account needed, provides link with tags already included [U]cons[/U]: have to do a "captcha" for each image uploaded without an account
[URL="http://imageshack.us/"]imageshack[/URL] -- [U]pros[/U]: free, no account needed [U]cons[/U]: forums tags provided create an imageshack tagline under the pic
[URL="http://photobucket.com/"]photobucket[/URL] -- [U]pros[/U]: free account, [img] tags included, allows you to create and organize folders for pics
Personally I prefer Photobucket for most things. Folder organization is great, and just hovering over your pic with the cursor brings up the [img] tags for the forum.
Using an outside site is easy. I'll use[B] tinypic[/B] as the example. Simply go to their web page, click Choose File, and browse to your pic, and open. Click Upload Now, fill out the captcha, and when the new page opens it will have several links to your pic, including the pre-formatted image code for the forum. See pic below:
[IMG]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff391/ever1ast/ECF%20uploads/tinypic.jpg
Copy the entire provided code including the tag part, and paste it into your post. That's it. Your image will show up as a nearly full sized image
(Note: forum software will automatically reduce image sizes to the allowable limits it the pic is too large)
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Ultimate Easy Tip: If you know how to use a hosting site like Tinypic or the others listed below, but you're still not real clear on resizing -- all of the hosting sites offer automatic resizing when you upload the pics. Just choose your picture, set the resize you'd like from the menu, and upload for the image code. Doesn't give you a lot of options or controls over your pics, but it doesn't get much easier than that either. If you still need more explanation, keep reading
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Resizing:
If you just want the simplest, "let the computer do it for me" method, follow this first example:
- Go to: Free Online Image Editor
- In the "Upload" box, click Choose File, and browse to your picture in the menu that opens. When you find it, click it and then "open"
- Below the Choose File button, there is an option to Resize During Upload. Click the check box (don't forget that part) and choose what % you want it reduced down to. For example, if your camera takes huge pictures, try picking 20%
- Click upload
- The page that opens will show you your reduced size pic. If you want to adjust the size even further, click the Resize button and use the slide bar increase or decrease the size
- Once you have the size you want, click the Save button and save it to your computer.
If the above method works for you - Skip the next examples and go to Hosting below
If you prefer a little more control over your pics, try using photo editing software. Most photo programs have a built in resizing method, although not all are created equal:
MS Paint's method is pretty crude, but it will work in a pinch.
- First open your pic in Paint
- Then go to Image>Stretch/Skew
- The Stretch part will have 2 boxes where you can input new percentages - They'll be at 100% when you open it
- Input a new "smaller" percentage in to both boxes, making sure that both numbers match. For example if its a large picture you're starting with, try reducing it by 80%, then click ok. If it's not the size you want, go to the Edit menu and click undo, and then try it again till you find the size you want.
- Once you get it sized how you want it, just go to File and Save as to save it
Most photo editing software is a little more straight-forward. Typically they'll have an Image menu, with an option to Resize. From there you just pick how much you want to reduce the picture, either by % or # of pixels, then save your pic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosting:
There are two main way to host a pic to display on the forum:
- Upload the pic to the forum and host it from there in your uploads folder. This method makes the small thumbnail pics that have to be clicked on to see full size
- Upload the pic to an outside site and use their provided links to display the pic. This method will display larger sized pictures right in the thread
Method 1-
- Choose "Go Advanced" instead of "Post Quick Reply" to post
- On the advanced screen you can choose either the PaperClip button, or Manage Attachments to open the File Upload Manager (see pic below)
- When the FIle Upload Manager opens, click: Add Files>Choose File>~Click the pic you want to upload~>Click OPEN>Click Upload
- Your pic will now show up under attachments
- Make sure the check box on the new pic is clicked, then click Insert Inline, and DONE. Your pic will appear as a thumbnail in the post
Method 2-
Use an outside website to host your pics, such as:
tinypic -- pros: free, no account needed, provides link with tags already included [U]cons[/U]: have to do a "captcha" for each image uploaded without an account
[URL="http://imageshack.us/"]imageshack[/URL] -- [U]pros[/U]: free, no account needed [U]cons[/U]: forums tags provided create an imageshack tagline under the pic
[URL="http://photobucket.com/"]photobucket[/URL] -- [U]pros[/U]: free account, [img] tags included, allows you to create and organize folders for pics
Personally I prefer Photobucket for most things. Folder organization is great, and just hovering over your pic with the cursor brings up the [img] tags for the forum.
Using an outside site is easy. I'll use[B] tinypic[/B] as the example. Simply go to their web page, click Choose File, and browse to your pic, and open. Click Upload Now, fill out the captcha, and when the new page opens it will have several links to your pic, including the pre-formatted image code for the forum. See pic below:
[IMG]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff391/ever1ast/ECF%20uploads/tinypic.jpg
Copy the entire provided code including the tag part, and paste it into your post. That's it. Your image will show up as a nearly full sized image
(Note: forum software will automatically reduce image sizes to the allowable limits it the pic is too large)
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