Photo Posting and Optimizing Tutorial; <<OBSOLETE>>

[Jeff]

These Instructions are now Obsolete. Please refer to the newest sticky topic in the behind the forum board.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/board,16.0.html

Note 1: If you ask for help, you will get it and cheerfully so. However, If all you want to do is complain about the posting process or the required photo criteria, then we'd rather you just don't worry about sharing any of your photos with us on this site. There are over 100,000 photos on the site. That means, that uploading and sharing photos has been done successfully here over 100,000 times. So that also means, the problem can be found by looking in your mirror, not in how we have chosen to do things. This note was written because I have become weary of criticism from those that only think of themselves.  Now, for everyone else, please continue on. 


Note : To post photo you need to have a recent version of Java on your computer.

Video Tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yclpxy7gorI

Here is a test page from java.com that will let you know if you actually have java working on your computer. It also has some links to the steps to figure out why it is not working if that is the case.

http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

Most all computers have java installed You can download or upgrade java here:
http://java.com/en/




UPLOADING

1: Open post box, under post box you will see this text and a link:

Upload or insert Photo?
Click on Java Uploader (re-sizes for you)

2. Click on Java Uploader (re-sizes for you) to open a new window.

Wait until the page completely loads. If you have any trouble with the page completely loading, you need to update java.

3. Choose an album or create and choose an album at this time.

4 . Browse to your photo on your computer and select it.  If you photo needs to be rotated, you can do it at this point. Repeat if you have more then one photo.

5.Select upload. A re sized photo will be uploaded to your selected album.

6. At this point you can re title and describe and add key words to help search for your photo later on if you would like. if you change the title, click on the"apply modifications" button to set the changes.

ADDING PHOTO TO POST

7. Click on the thumbnail image to go to the full size image. Underneath the photo in the file information box, click on the link that says
"Click here to copy this photo code directly to your Forestry Forum post window"
This will add the code to your post box.  You can now go ahead and make your post.

Alternate method of adding new photos or previously uploaded photos to post if number 7 fails to add the code.

8: If the code does not appear in, just below the link that says Click here to copy this photo code directly to your Forestry Forum post window, you will see a text box with the actual code you need. Select, copy and paste that code in your postbox.

NEVER Delete a photo from your gallery once it has been used in a post. This will also delete the photo from the post and this sort of thing will be severely frowned upon! If you plan on deleting photos in the future, DO NOT bother posting them now.


PHOTOS WILL NOW UPLOAD AND RESIZE AUTOMATICALLY SEE ABOVE


Obligatory admin mish-mash carried over from the original tutorial. ;D

Note from Forestry Forum Administration

The Forestry Forum no longer allows linking to photos on other web sites. 

Photos used on the Forestry Forum must reside on the Forestry Forum Servers.
Photos used on this Forum may only be used with permission of the photo's owner,
unless it already resides in the Forestry Forum Gallery.

The Forestry Forum Gallery is not to be uses as a personal storage area for your photos. Please do not use it to house photos other then those used within posts on the Forestry Forum. The only purpose for your Gallery is so the Forestry Forum can maintain the integrity of photos that appear in posts.


REPEAT!! Photos uploaded to the Forestry Forum that are used within a post must not
ever be deleted!

[Jeff]

You must first create one album so you have a place for your photos to go. You only need to do this once. You can create more albums if you wish to help organize your photos, but additional albums are not nessesary.

Step one:
Locate the image archive button on any forestry forum page near the upper right. Click on this button to enter the Forestry Forum Gallery program.



************************************

Step two:
Locate the button and click on it.

If you do not see the button, look to the left and see if your menu says usermode or admin mode. It should say usermode. If it says admin mode, click it to enter usermode and then you will see the button.



*********************************************************


Step 3

Click the new button, replace the lower text that says "New album" with your text. In the case of our friend Imasap, we will call our new album "Imasaps Photos".  Click the button that says apply modifications.



*****************************************************

Step 4

You will then see this screen:


Click the continune button and you are done!  You have set up your new album and its ready for photos!  You can repeat the process if you would like additional albums to sort photos into if you like to be organized.

[Jeff]

Please review the steps before you begin.

Step one:
Click on the link below to go to the XAT image optimizer download page.
http://www.xat.com/internet_technology/download.html


Step two:
Click on a button to the right of the product you want to download. In this case choose the image optimizer and select the http button.

You should see a prompt similar to the one below, select "save"



Step three: Put the file you are downloading on your desktop. It should be called xatio.exe, but that could change depending on XAT.



Step four: Once the file has downloaded, go to your desktop and look for the file icon and double click on it to start the install.


Depending on your systems you will get a series of prompts. Click the yeses I agrees and the Continues until the install is completed.

You should find a shortcut on your desktop to open your newly installed program that looks a little like this one:


Thats it! Your done. You now have a program that will resize your image, then comprss your file size preparing it for the Forestry Forum!  Congratulations!

[Jeff]

This is an easy one.

Step one.
Go to your desktop.

Step two.
Right click in an empty spot.

Step three.
Select new, then folder.  After creating the folder, rename it "Forum Photos" (without the quotes. ;)  Of course your view will be different them mine.




Thats it, your done! You now have a place to put your optimized photos for the forestry forum!

[Jeff]

These instructions are only for the XAT image optimizer. If you are using something different, many of the steps apply. Remember these three things. 

Dimension of your photo: 500 pixles or less in its greatest dimension.
File size of your photo: 44k or less. The smaller the better! But you want to keep them clear as possible!
File must be, or must be saved as a .jpg file
*********************************
Step one
Open your image optimizer program. Go to your desktop and find the short cut, double click it to open the program.


*********************************

Step two
You will see this prompt (this may change for future releases of the software) Simply click the OK button to enter the program.


********************************
Step three: opening a file
Now that your program is open, go to file, then open. Navigate to where your phtos are located on your computer. In Imasap's case, they are on his L drive, which is the removable disc for his camera.


*******************************************
Step 4: cropping photo

The first step you will be given is to crop. You may crop your photo or choose to leave it the way it is. To crop, simply draw a square with your pointer to include the area you would like to keep. Then click the crop button. In Imasaps photo, we will choose "crop"


********************************************
Step 4: Resizing and rotating

Next we will resize the photo to get it to within the dimension limits for the forestry forum. That means 450 pixles or less in the photos greatest dimension. Its easy! Just change the amount in the box!


*********************************************
Step 4: Compressing (optimizing) the file
Next we will compress the photo to get it to within the file size limits for the forestry forum. This is 35 k maximum, and as small as you can go without losing detail.

Its easy! Simply hit the compress button. You will get two views of your photo. the original, and the one you are  compressing. To compress, simply slide the JPEG quality button until you get your desired compression. you can adjust it up or down with the slider while looking at your photo. Get it less then 35k and keep going until it starts to lose quality. adjust it up or down until you are happy. Just a slide back and forth!  EASY!



**********************************************

Step 5: Last step! Saving photo

GO to file, then save optimized as. You then will browse to your your desk top, find your Forum photos folder and open it. You will save your new file in that folder. You now need to rename your file. Make sure you dont use capitals or spaces! if you want to divide words, do this: imasaps_deer_photo.jpg Easy eh? One other thing you should never use special charactors in a file name like !?":;#$%&* or anything like that. only use a hyphen_ or what I call an underscore_ to divide words.  Thats it! your done! your photo is saved and ready to upload to the forestry forum!

[chet]

I'm gonna have da wax lady try it.   ;)  If yer tutorial can git her threw it, yer in business.   ;D

[Jeff]

I'm not done... :D  I'll let ya know when I am...

[chet]

Not sure it's gonna work, eh.  :D :D :D

[Jeff]

Step one:

We have to go to the gallery!  Look for this button near the top right of any forum page:

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Step two:

Click the upload file button



Browse to your photo location, select a photo,then select open. You should now see the photo address in the browse window. Now select continue.


You should now see this screen, click continue...

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Step three:

You should now see this screen. You can fill in the blanks to give more information for your photo, or choose to continue without adding more information. If you created more then one album, this is where you can choose which album your photo goes into. In ourcase we have one album, "Imasaps Photos"  so we will continue.


You should now see the screen below, click continue



Yea! Our photo is in the gallery! Its ready to use in any post any time on the Forestry Forum!

Remember, once you use a photo in a post, you can never delete it!!

[Jeff]

UPDATED TO EASY!

OK, we have our photo in our gallery and we want to put in in a post now.

Another note; Did you know you can use any photo in any gallery in a post? You can! If you find a photo in the Forestry Forum galleries, you can use the following instructions to add it to a post as well!

Step one:

To go to your gallery specifically is easiest by clicking on your profile button

Then looking in your profile for the link that says  "Visit My Photo Gallery" click on that link
******************************************
Step 3:

Click on the link that says:
"Click here to copy photo code to your post window"
You will get an alert that asks if you are sure you want to add this photo to your post. You click OK and thats it! The code that creats the picture will be in your post box. 

WalahH!  It worked! That was easy! I can put a photo in a post!

[GW]

Does anyone know of an image optimizer other than xat? My xat trial just ran out and it costs $50 to buy the software.

If there isn't an alternative I'll dig up the $, but maybe someone knows of a free one...

[Furby]

Don't buy it unless you want to.
It will still do what you need with out buying it, even though it ran out. ;)

[GW]

Mine isn't letting me Furby. Maybe more recent downloads actually expire. I can optimize images still, but every time I try to save one it spits me into a window to purchase.

[Furby]

Delete it from your puter and do another download.
See if it does it again.

[Jeff]

Try this.

http://webresizer.com/

[Ianab]

If you want a good full feature photo program you can try this.

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/

Gimp is short for Gnu Image Manipulation Program. It was originally written for Unix/Linux, but has been ported to Windows and Mac. It has many of the features of the commercial Photo programs, but it's Freeware.

A bit more of a learning curve than the simple optimisers, but it will let you do HEAPS more with your pictures.

Cheers

Ian

[GW]

Ian, I downloaded GIMP a while back but the learning curve has me bent over the wrong way.   :-[

I tried webresizer and it's very easy to work with. I think I'll use it for now.

Thanks.

[ely]

ok gentlemen, this simple minded individual needs some extra curricular assistance >:(
i have 3 new photos uploaded to my galery (properly sized and compressed)thank you very much. 
but i can not for the life of me get them to a post. i have printed out the directions above and my screen does not look the same.
i do not at any time see  a link that says "click here to copy photo code to your post window"

i know i have a block of wood with sawdust in it on my shoulders so if anyone can re explain my perdicament, greatly appreciated.

i was trying to put the old saw photos in the mono saw thread.

[Jeff]

If you have it in the gallery you have the hard part done. 

when you are posting look for the link that says:
"Upload or insert Photo?"  directly under your text box.  Use that link to go to the gallery. It will open in a new tab or window. Navigate to the photo you want to use. You have to click on your photo and go to it, the thumbnail view will not work.

Under your photo you will see something like this below.



There are two options for adding your photo. For most people simply clicking on the link that says "Click here to copy this photo code directly to your Forestry Forum post window"  will put the code right in your post you are working on. You will get an alert that asks if you want to actually copy the photo code to your post.

If that doesnt work for you, you can copy the code that is provided below that where it says:
"For non-compliant browsers, copy and paste the code below into your post window where you want your image to appear:"

Copy that and paste that in your post.  Thats all thee is to it and you will get:

[ely]

thanks boss i will try it now.

[LogDawg]

Hi Jeff,

  When I reduce my photos to the correct loadable size they lose most of their quality. I see your photos look great. Is it because my photos are to large to begin with? I am starting out with 1120x 840 sized photos at 426kb. Thanks.

                                                                                  Kevin

[Furby]

How are you reducing them?
If using xat, it works MUCH better to change the size of the pic to under 450 pixels on the longest side and THEN compress the file size.
That way you are messing with the info in the pic less.

[LogDawg]

Thanks Furby,

  Yes I am using xat and reducing to 450. I just realized in the last few minutes that I was reading the scale wrong on the jpeg compression mode so that helped a little but I still see some really sharp photos on the site and can't get mine to look that good. I wasn't sure if changing the settings on my camera would help or not.  I'll keep reading and experimenting. Thanks again.

[Furby]

On the compression scale you can go up to 45,000.

[Jeff]

I actually start with photos that are in excess of 2.5 megabytes from an 8 megapixel camera. You shouldn't need to change your camera settings. 

[LogDawg]

  I told Santa to bring me a new camera but I guess I been a bad boy so I got put up with my old one. Maybe thats my problem, not good enough quality to start with. Thanks guys.

[Jeff]

You've got plenty. no worry there.

[New Inn Wood Man]

Jeff,

I am just learning the photo posting thing and could do with a bit of advice please :P. My problem is to do twith reducing the file size to under the 44k without making the picture quality too poor or the picture too small. The files I am starting off with are 1.5m and using web resizer they are reducing down but I have to reduce the size and quality to get the file size small enough. Any tips here please?

Richard

[Jeff]

If you go up and click on the help button in the menu bar, you will find a link to a photo posting tutorial that gives you some information using a shareware program to compress file size that is free at www.xat.com

[Dana]

I tried to load a few photos today I recieved this message.
     

Home

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  Critical error
There was an error while processing a database query



Powered by Coppermine Photo Gallery

I tried to load anyway and none were successfully loaded. I assume the error is the problem? I optimized at 450pix and 35k

[flip]

Having problems getting photos compressed from my new dig cam.  I am set on 3 meg.  When I go to resize and compress I turns a pixely, any ideas??

[beenthere]

Having problems getting photos compressed from my new dig cam.  I am set on 3 meg.  When I go to resize and compress I turns a pixely, any ideas??

Not sure what the last few words mean.. : :  "I turns a pixely..."

But resize first...that is get the pixels on longest side of your photo to less than 500.

Then save, to a file size under the 42 kb upper limit.

Not doing the pixel resize first, will make for a small photo with large file size.
Hope this helps.

[Rocky_J]

How do I get the photo gallery to display in English? For some reason it's displaying in Spanish (I think) for me. I'm not even going to attempt it if it's not in English.  :(

[Dave Shepard]

There is a box to select language, but that probably in Spanish too. :D It's the box that is under the phrase "Powered by Coppermine".


Dave

[Rocky_J]

Thanks Dave! I thought it was a conspiracy to make us all Spanish!  :D

[Dave Shepard]

  :D Your welcome!

I now have mine set on Deutsch. ;D


Dave

[petefrom bearswamp]

I have a mac, How do I do photo posting?

[Jeff]

Not at all sure about a mac.  The uploading process has been pretty much automated if your mac is java enabled.  When you make a post, look for the link under the post box you type in that says:

Java Uploader (re-sizes for you)

You will have to accept the applet plugin the first use, then wait for the page to completely load.

[Warbird]

If you have your Mac locked down like I do, you may have to accept for your browser to "listen for incoming requests" every time you click the upload link.

I've uploaded a few pics from my Mac with the new java loader.  It's pretty slick.

[turningfool]

great upgrade jeff..no more  wrong sized pictures anymore and a snap to use..ty

[DWM II]

 testing





Hot Dog! I think I finally figured it all out!
I kinda feel like a computer guru!

[Mooseherder]

 8) 8)
More! More!
Looks like you ate your Wheaties.  How you moving the Beams around?
Looks like a great project.

[DWM II]

Im gettin all my ducks in a row for a post in the timber framing forum about building a hybrid house. Keep yours eyes on the look out.
Been using a motor lift and a A-frame. Also notice the furniture dolly under the tie beam!
One more for a teaser and practice......

[Norm]

Nice shop!

[Woulde]

test - take two

[Woulde]

hot *DanG!

[Magicman]

Good picture of an ugly tree.....

[LOGDOG]

I'm trying to use the Java Uploader that automatically resizes the picture for me without going through XAT.com. It worked fine on my laptop but not working so great on my Desktop. I get a message that says: The file length for '100_2386.jpg' is too big. (69340 bytes).

What am I doing wrong? I thought it would resize it like the others.

Thanks

[Norm]

I seem to get that when my original file size is huge like yours. Works ok for anything under 3mb for me.

[LOGDOG]

I wonder if cropping it down would help?

[Warbird]

Probably.  Jeff would have to confirm what the maximum starting file size is but try to get it down to 3 or 4 MB first, then use the java uploader.

[LOGDOG]

I've been trying to upload a pic that is 1.21 mb and it won't take it. In fact the Java uploader for seems to keep shutting down my Internet Explorer. I've had to restart like 8 times. Any ideas?

[Warbird]

Update your java?

[LOGDOG]

Yep Java is updated. It worked fine for the one and then kept having all the trouble. Then I realized that I had a Windows Picture Program that would let me resize and compress my pics. So that's what I did. I don't like XAT.com I always pick up some kind of trash when I download their program and in two instances I've had fatal crashes after downloading their optimizing program. Not sure if it's coincidence or what but I'm not giving it a third shot. Managed to get some pics up last night using the Windows optimizer.

[pineywoods]

I've run across a couple of pics that the java uploader doesn't like for some reason, not the size. Probably has something to do with my ancient os (win98) and the old version of java that goes along with it. I don't spend any time trying to solve the problem, just use xat and then jupload runs.

[Jeff]

I get so tired of seeing complaints about posting photos. Seems like every time I have a bad day, I get on here and there is another one.

If you can't post a photo I'm sorry. there are over 100,000 photos altogether on the Forestry Forum server, so there is a great number of members that have no problem.

If you cant post a photo and you ask for help doing so, You'll get it with out fail from another member or myself.  I've called all around the country on my dime to help people that ask for it, and invariably, after saying thank you, they say, I can't believe how easy that really was.


if you can't post a photo, and then you make a post to just complain about how good it is somewhere else, to that I say. Go there. I was going to say go somewhere a bit warmer too but decided to just be disgusted without the cursing.

[thecfarm]

Every one should know how to downsize pictures no matter where they are. I'm only on dail up so I really need people to down size for me. I have cetain people that don't want to learn this easy way to down size so I told them don't send me pictures until you learn. Some just won't take the time to learn. I don't understand the complaining about it either. I did not know how to do all this stuff either until I came here. I can understand how this way is better than "other places".

[Just Me]

Jeff

I kind of wanted to add some pictures to a gallery to show what kind of work I do, and maybe show off a bit, ;) but I am running Windows 98 still and Java will not let me download. Is there a way around it?

By the way, very cool site with a great bunch of down to earth folks on here!

Larry

[pineywoods]

JustMe, might be some other problem. I run win98 and have no problem uploading pics. One thing you might check, the later versions of java won't run on 98. You can upload pics without using java, you just have to use some other program to re-size the pics first. Try a program called xat.  It's a free down load. xat will show you the size of the pic in pixels, then scale it down to the required 500 width or even less.

[Jeff]

I would suggest looking in your add/remove programs and uninstalling java, then try installing again.

When you say java will not let me download, what is it actually doing?

[Just Me]

I would suggest looking in your add/remove programs and uninstalling java, then try installing again.

When you say java will not let me download, what is it actually doing?

I did not previously have Java on my computor, and it said that they can no longer service my antique.

I screwed around for an hour trying to figure out a way, and when I realized that I could jump in the truck and drive them down to Jeffs house in less time I called it quits. Its not really all that important, my work is high end junk for the other end of the social set, and really has not much to do with sawmills other than it is wood.

To be perfectly clear, it is no problem of the forum, I am just an idiot with a computor. They have never been able to capture my interest, and so I don't learn much about them. Things change too fast for something that bores me for me to keep up. Guess I'll have to update soon as I am running into more and more "will not run on 98" issues.

Thanks guys, but don't waste any more of your time on Me.

Larry

[Tom]

Larry,
The optimization of pictures is worthy of learning, whether it be for the forum or not.  You will find that you can send Optimized pictures VIA email in a flash, whereas the transmission of non-optimized photos can take minutes, or more.

There are instructions on the forum for using that XAT product and it isn't difficult.  It's just a matter of doing it one time, the same as anything else new.   Just take note, regardless of how you transmit photos, that you keep the original in a special place and not change it.  It is your backup to screwing up.  Move a copy of it to a new folder that you identify as being for optimization and do your work there.

Take the time to learn how to do it.  You will never regret the effort.

[Jeff]

I did a little research, and I see that java has discontinued support of 98 and do not offer downloads for it because of security issues.


I may have to do another alternative video. I am working on a completely different system, but it may be a bit before bears fruit.

[WoodForge]

For quick and simple resizing on my desktop I use a newer version of the old XP Power Tools Image Resizer utility.  After it is installed, simply right-click on a photo in Windows Explorer and you'll see some resize options.



For Windows XP/2000/Vista: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-xp
For Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit:  http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/

Codeplex is Microsoft's "open source" code repository.  I use codeplex regularly for enterprise-level applications (check out SharePoint Manager 2010).  However, like any software, always scan it for viruses after you download it and use some common sense to ensure you are downloading from a reputable site and developer.

WoodForge

[Magicman]

Thanks for the link WoodForge, and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.  I needed a better one for Win7.   

Start an "Introduction" thread on the "General" board and tell us a bit about yourself.   ;)

[Radar67]

Since I started using the JUpload on the Gallery page, I no longer have to resize or optimize any of my pictures. This is a big time saver, as most of my pictures are in the 7 to 10 Meg file size range. The JUpload does all the work for you.

[Magicman]

I don't need the resizer for the FF, but for every other forum it is a necessity.   :-\

[Sprucegum]

I can't believe the size of the photos I have posted lately!! Am I hogging all the band width wagon or what?

[Jeff]

You are under the limits, and your photos all compressed. 

[Sprucegum]

 8) cool indeed  8)

[james04]

This is not working for me. I am able to upload via java in my gallery. But my forum reply does not look like the one in the tutorial. it only has the attachment option that says "DO NOT USE THIS FACILITY FOR UPLOADING PHOTOS!". See the attached screen shot.

What am I doing wrong?

[beenthere]

Looking in the gallery for recent additions, none show up for you. Guessing they are not in your gallery?

Another interesting thing while looking at the recent additions, is they show as being listed today. These are for pics that were on the forum prior to today.  Something that may be happening elsewhere.

[Warbird]

Jeff will probably have to look into this one.

[Jeff]

This entire topic is obsolete, so don't follow anything here. I'm working out of town until Saturday so can't really help right now.  I looked at the gallery briefly on the phone and don't see anything wrong, but like I said, its from a phone.