THIS TUTORIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED TUTORIAL FOUND HERE (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=23851.0)
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.
Please use this tutorial to learn how to place your photos within your gallery.
-explanation of creation of an album in your gallery-
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=12936.msg180416#msg180416
Photos uploaded to the Forestry Forum that are used within a post must not
ever be deleted!
Here's how to post your pics. If I make any boo-boos, you admins feel free to make corrections. :)
First you need to resize and compress your pic. I use the image optimizer found at www.xat.com . They have a 30 day free trial, but the program remains in your puter and is usable after that. Tips on using it:
Cropping your image will greatly reduce the image size.(number of pixels) Crop as close as you can without losing the integrity of the subject. This way, you won't have to reduce quality so much and will post a clearer pic.
Close and re-open your pic after each step. It makes it easier. If you don't, you'll be working with an image smaller than a postage stamp. ::) :D
Resize your image next. I'm still using limits of 350x350 pixels. Jeff can tell us if that has been liberalized, but it seems to give me a nice sized image.
Compress the image by reducing image quality. You shouldn't have to reduce it much if you have cropped well. Here again, I'm still using the old limit of 20kb, but the limit may be higher now.
When saving your image to your puter, only use hyphens or dashes for spaces and never ever use !@#$%^&*()+":;?
As they are all illegal naming characters.
You should now have a postable image in your folder. (in your computer) You're finished with the image optimizer now, and are ready to upload the image into your gallery.
Assuming you've already started the post you want to add a photo to, click on "Additional options" below the box you're typing in. (You can also go directly to your gallery before beginning your post.) This will take you to the Forum Gallery, so you have to click "My Gallery" to get into your own collection. Once there, click on "Upload Image". Here you will see five Browse buttons. Poke one of them and it will take you back to your folders where you click the image that you already optimized. Click the "Open" button, then you'll have to hit "Continue" a few times until it takes you back to the Forum Gallery. A thumbnail of your image should be there among the new images, or you can return to your own gallery and see the same thumbnail pic.
Now here is where most people seem to get lost, so LISTEN UP! ;) Double click that thumbnail and you'll get the real photo. Just below and to the left of it, you'll see "Copy Image Code" and when you poke that it will highlight the image code below the pic. You're done with the gallery at this point.
All that's left is to return to your post, position the cursor where you want the pic, click Edit, then Paste, and the image code will appear in your post. When you post it to the Forum, the photo will be there. You won't see the photo while you're typing, just the image code.
I hope this helps some of you. We really like to see pics of you and your stuff. ;D
DanG thanks for doing this 8) I was thinking about it and just way too lazy to get it done. :D
GOOD SHOW DANG I AM ADDING SOME PICS TO YOUR FINE EXPLAINATION.......IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THIS DONE SO ITS WORK IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW we can further refine our text and pics to make this fool proof????
Here's how to post your pics. If I make any boo-boos, you admins feel free to make corrections.
First you need to resize and compress your pic. I use the image optimizer found at www.xat.com . They have a 30 day free trial, but the program remains in your puter and is usable after that. Tips on using it:
Cropping your image will greatly reduce the image size.(number of pixels) Crop as close as you can without losing the integrity of the subject. This way, you won't have to reduce quality so much and will post a clearer pic.
Close and re-open your pic after each step. It makes it easier. If you don't, you'll be working with an image smaller than a postage stamp.
Resize your image next. I'm still using limits of 350x350 pixels. Jeff can tell us if that has been liberalized, but it seems to give me a nice sized image.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%200.jpg)
Compress the image by reducing image quality. You shouldn't have to reduce it much if you have cropped well. Here again, I'm still using the old limit of 20kb, but the limit may be higher now.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PIC%20PROJ%201.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PIC%20PROJ%202.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%203.jpg)
When saving your image to your puter, only use hyphens or dashes for spaces and never ever use !@#$%^&*()+":;?
As they are all illegal naming characters.
You should now have a postable image in your folder. (in your computer) You're finished with the image optimizer now, and are ready to upload the image into your gallery.
When you start a post this box will appear , click on "Additional options" below the box you're typing in.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%205.jpg)
Then click on ,"Click here for member photo gallery"
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%206.jpg)
Next look to the upper right for ,"Upload file" click it
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%207.jpg)
This will take you to the Forum Gallery, "Upload Image". Here you will see five Browse buttons. Poke one of them and it will take you back to your computer where you stored the image that you already optimized.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%208.jpg)
Click the "Open" button, then you'll have to hit "Continue" a few times until it takes you back to the Forum Gallery. A thumbnail of your image should be there among the new images, or you can return to your own gallery and see the same thumbnail pic.
Now here is where most people seem to get lost, so LISTEN UP! Double click that thumbnail and you'll get the real photo. Just below and to the left of it, you'll see "Copy Image Code" and when you poke that it will highlight the image code below the pic. You're done with the gallery at this point.
All that's left is to return to your post, position the cursor where you want the pic, click Edit, then Paste, and the image code will appear in your post. When you post it to the Forum, the photo will be there. You won't see the photo while you're typing, just the image code.
I hope this helps some of you. We really like to see pics of you and your stuff.
Before uploading photos to your gallery, you must first have an album to put them in. Once you create an album, you are ready to upload. Go up and click the "image Archive" button to get started. This opens a window with your Gallery page in it.
If you have never created an album look for this:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/create_album.jpg)
Click on the Create / order my albums and you will see this:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/album-manager.jpg)
Click the "New" button, you will then see text that says "New Album". Edit that text in the lower box such as I did in this example. Mine says "Jeff's sawmill photos".
Then click "Apply modifications".
You have now created an album and have a place to upload photos to. Now just look for the "Upload file" link
Jeff, now that I've got some pictures in my gallery, I'd like to better orginize them by making some new albums and moving pictures from the main one I got to another.
Is that possable? ::)
Will the posts where they're shown now not have the pictures linked?
No, it is not possible. If you do, you will break all the links to your photos. I had a member delete his entire album last month and cause broken links throughout the forum. Luckily he had backup on his computer, and after me jumping him, he spen a whole bunch of time, which I appreciate, restoring things. In the thread about the gallery, I say that I wont stand for people deleting photos. Once you use them, they are there. My alternative for this software is to set it so I have to approve each action. I DONT want to do that.
I suggest you start being neat from this point on. :)
Quote from: Jeff B on June 30, 2005, 02:52:27 PM
I suggest you start being neat from this point on. :)
You say that like
you never change anything.. ::)
Bib, if you make additional albums you can place a picture from an existing album into the new one without breaking links.
Go into My Albums, click edit files and you'll see a drop down lister with your album names and you can change what album that file resides in. I've done it and it doesn't break the link because the url doesn't include the album name, just the user's ID number.
Ok i can post 1 picture into my post but im having trouble with the 2ed ,3rd one---JP
JP, simply go back to your gallery and select the code for the next picture, then come back to your post and paste the code in where you want the photo to appear. You can do this as many times as you can stand it. :D Holler back if I mixed you up.
I was trying to optimize some pictures just now, and I can't figure out how to rotate pictures using xat. I can't see why it wouldn't let you do that. Does anyone know how it's done ???
It's not available on the "free" version.
What I do is use one of the photo programs like Adobe or PictureIt or HP Photosmart or something like that. I do all of my picture adjustments of contrast, lightening, darkening, cropping turning, retouching and all that with my favorite photo program.
Then I save that copy of the changed photo to a folder of stuff that I want to optimize. I even rename it.
Then I load xat and optimize that picture for putting on the forum or for emailing or whatever.
That way I still have the original saved in it's little folder and I can find the optimized ones if I need them later.
You can also crop and rotate after you've loaded them to your FF album. Click on the pic to open it and under it is a crop and rotate button that opens the photo editor
Corley5, that worked like a charm, thanks ;D
8) 8) Anytime :)
Was able to get one picture to post but getting a message saying my "pixel allowance" is exceeded. The file was compressed on only 14K with xat as suggested but looks like something else is coming in to play.
It must have exceded 350 pixels wide or tall. Shrink it a bit to less than 350 pixels. ;)
Actually 400 or less is the limit but 400 is hard to crunch the file size. 350 seems about perfect so is the recommendation.
Let's see if I have it or not. ???????????????
https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13145/family1.JPG
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13145/the%20boss.JPG)
I have been trying to get photos in my message fgr some time. There is a little note below my photos in my galery that states. "Click to copy photo insertion code" but that doesn't make the photo show up. I finally highlighted and copied the location code and made it work. I pray that other folks are smarter than I am and have less trouble than I do.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13145/family1.JPG)
BINGO! You did it! :D
That only copies it. You then have to paste it in your post. :) It may not even copy it if you are using something other then Internet explorer. Making posting photos hard is actually, pretty much, my hobby. ;D
There mght be something about the settings on your machine which doesn't allow you to use the "click here to copy the code".
I found the code on the page which is supposed to snag it
href="javascript:selectThis('preSpan1')">Click to copy photo insertion code
and the code requires "javascript" to be able to do that.
There are about 20% of computer users on the Internet that do not have javascript or do not have it enabled, so this feature might not be working on your machune because of that.
The reason lots of users disable javascript is because there are some nasty things which "can" occur if it is used un-wisely or with bad intentions, so I do not recommend enabling it for that reason. You are better off simply using the 'cut and paste' method.
In My Humble Opinion.
Ok, I am not the sharpest tack when it comes to computers...I downloaded the image optimizer DanG posted, and I can crop to get the file size correct, but it is in j-pag...and won't go..now what? My pictures are in real time? from my camara and my profile picture went up ok...so what am I doing wrong???? ???
Change the percentage of compression in your Jpeg. Is there a field to adjust the compression setting, or a slider. I sometimes have to go down to 50 % compression. Your file size has to be under 30 kbytes remember. ;D
The error message I get says "no j-peg" and the file is j-pag. It gives the allowed file types and I can't find a way to convert them...bet you can tell computers are not my thing. >:(
Are you using the forum gallery or the attachment manager? The attachment manager that you find just under the posting box by clicking on the "Additional Options..." Link is NOT for posting photos, only documents.
You have to use your forum gallery to upload photos.
Donk the gallery actually accepts ping.
That was in reference to Xat actually. But it must be hard getting the compression under 30 k though of a 350 pixel wide image. ;) My avatar is PNG, but it's not in the gallery.
Quote from: SwampDonkey on January 30, 2006, 12:24:16 PM
That was in reference to Xat actually. But it must be hard getting the compression under 30 k though of a 350 pixel wide image. ;) My avatar is PNG, but it's not in the gallery.
I just checked, your right on the ping. Its not the gallery that stops it though, its the server software that creates the thumnail images, imagemagick.
Still. I bet he is trying to use the document upload.
Yes I know your avatar is not on our server because many times it cause the forum pages to load slow on pages you post on due to that server having difficulties. I think I will fix that. ;D
Loads fine here. On this dialup, I wouldn't notice the difference anyway. :D Some people have to fix stuff that ain't broke. ::)
I left that avatar on my server cause if I go the way of the dodo there's no use flying the company logo. ::)
Quote from: Jeff B on January 30, 2006, 01:02:37 PM
I think I will fix that. ;D
I couldn't get through to the CEO of Yahoo, good luck. ;D :D :D :D
Thanks for the help, and I finally read DanG's post carefully like 4 times. Jeez, and I thought learning to fly a helicopter was a real bear :D Now if I can get practiced on compression and cropping without loosing the quality, it will work. Only took me a few years to figure out the digital camara so it may take awhile. Seems like lots of the pictures I see are near perfect, so it is me (my technique). 8)
Well, at least your on the right path. ;D
A little tip for ya, Joasis. Cropping is the key. If you stand back, or zoom out a bit when you take the pic, you can crop out more of the pixels, and you don't have to compress as much. I don't know why, but it seems to work that way with me. Also, be sure you're compressing the right image. That's why I always save, close and open my image after each step in xat. I always rename the image when I save it after cropping, using the "save as" feature in xat. Then I still have the original image on file under the old name. After that, I just "save as" the same name and that overwrite's all those intermediate versions during the process.
Another thing you might try is to turn down the resolution on your camera a notch. On my 3.2mp camera, I have the image size set at 2048x1536 and quality set at standard. This gives me an original pic of about 300-400kb, rather than one of them 2meg monsters.
When I do all of those things, I usually don't have to compress very much, sometimes not at all. I hope this helps. If you still have problems, PM me and we'll kick it around a bit. :)
Thank to DanG and Buzz sawyer for this topic I have posted my first picture Cool 8) 8) 8)
So I posted back in the Fall OK, then I put together Lud's Puzzle and plugged in a string of pics to several kind reviews.
Then the old box died and it's taken a few weeks/months to get the new one - and get the Posting phots /xat system back up and so I optomize 3 pics and I go into Additional Options and Upload file and Upload Image........and I can't seem to find the thumbnail?????
Could you discuss ? Have I got too many pictures? Do I need another album? I know we don't DELETE but do we have limits on number of pics?
Did you click on 'My Gallery' within the photo gallery page? You may have several albums in there that you may have created before, look in each of those. I think if you have more than 6, then you page through them by clicking on [1] [2] [3] ..etc at the bottom right to get to the next page of albums.
If you click on the gallery link from within your own profile you should go right to them. I see several photos there with the date of March 11
When you get your first gallery page it is just showing random photos and those that were most recently added. You have to click on the picture of the photo at the top of the page to actually enter that album.
Thanks, gentlemen, that portion of my brain cleared up and I'm good to go. I do appreciate your assistance.
I posted a picture of my dog Boo-Boo.I want to thank you DanG and buzzsawyer.I couldn't not of done it without the good directions you wrote out.We just got a digital camera a few weeks back.Hope more pictures will follow.
I have been meaning to ask
JeffB if we could have a special page, where my illustrations on posting are full screen to make it easier to read....was it understandable at that size?
Was just like a regular post.I did print off the directions and will put them in my computer notebook to refer to.I did have to highlite the parts I wanted.Any way of making this a printer friendly version so that all that you print are just the directions?I know how to highlite and print just what I want.Maybe others have never been told.
Lower right hand and upper right hand corner of each thread have a print button.
SwampDonke ,I saw the print button,but when I click on to it,it looks like I will get all 3 pages here.All that I wanted was the directions,not all of the replys too.
ahhh, ok.
"I'm still using the old limit of 20kb, but the limit may be higher now."
Is there a new limit? smiley_headscratch I am losing lots of detail in my postings.
maybe... :)
MS, how large are your originals? I'm taking mine at 2048x1536 pixels, at the "standard" quality setting on my camera. My pics come out at about 400kb. Then I crop them as much as I possibly can without losing the integrity of my message. After that, I reduce the size to below 400 pixels on the long side, and I usually don't even have to compress to get them below the 30kb limit. ;D
DanG,
I don't know how to do that on my camera. Asked wifey and she doesn't know either. There are many little bottons on this camera that I have learned to ignore. :-[ I posted some pics tonight and compressed them down to "30" on the slide scale thing and they posted fine. And I do reduce them to 400 pixels on the longest dimension.
Where do you see the "30kb" designation on the XAT program?
MS, I would think your camera has a "Menu" button. Punch that and it should tell you what size your pics will be.
You should be able to tell the file size of the pic in your computer by right clicking on the photo and going to properties, or just position the cursor on it and it may tell you the file size automatically. Just be sure you're looking at the actual photo, and not just a thumbnail of it.
In XAT, the file size is displayed on the top of the individual picture window you are working in.
Thanks,
I will see what happens to my pic sizes without compression. They seem to be really small - in the 7000 - 13000 bytes rang. Not even in the kilo-bytes range yet. Isn't a kilo-byte 1000 bytes? :-\
I always size it to 400 pixels on the long side first, then compress in Photoshop 7 using the 'save for web' utility.
Quote from: SwampDonkey on July 08, 2006, 06:46:34 AM
I always size it to 400 pixels on the long side first, then compress in Photoshop 7 using the 'save for web' utility.
I uploaded my first picture this morning. Yippie! I also use Photoshop. (my day job involves 3D modeling and animation, photography, video, etc)
Photoshop's
Save for Web is in fact the most efficient way I know to prepare images for electronic transfer. You are not limited to using PS 7 - I don't rember when Adobe first included Save for Web but I've been using it for years. It is even included in the consumer version of Photoshop, Photoshop Elements with a slightly different user interface. This command turns what can be a frustrating trial-and-error session into a simple procedure. Here are the steps for Photoshop in case anyone is interested:
- Load image, rotate, crop, and color correct as needed
- Choose File/
Save for Web--- Note: I use either the
Optimized or the
2-Up display tab at the top of the screen
- Resize the image
--- Click the
Image Size tab on the right, enter the size (I used 400 width), click
Apply--- Note: resizing can also be done before entering this Save to Web dialog
- Click the
Optimize Menu button (small triangle in circle, above to the right)
- Choose
Optimize to File Size from the menu
- Type the desired file size (35) and click
OK--- Note: the new file size will be shown under the optimized image
- Click the
Save button and save the file with a new name
Photoshop is not free, but in my opinion well worth it if you need to work with graphics, and especially if you are the kind of person who values good tools! It does seem a touch odd that someone who would never be caught with cheap tools will beat head repeatedly against wall to avoid buying good software tools. The Photoshop Elements program (the consumer version of Photoshop) costs less than a cordless drill on sale at Home Depot.
JKJ
My first photo: Sawing short pieces for woodturning blanks
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13220/P2253140sc2.jpg)
Good job on the pic, jkj! 8) You should put it on the Sawmilling board. That's one of the better pics I've seen of a LT-15 in action. :)
Everyone should use whatever photo program works well for them. I'm real comfortable with xat's Image Optimizer and you can get it for free. From your description of Photoshop's steps, I think xat is easier, too. I know Photoshop has a lot more features and allows you to do more things, but I don't care to do more things. Anyone who has another program they like should certainly use it. :)
Here's a pic I took at the Pig Roast. The original was 672kb. I reduced it by resizing to fit the Forum specs, then only had to compress from 33kb down to 29kb.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10074/frontporch01.jpg)
Now here is an image I cropped out of that same 672kb original. All I had to do was pull a little box over Furby's head and click crop. It was ready to upload at that point.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10074/furby01.jpg)
I really don't feel like I'm beating my head against anything, but I probably would if I was trying to learn a new program! :D :D
Dang, it ain't complicated, eh? Just move that mouse pointer to the left, then up, click the mouse, then move back down and hit one of them buttons again. ;D
Quote from: DanG on August 11, 2006, 02:27:25 PM
Everyone should use whatever photo program works well for them. I'm real comfortable with...
I agree! People who regularly post photos on any forum have a way that works efficiently or they probably would not be so prolific. I was thinking more about those who have trouble or suffer photo processing anxiety from past attempts. For many years I was a moderator for another forum and watched people struggle due to poor software tools. Those who do NOT currently have and use good image software might benefit from an inexpensive and powerful tool such as PS Elements.
Thanks for the kind words about the sawmill photo. That is one of the few photos of me since I'm usually taking the picture!. When I get time I may post it in the Sawing section - I read some discussion earlier about ways to hold and saw short sections and that photo shows a method I came up with for the short term.
Here's a happy Mr Parr from our woodturning club with his haul of bowl blanks from that afternoon:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13220/P2253156s2.jpg)
I'm having great fun with the LT-15!
JKJ
I think I've got the photo posting down to a routine that works for me but having a time with my avitar. Had it but lost it and can't seem to replace it. Any suggestions?
Somehow you must have removed the link to it in your profile page. Just click your username in any post it appears in and it will take you to your profile, or you can click the profile icon up top in the forum menu strip. Then edit or add the url for your avatar. I've set mine ages ago and it's never disappeared since we switched over to the new forum server back around Christmas 2004 ???
It took me a minute, but I figured it out. There were several things.
First: There were two instances of Http:// You are only allowed one. It is a common mistake because the software primes the little window with one and then you end up adding another with the link.
Second: there was a space at the end of the link
Third: You don't use the IMG tags in the avatar window. It's just the link. That's confusing too. I've made the mistake a bunch of times. My problem is that I can't remember from time to time. That makes me stupid too. :D ....or maybe just senile ;D
Anyway.... your avatar is back in place. :)
Thanks Tom!
I'm surprised there weren't more problems. I must have tried about 100 different directions to get it back up.
Steve
Steve, I downloaded the big version and kicked your avatar up to the maximum width and reset it. Its a bit clearer now. Excellant picture.!
Thanks Jeff,
That was on one of my attempts to get it to post. I know some sites want the avatar really small. Didn't help.
Steve
I really like Onthesauk's avatar. A while back I was thinkin gof how pretty it was and that I'd like to go see that sometime. Then I looked at his profile to see where that was and checked it out on a map. I"VE BEEN THERE!!! Maybe I even saw that mountain, but without as much snow on it. 8) 8)
That's the view off our front porch. I just checked, that was taken on March 3rd, just after I had dropped a couple of big maples that kind of framed the left side. View is a bit different today, glacier is still there but much of the rest of the snow is gone. It's Whitehorse Mountain.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12858/August%2013.jpg)
Taken a few minutes ago, a lot less snow.
It's that confounded Global Warming again. :-\
We've got to figure out how to get rid of that dreaded June, july and August before the world melts into a puddle of water. :D
Going through Terrace to Prince Rupert BC you can see alot of receding glaciers, some are now 'extinct'. In Prince Rupert they built a ski lodge and lift, there ain't been snow on that mountain any longer than 36 hours for at least 10 years. Some kids burnt the lodge down. Alot of the times they shedule ski events in Whistler for Olympics and Commonwealth Games, it's too wet to ski. ::)
I just tried to post some pics of what I have been up to lately. I got an error message saying "forbidden file extension" and I could not upload the pics. I crunched them to less than 400 pixels, I used the old limit of 20kb and the file extension is .jpg.
What gives? ???
The Photo Gallery is broken.
What ya do now Tom? You go on vacation for a few days and the place falls to pieces. ;) ;D
just marking this post, thanks
After posting my first picture on this forum, I got an e.mail suggesting I read this thread to understand the ways here.
Okay, I've read it.
Now, I'm not unused to posting on bulletin boards. One I use has my posts in the tens of thousands, others in the thousands. I post pictures all the time. I really don't like having to file my pictures in the 'gallery' system as I post way too many on most of the forums I use, so I generally use either my own ISP-supplied webspace, --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!-- or --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!--. Tinypic has become my most used recently.
I try to keep my pictures to a size that's compatible with the forum and what others use on that forum. I've not been asked to abate in this in some years, but I will say that one forum I used to use did get somewhat stroppy with me for using pics that on other fora were not a problem at all. Here I'm talking about file sizes in the 35-45kb range.
But where there are rules, I'm happy to try and abide by them.
In reading through this thread I find the heavy emphasis on using the xat.com program. Do you mind if I recommend an easier one? I hope not, as I'm going to recommend it anyway.
This is Irfanview. It's a free download with no 30-day thing and no request to buy anything. It is different, but it seems to me to do all that xat.com does. And I feel, though I must say I haven't spent a lot of time playing with xat.com, that it's easier to operate.
Cropping is about the same, but more straightforward... drag and drop > click edit > click 'crop selection'. It doesn't require any prior opening of a crop tool. Your cursor is that tool. Finis.
Most other operations are done under the 'Image' dropdown. Rotate, invert, change size (in a variety of ways), change resolution in a flash, change to greyscale, change to negative, and one that doesn't seem to be there in xat.com... sharpen!
But I may be wrong. xat.com seems to be a program that's designed to look like and in some ways operate like Photoshop. I've never got along well with Photoshop and continually give up trying because of its complexity and lack of explanation.
Irfanview, on the other hand, gives you all you want at a glance.
By the way, I tried for a considerable time to follow the directions for uploading to an album (achieving it finally) and then to follow the directions to post from that album (which is unachieveable because the format of things seems to have changed) so I could bring this simple Irfanview menu to you:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14517/demoimage.jpg)
Now, as things stand, I have no idea if that will work as I post this. It is simply a cumbersome and difficult method to work out. I could post that pic via Tinypic in a flash, know for sure it will work and know that it won't be using up your storage space.
But I'm trying to keep to your rules.
Okay, so that worked out, by virtue of me clicking on 'properties' after right clicking on the thumbnail, copying and pasting to the post, adding the image codes and deleting the thumb code.
So I'll show you the Irfanview 'resize' window, see how easy this is?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14517/demoresize.jpg)
My purpose here hasn't been to try and teach you folk how to suck eggs. I have been trying to work within your rules and methods, but feel a need to show you that there are alternatives to xat.com that may be more appropriate to the less computer-literate and to express my frustration with the awkwardness of your gallery-derived picture posting rules.
Yes, irfanview has been used by members for optimization, it's not new to us. We aren't selling software, just trying to suggest something that we know will work and that we can help with if there are problems.
Optimization isn't the only reason we require pictures to be placed on the Forum Gallery. The biggest reason is to insure that the picture remains available to the post. Lots of folks will link off-site and then find that they need to do some housekeeping later. Their pictures are deleted or renamed and their posts in forums throughout the net get a broken link.
The Forestry Forum prides itself in making all of the information from the beginning of the forum to current available to members. That's a lot of years of posts and thousands of pictures.
I used to use link off-site to a place provided by Hewlett Packard. They changed the rules one day and all my pictures had their links broken. It wasn't long before all of my pictures were deleted because I didn't care to have them sell me paper prints.
I then used a second storage company and had the same thing happen again. Thank goodness for the fore-sight Jeff had in requiring us to use the forum for our storage.
As long as you find a piece of software that you are comfortable with, and it works, it makes no difference to the Forum what it is. One thing that XAT provides is an intimacy with the photograph. It doesn't make decisions for you. Your picture size isn't linked directly to the number of KB's, and visa versa. You have an option and optimize each individually. One good option is the availability of being able to optimize areas of the photo rather than the entire photo. You can let the background become almost undecernable while the object of the picture remains lettuce crisp. Yes, there is a sharpness function as well.
I use XAT image optimizer just so that I can have those options. They have a JPEG Optimizer if you don't like so much hands on.
Thanks Tom, your explanation gets into areas where I knew you were coming from. I will try to make further inroads into understanding those more 'unique' features of xat.com.
To help you understand why I posted, let me say that when I see difficulty and I feel I can help, I never hold back from trying to make things easier or better.
Let me just explain a couple of things, please.
I have never deleted pics that I've uploaded, but I know some do. I understand that part of what you've written. I also hate 'broken links'... on some of the fora that I use there are threads that get pulled out of the archives after five and six years and they are full of them.
But for the most part, threads don't last all that long and those posting the pics might well not see the need for them to remain there 'doing nothing'. I don't see it that way and clearly you agree with me in that.
So let's start with that point on which we both agree, and I suspect we agree strongly.
Okay, then let's look at one of the options I use, Imageshack.
This free hosting service guarantees to retain any image uploaded for a full twelve months
after it is last accessed! That means it would require that nobody access a thread with a picture on that server for a full year before the picture is deleted. In the vast majority of cases, surely this is enough?
So let's then move on to my next frustration, something that's take a fair bit of my spare time over the past two days to overcome (yes, I have been working on this on and off for two days, I have been determined to try and do what's right on this forum).
This is the introduction of pics to the gallery and then posting from the gallery, something which I am still to properly master.
Instructions came in a post on page one of this thread, in a post from Buzz Sawyer:
QuoteNext look to the upper right for ,"Upload file" click it
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%207.jpg)
This will take you to the Forum Gallery, "Upload Image". Here you will see five Browse buttons. Poke one of them and it will take you back to your computer where you stored the image that you already optimized.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10677/PROJ%20PIC%208.jpg)
Click the "Open" button, then you'll have to hit "Continue" a few times until it takes you back to the Forum Gallery. A thumbnail of your image should be there among the new images, or you can return to your own gallery and see the same thumbnail pic.
Now here is where most people seem to get lost, so LISTEN UP! Double click that thumbnail and you'll get the real photo. Just below and to the left of it, you'll see "Copy Image Code" and when you poke that it will highlight the image code below the pic. You're done with the gallery at this point.
Undoubtedly you've had an upgrade in your software or something and it no longer looks like that.
But in particular (yes, I could find the new upload button), the "copy image code" doesn't exactly jump out at me when I double click on the thumbnail. This is where I'm still trying to find the answers, and I'm happy to have your direction if you can help me out.
Finally, please don't misunderstand me. Perhaps because I began by suggesting Irfanview as a simpler alternative to xat.com you have read my whole post thinking that I'm trying to tell you what to do and how to do it. Or maybe you thought that my explanation of my background using forums was me trying to appear superior rather than me, as I am doing, trying to explain that I've been around and I really don't know where I am missing out in trying to understand your forum's operations.
I am trying to learn here. Not how to resize pics, I can do that in a flash. But how to post them using your methods.
*Please also note that I added a little to my earlier post while you were posting. And I've had to edit this for the same reason!
I thank you Mr. Bell for your suggested program for optimizing pictures. But, without going to the site to download a file, and taking your words "It's a free download with no 30-day thing" as fact, I would like to point out the fact that you are free to use whatever photo optimizing program you wish. In order to upload images to the forum however, you will have to stay within the confines of the forum photo posting protocals set up by the Administration of this forum. I would also like to point out that it would be proper to read the forum rules on etiquette and other matters that your fellow Administrators have set up to make this forum a pleasant experience for all members to enjoy. It is not looked upon too kindly to come on board any forum, and before you make even 10 posts, you suggest bucking our photo posting rules. Aside from this, I see you have already posted two pictures on here. Before too long I'm sure the procedure will become less painful. Oh, and if you should decide to stay on with our friendly group, welcome to the forum and enjoy your stay.
Cheers :)
One can only be friendly if those reading what one posts read it in the correct light...
I have not in any way tried to buck your systems. I actually posted: "But where there are rules, I'm happy to try and abide by them."
What I am asking for is assistance in doing that. I am awaiting an answer to the point I made about the 'copy image code' direction in the gallery.
If you can explain that to me then all will not have been in vain.
Ray, there was a modification of the layout/design of that page. However, the functions remain the same. What I do to copy the image code is to click on the thumbnail of the photo I have in my gallery and that loads the screen with the image in full size. Under this image is the code you can highlight with a mouse drag, copy and paste into your post. I think you may have done this already. I have not myself, personally clicked on the line that automates the procedure. There may be a difference in it's behaviour when using other browsers besides IE 6.0.
Sorry for what seemed to be an abrasive tone in an earlier post. Seems some lines have been edited since I first read your posting. Now I see a bright light shining. I just hope it isn't a train. ;)
Always glad to help a new member. ;D
Thanks, yes it does seem to work right now... don't know why I didn't get this before. Yes, I do, perhaps... I was following the instruction to 'double click' but on the thumbnail at the top rather than one in the album.
Only one click is necessary too. And the image code line appears across below the pic to be copied and pasted. That's easy.
So once we've deciphered those things and allowed for the new software etc, maybe I won't see this any more?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14517/demonotallowed.jpg)
Perhaps things are different in other browsers, but, this forum was built with IE in mind.
If you click on a gallery thumbnail (I don't think it requires a double click) the true, optimized image will appear. Beneath that image will be the URL of picture with forum image labels bannering it. Beneath that URL are two more lines. One is "click to copy photo insertion code to clipboard". This is just an aid to copy and paste. If you want, you can highlight the URL and copy it, then paste it into the post. Or, you can click that line, quoted, and it will copy for you. You still need to paste it into the post.
The next line will search the forum for posts where that picture is used. This is helpful, especially when researching a picture found on the Random pictures on the opening page when you sign on.
It isn't rocket science, just an aid to folks who already know about Cntrl X, Cntrl C, Cntrl V, etc.
and a fail-safe for those who don't know.
You can put the pictures in an IM (instant Message)/(Private Message) if you want to practice.
Actually the example you gave for pictures not going away unless they are unused in 12 months, isn't good enough for us. :D You will find 6 years of posts on the forum. They go all the way back to the beginning. All content is intact, accept for posts that were corrupted by posters (some deliberately and some not) or a failure of the software that caused the loss of content, or the failure of an admin who had a fat-finger or brain burp and caused loss of content. When that happens, we make every effort to get it back. Sometimes, though, it is just gone. I think you will find that the information on this forum is quite complete in comparison to other forums who keep content for only a month or maybe a couple of years.
Yep, it is expensive to do it this way, but you can't beat trying to have it all. :)
Now, I have confidence that your exhibited intelligence will provide an easy path to following protocal. It isn't difficult, just something else one must become used to doing. Different isn't always bad.
You will notice that we have no "Archives". We like it that way and hope that the entire forum can remain active forever. 'Course that may be an unattainable dream. But, it's a goal to shoot for, just the same. :)
I share your pain with the picture posting Ray Bell :'(
Ray, I'm only speculating that your album was not set up at the time, or there was some kind of error, or one of the admins was modifying something behind the scenes. I thought maybe it was caused from not being logged in, but there is no way that could happen because there would not be an 'upload file' button.
You're quite correct... it wasn't yet set up... because I hadn't yet found the means to set it up...
When I said I'd been frustrated by this for a couple of days, I meant it. But I was determined to work my way through it and now I have.
On the subject of long-lived threads, the first forum I ever joined has these in abundance. I've been a member there since December 1999 and the very first thread in which I participated has been resurrected a few times since then. So I do understand the need to try and keep things in place over longer periods than a year.
My point about Imageshack is that the pics remain unless they are unused for more than a year.
But this is the way you do it here and I'll work along with that.
We have some threads that will lay there for a couple years and then become active again.
They may or may not have been accessed during that time.
I have written two long posts and deleted them both. It is the Christmas season.
Hot poker night ;D
smiley_contract_point smiley_brick hits_hardhat
QuoteOriginally posted by Jeff B
I have written two long posts and deleted them both. It is the Christmas season.
I answered one of them, went back and found it wasn't there and had to change my answer to suit another post that had landed in the meantime!
Chalk another one up for 'groaning' pains. ;D
Welcome to the Forum, Ray Bell. I hope you'll stick with us, despite a somewhat frustrating beginning. :-[ I wrote the original instruction at the beginning of this thread, and the system has been updated since then. It never occurred to me that Buzz's pictorial instruction is now outdated and could(and does) lead new posters astray. I guess that is one series of pics that actually SHOULD be deleted, eh? :D :D I'll see about writing a new instruction, after an appropriate period of cogitation, of course.
I suggested xat.com as a manipulation program because I feel it is easy to learn for people who aren't accustomed to handling photos. Now I'd like for everybody to believe that statement, but the real reason is, it is the one I use and understand, and the only one I could explain. ::) :D
I'll reiterate what others have said about our system. It is very important to us that photos posted here remain available, permanently. This site is, and always has been, primarily an education tool, but it has branched out to become a large family of good friends, sharing ideas as well as the joys and sorrows of life on this earth. I have had 2 forum members visit here within the last 4 days, and expect to see more in the near future. You just do not often find this kind of closeness on the web. :) :) :)
Thanks for the welcome...
I'm not really a timber person, I must say. As 'Big Dave' Mawer always says, "I used to think it was cheap and nasty stuff, but since I started to use it I found out that it's not cheap. And you can't weld it when you stuff up!"
No, I came on here to follow my good friend (of over 30 years ago! Is it really?) Quinton as he builds his cabin in WV.
But I have to say, there's nothing in this world (that's not human and female, anyways...) that is as warm to come home to as natural timber. There's nothing that delights the eyes as much as an expanse of forest leading off into the distance and there's nothing like the breeze under a stand of trees on a hot day to make you feel cooler.
I do recommend you try Irfanview for simple pic reductions. I find xat.com difficult to understand, so you'd have to find Irfanview easy after that. But on balance, I think there might be things about your favorite program that complement mine and vice versa. In other words a place for both.
I learned Irfanview after using xat and really can't stand Irfanview.
Xat was much easier to use, but I have walked folks through using both.
Half dozen one way, 6 the other way, what ever works.
QuoteOriginally posted by Furby
I learned Irfanview after using xat and really can't stand Irfanview.
Xat was much easier to use, but I have walked folks through using both.
Half dozen one way, 6 the other way, what ever works.
Basically, I have to thank you folks for introducing me to xat...
I'm still keen on Irfanview for most things, it's quick, it's easy and it does a lot. But it also reduces the resolution of pics without being asked.
Not a problem for internet or computer use, but for publishing it's a real issue. I came up against a problem yesterday where I simply had to crop one pic and rotate another and when I did that with Irfanview the file size dropped from 1.8mb to 180kb and the pics were no good for magazine use.
I think I've said before that I hate Photoshop, so I did some sussing about with xat and found how you do the things I wanted. Cropping, of course, is dead easy, though it's slow to save the cropped image. Rotating is too, but once again, slow to save.
From now on I'll be having both at my disposal on my computers because they each have their benefits. So, as you say, it's six of one and half a dozen the other, with each one having strong points in different areas.