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POSTING PHOTOS on Crappie.com _____________________________________________________ I know some of our members don't need all the detail I'm providing, but I remember the confusion I went thru to feel my way to my first photo post, so I'm aiming this at the guys and gals that are new to the board and want to learn "how to," so let's "get 'er done!" The first step is to import your photo to to your computer. There are certain parameters to be met where size is concerned, so you must have a "resizing" program to deal with that. Most pics loaded on computers via a scanner or digital camera are way too large to post, so lets take a look at a simple program to handle the job. Microsoft makes a tool to resize our pics that is free, simple to use, and a small download. It's only purpose is to "resize" photos. This one is Windows XP specific, so if you don't have that platform but have Windows, try www.irfanview.com or www.imageresizer.com/ or you can enter "Free image resizer" in your search engine and take your pick. If you don't use Windows, again, use your search engine for whatever you do use....you must have a resizer. For XP, click on this link, it will take you to the site where you can download it.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx When you get to the site, scroll down looking on the right for "Image Resizer." Download it. You've got the resizer now, more on it's use in a moment. There are two ways to post photos on crappie.com, one is the "attachment method" that uses the photos right from your computer. The upside is that it's easy to use, the downside is over a period of time it will tax the site's resources. Also, the photo size must be no larger than 146.5 KB's, and that's where everyone gets the "file too large" prompt and it will not post. The other way is the "URL method" wherein your photos are posted on the 'net to a site for storing your pics. I must recommend this method as it takes nothing from our site. It's sole purpose is to assign a URL to your photo, but it's also a handy place to store pics. The advantages are that it supports the memory for the photos instead of our site and has no size restrictions on the pics. Now we're looking for tools again, we need a place to put our pics on the net if you would try the [preferred] URL method. I will use photobucket.com as an example since it's what I'm most familiar with, and use almost every day. Click on Photobucket below for their site and look for the free service. You will have to sign up with a username and password. Their instructions are simple, so just follow the prompts to link it to your computer. While you're there, save Photobucket to your "favorites" for efficiency when you're posting pics. _________________________________________________________ Now, about the "resizer." The attachment method requires a specific photo size, as mentioned above. The URL method has no size restriction, but to do a neat job, it should fit to the crappie.com forum page size. By the numbers, it breaks down like this: 1) The URL Method....... My favorite, and best for the site. Right click on your photo, click on "resize pictures" then "advanced" then "custom", you will see two numbers. Delete them and enter 695X525, then click "OK" and it's resized. (640X480 "small" is good too) Those numbers are a good fit to the crappie.com forum pages. You're already on board with Photobucket (www.photobucket.com ), so go there and sign in, when you are in your album, select "browse" and find the pic you just resized....remember it will have the word "custom" in it's title. Left click on it and hit "open." It will take you back to Photobucket....look for "submit" and click on it. When the screen blinks, scroll down to see your photo. There are three lines under your photo, left click on the 3rd line down [img] to highlight it...right click and select "copy." Open another browser, go to crappie.com where you want to post, enter your subject and text, place your cursor where you want the top of your pic to be, and right click then select "paste." You will see the URL appear under your text. Click on "preview post" to see your pic. You can post more than one photo if you have the pics already resized on Photobucket, just go back to it and repeat starting at copying the third line down under the next photo. I highly recommend using "My Pictures" as Photobucket will link there first. I have a Kodak program I use to edit my photos so I linked them together. If you prefer, you can just "click and drag" the pics you want to post from Kodak and other programs to My Pictures, resize them there and link to them from Photobucket.________________________________________________________
2) The attatchment method........ Right click on your photo, click on "resize pictures," then "advanced," then "custom," you will see two numbers. Delete them and enter 440 X 330, click on "OK" and it's resized. The resizer will not change the original photo,( unless you specify it ), but it will duplicate it in the size of the pixel number you entered. The pic you resized will have the word "custom" in it's title....be sure that's the one you select to post. Now, go to the forum and select either "new thread" or "reply", enter your subject and text, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "manage attachments", select "browse", and find the pic you want to post. Left click on it once and hit "open." This will take you back to "manage attachments," click on "upload," then "close this window," then click on "submit reply" or "submit new thread," whichever applies. You will not see your pic until you submit it. If you have your pics in "My Pictures," you can find them quickly when you browse....... if they are in a Kodak program (which I use to edit photos) you may have trouble navigating to them. My Pictures are already integrated in my computer, I link them together for convenience. I would advise you to go to the Test Area and have a few practice runs before you post in the forum. Click on the crappie on the upper left on the state forum page, on the page it takes you to, scroll down till you see "test area," click on it and post a few to get the feel of it. ._________________________________________________________
Just a couple requests: 1) As many members as we have now, and the number that are posting pics now, try the URL method to save the site resources for other amenities, some of which we're seeing on the forums now. 2) Use the "Test Area" to practice your posting pics there instead of on the boards.........Thanks
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article by LABILL - Thanks a ton Bill, great help and great job