Q - I tried to upload a picture and it won’t let me. What do I do now?
A - There are a few reasons the upload didn't go through.
1. The reason is because your image is too large for the server, in other words it is over the 600 pixel limit.
Please resize, crop or compress your picture to under 600 pixels in width (or in height, for vertical shots).
When using the Cropping tool on your editing software you can take out some of the background that may be adding extra bytes to your pictures.
The reason we recommend 600 pixel size pictures (which should result in filesizes between 20K and 80K) is because an internet browser only sees up to 72 dpi. Very little detail will be lost (if any) in using smaller images.
Reducing a picture below 60K only affects pictures that are to be printed on paper. Reduction has no effect on internet pictures.
2. Your photo is the wrong file format. We can only support .jpg or .gif formats.
The photo must be resaved in the proper file format, and the .jpg or .gif suffix must be appended to the filename.
Just changing the suffix will not change the file type. Saving in the proper format but omitting the .jpg or .gif suffix will not work.
Remember, .bmp and .tif formats will not work.
Full Version: Photo Upload Tutorials
Q - Do you have some tips for editing my pictures
A - Pix Tips:
Picture file size should be under 30 KB (kilobytes) for quick page downloads.
The visual size of your picture should be no larger than a standard photograph (3" by 5" or 4" by 6" ) or, Resize to no larger than 600 pixels wide. Remove unnecessary background by using the cropping tool in the editing software.
Save your edited picture as a JPEG or JPG file (file types other than JPEG, JPG, or GIF should not be used).
Here's how:
Choose Save As from the File menu. Name your file. (use lowercase and make sure there are no spaces between words) Select JPEG or JPG from the "Save as type" drop-down list.
Note: Selecting JPEG or JPG will automatically end your filename with .jpg (for example, carphoto will now be carphoto.jpg).
If your images are HUGE on your monitor, it is likely you used too high a resolution or dpi setting on your camera or software. Those higher settings were meant more for desktop publishing.
Computer browsers display 72 to 96 dots per inch generally, so a setting higher just "blows up" the image. We recommend using either a 72 dpi setting, or "low" resolution. If you feel, however, your image displays better at a higher resolution, you will need to use a command called resize, resample or redimension to change the size. If you have an option to resize in pixels, make sure there is a box marked "maintain aspect ratio" and is checked (or you get a distorted image).
An excellent image size is 600 wide x 400 tall or the closest combination to that size.
The image might look "normal" in your image software only to grow in size once its placed in an forum. This happens because some graphic programs temporarily reduce the onscreen size by changing the view ratio of the image in order to make it easier to view in a browser or software program window. Make sure you are viewing at a 1:1 ratio to see the correct size. Changing the view ratio does NOT change the actual size of the image, many people think they "reduced" the image by hitting the "zoom out" button, only to find it is still the same giant size once uploaded.
A - Pix Tips:
Picture file size should be under 30 KB (kilobytes) for quick page downloads.
The visual size of your picture should be no larger than a standard photograph (3" by 5" or 4" by 6" ) or, Resize to no larger than 600 pixels wide. Remove unnecessary background by using the cropping tool in the editing software.
Save your edited picture as a JPEG or JPG file (file types other than JPEG, JPG, or GIF should not be used).
Here's how:
Choose Save As from the File menu. Name your file. (use lowercase and make sure there are no spaces between words) Select JPEG or JPG from the "Save as type" drop-down list.
Note: Selecting JPEG or JPG will automatically end your filename with .jpg (for example, carphoto will now be carphoto.jpg).
If your images are HUGE on your monitor, it is likely you used too high a resolution or dpi setting on your camera or software. Those higher settings were meant more for desktop publishing.
Computer browsers display 72 to 96 dots per inch generally, so a setting higher just "blows up" the image. We recommend using either a 72 dpi setting, or "low" resolution. If you feel, however, your image displays better at a higher resolution, you will need to use a command called resize, resample or redimension to change the size. If you have an option to resize in pixels, make sure there is a box marked "maintain aspect ratio" and is checked (or you get a distorted image).
An excellent image size is 600 wide x 400 tall or the closest combination to that size.
The image might look "normal" in your image software only to grow in size once its placed in an forum. This happens because some graphic programs temporarily reduce the onscreen size by changing the view ratio of the image in order to make it easier to view in a browser or software program window. Make sure you are viewing at a 1:1 ratio to see the correct size. Changing the view ratio does NOT change the actual size of the image, many people think they "reduced" the image by hitting the "zoom out" button, only to find it is still the same giant size once uploaded.
Q - How do I find the actual internal size of my picture?
A - Finding the actual size of my image for Win95/98/ME/2000/XP Systems.
1. Go to your desktop and click on "My Computer". You probably know where you have stored your files. If they're on your hard drive, click on ( C: ) and then find your image file. For me, that would be in "My Documents" and then "Pix" since that's where I made my folder and named it "Pix". Or if you have your images on a floppy, just place it in the A: drive and then click on 3 1/2 floppy ( A: ) instead of ( C: ).
2. Now you can click on the file to highlight it and at the bottom of the screen it will show you how many kb's that image is. If you right click on the highlighted image file it will show you even more information.
3. About bytes versus kb's: there are 1000 bytes in a kb, so when someone says "my image is 40,000 bytes", that image is 40kb's.
A - Finding the actual size of my image for Win95/98/ME/2000/XP Systems.
1. Go to your desktop and click on "My Computer". You probably know where you have stored your files. If they're on your hard drive, click on ( C: ) and then find your image file. For me, that would be in "My Documents" and then "Pix" since that's where I made my folder and named it "Pix". Or if you have your images on a floppy, just place it in the A: drive and then click on 3 1/2 floppy ( A: ) instead of ( C: ).
2. Now you can click on the file to highlight it and at the bottom of the screen it will show you how many kb's that image is. If you right click on the highlighted image file it will show you even more information.
3. About bytes versus kb's: there are 1000 bytes in a kb, so when someone says "my image is 40,000 bytes", that image is 40kb's.
Q - I uploaded my images, but I only see a red X or broken image icon. Why?
A - This could be due to a few different things.
1. Your image editor may be saving images in a proprietary jpeg format that is not web-compatible. Adobe Photoshop is a program that causes problems for many of our users, due to the way it saves jpeg images. Some versions of Photoshop will save two copies of an image, one web-compatible and the other not. The web-compatible image may have the word "copy" or "alias" in the file name. Check your file and see if there are two copies - if there are, try uploading the alias image file.
2. Your image may have been saved in a format other than jpeg. You cannot change a file format simply by changing the extension. If you have a file named picture.ppt, and you change it to picture.jpg, that does not make the image a jpeg image. It might upload, but it won't display. If your image editor does not have a "save as" jpeg option, you should probably consider downloading a free image editor (We like Irfanview - http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967.html ) that will allow you to save jpeg images in a standard, web-compatible format.
3. You might have some browser control software installed on your computer like Net Nanny or At Guard. This type of program may affect your ability to view images on the Internet.
4. You might have your "view images" browser setting unchecked. Make sure you set your browser to view images or web graphics.
A - This could be due to a few different things.
1. Your image editor may be saving images in a proprietary jpeg format that is not web-compatible. Adobe Photoshop is a program that causes problems for many of our users, due to the way it saves jpeg images. Some versions of Photoshop will save two copies of an image, one web-compatible and the other not. The web-compatible image may have the word "copy" or "alias" in the file name. Check your file and see if there are two copies - if there are, try uploading the alias image file.
2. Your image may have been saved in a format other than jpeg. You cannot change a file format simply by changing the extension. If you have a file named picture.ppt, and you change it to picture.jpg, that does not make the image a jpeg image. It might upload, but it won't display. If your image editor does not have a "save as" jpeg option, you should probably consider downloading a free image editor (We like Irfanview - http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967.html ) that will allow you to save jpeg images in a standard, web-compatible format.
3. You might have some browser control software installed on your computer like Net Nanny or At Guard. This type of program may affect your ability to view images on the Internet.
4. You might have your "view images" browser setting unchecked. Make sure you set your browser to view images or web graphics.
Q - How do I tweak an image to upload faster and view faster?
A - Perky uploads
There's no point in having a great picture if it loads so slow that the prospective viewer has to wait an eternity to see it. If done right, "tweaking" can help you take an image from 270K down to a perky 20K by reducing the onscreen size and increasing the jpg compression. But don't go too far with compression or you will get a bad result. Use the image resize or resample command to make the onscreen size reasonable -- we usually like making the widest side 600 pixels, but it can vary slightly depending on the image. Finally we "tweak" it to load fast by going to file preferences and setting the JPG compression to about "50" -- each program varies so experiment before selecting your preferred setting. If you compress too high, you won't discover the mistake until after you upload the image only find it looks blocky and scrunched.
HINT: If you are manipulating a hi-res picture for posting, change the dpi first, then change the overall size of the picture.
A - Perky uploads
There's no point in having a great picture if it loads so slow that the prospective viewer has to wait an eternity to see it. If done right, "tweaking" can help you take an image from 270K down to a perky 20K by reducing the onscreen size and increasing the jpg compression. But don't go too far with compression or you will get a bad result. Use the image resize or resample command to make the onscreen size reasonable -- we usually like making the widest side 600 pixels, but it can vary slightly depending on the image. Finally we "tweak" it to load fast by going to file preferences and setting the JPG compression to about "50" -- each program varies so experiment before selecting your preferred setting. If you compress too high, you won't discover the mistake until after you upload the image only find it looks blocky and scrunched.
HINT: If you are manipulating a hi-res picture for posting, change the dpi first, then change the overall size of the picture.
Q - What does "case sensitive" mean?
A - On UNIX servers, like the one we use, files are named exactly what you type ... including capitalization. For instance, look at the following 2 file names:
MyPicture.jpg
mypicture.jpg
Even though the file names look the same to you, the server sees them as two distinct files. That's because UNIX “knows” that you capitalized 2 of the letters in the name.
Please save all of your files using lowercase letters. Our upload program will take your file names as you send them. We have found that files named with all lowercase are much more compatible with all operating systems.
A - On UNIX servers, like the one we use, files are named exactly what you type ... including capitalization. For instance, look at the following 2 file names:
MyPicture.jpg
mypicture.jpg
Even though the file names look the same to you, the server sees them as two distinct files. That's because UNIX “knows” that you capitalized 2 of the letters in the name.
Please save all of your files using lowercase letters. Our upload program will take your file names as you send them. We have found that files named with all lowercase are much more compatible with all operating systems.
Q - What is the best file format, and why?
A - More color & smaller files = .jpg
We generally recommend saving your images in the .jpg format. This is because .jpg images are generally web-compatible, more color-rich, and smaller in bytes than other file formats (this means they will load quickly for your viewers.) .gif images, although also web-compatible, are less color-rich and tend to be larger than their .jpg counterparts. We don't accept .bmp or .tif images as they are not fully web-compatible and tend to be very large in bytes.
A - More color & smaller files = .jpg
We generally recommend saving your images in the .jpg format. This is because .jpg images are generally web-compatible, more color-rich, and smaller in bytes than other file formats (this means they will load quickly for your viewers.) .gif images, although also web-compatible, are less color-rich and tend to be larger than their .jpg counterparts. We don't accept .bmp or .tif images as they are not fully web-compatible and tend to be very large in bytes.
Q - Where can I create a free photo album?
A - Here are a couple to check out.
Webshots, and
hp photo.
To insert an image from your off site album (check hosting policies):
(img)http://www.yoursite.com/yourimage.gif(/img)
(change parentheses to square brackets “[ ]” )
Your image will be displayed
Note: Please use small images (500 pixels wide). Thank you!
Software to consider for your web photo projects:
We like IrfanView - http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967.html (Free)
Photoshop Elements - http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/main.html ($89.99)
System Requirements - PC Windows
Paintshop Pro: http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/ ($129)
System Requirements - PC Windows
GIFworks online tools: http://tripod.gifworks.com/ (Free)
System Requirements - Mac or PC Windows (Does not work with jpg files)
A - Here are a couple to check out.
Webshots, and
hp photo.
To insert an image from your off site album (check hosting policies):
(img)http://www.yoursite.com/yourimage.gif(/img)
(change parentheses to square brackets “[ ]” )
Your image will be displayed
Note: Please use small images (500 pixels wide). Thank you!
Software to consider for your web photo projects:
We like IrfanView - http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967.html (Free)
Photoshop Elements - http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/main.html ($89.99)
System Requirements - PC Windows
Paintshop Pro: http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/ ($129)
System Requirements - PC Windows
GIFworks online tools: http://tripod.gifworks.com/ (Free)
System Requirements - Mac or PC Windows (Does not work with jpg files)
More information on Irfanview:
To view information on a graphic:
BASIC: Dimensions, Color Depth, List Order, Compressed/uncompressed size, date/time are displayed in status bar at bottom. Changes as images change.
To set Image Display mode:
Select View> Display Options> <take your pick>
To set Image Display order:
Select Options> Sort Directory Files> <take your pick>
To move back and forth in the folder:
FORWARD: SpaceBar, Right_Arrow or Page_Down keys, or roll mousewheel towards you
BACK: Backspace, Left_Arrow or Page_Up keys, or roll mousewheel away from you
To view information on a graphic:
BASIC: Dimensions, Color Depth, List Order, Compressed/uncompressed size, date/time are displayed in status bar at bottom. Changes as images change.
EXPANDED: Click Information button (Circle i) in toolbar to open a dialog. Does not change with image change.
NOTES:
Be sure to get the IrfanView Plugins accessory:
Irfanview Plugins
It adds a lot of functionality.
To view information on a graphic:
BASIC: Dimensions, Color Depth, List Order, Compressed/uncompressed size, date/time are displayed in status bar at bottom. Changes as images change.
To set Image Display mode:
Select View> Display Options> <take your pick>
To set Image Display order:
Select Options> Sort Directory Files> <take your pick>
To move back and forth in the folder:
FORWARD: SpaceBar, Right_Arrow or Page_Down keys, or roll mousewheel towards you
BACK: Backspace, Left_Arrow or Page_Up keys, or roll mousewheel away from you
To view information on a graphic:
BASIC: Dimensions, Color Depth, List Order, Compressed/uncompressed size, date/time are displayed in status bar at bottom. Changes as images change.
EXPANDED: Click Information button (Circle i) in toolbar to open a dialog. Does not change with image change.
NOTES:
Be sure to get the IrfanView Plugins accessory:
Irfanview Plugins
It adds a lot of functionality.
Final step, uploading the picture to FiberglassRV.
Okay, you now have your photo sized properly and ready to upload. At the bottom of the "Reply" input screen, in File Attachments...you'll browse to where your picture is located.
Click to view attachment
Then click "Add this Attachment" to upload the picture to FiberglassRV
Click to view attachment
If you wish to have something like:
text
picture
text
picture
you'll need to click each picture in order
Click to view attachment
Then ending result would look like this in the "Reply" window" (Notice "attachmentid..."
Click to view attachment
Okay, you now have your photo sized properly and ready to upload. At the bottom of the "Reply" input screen, in File Attachments...you'll browse to where your picture is located.
Click to view attachment
Then click "Add this Attachment" to upload the picture to FiberglassRV
Click to view attachment
If you wish to have something like:
text
picture
text
picture
you'll need to click each picture in order
Click to view attachment
Then ending result would look like this in the "Reply" window" (Notice "attachmentid..."
Click to view attachment
Sorry to clog up your tutorial with this, but it is relevant - feel free to delete this message (or I will) after it's read.
I find the 'attachmentID' function behaves in a way that I can't predict - it is by no means certain that it will insert the photo at the end of the current text, if at all. And if inserting more than one photo they seem to chose their own order to appear in, not mine! Instructions on how to get this to work consistently would be welcome.
I don't imagine it's relevant, but I am using Firefox.
Andrew
I find the 'attachmentID' function behaves in a way that I can't predict - it is by no means certain that it will insert the photo at the end of the current text, if at all. And if inserting more than one photo they seem to chose their own order to appear in, not mine! Instructions on how to get this to work consistently would be welcome.
I don't imagine it's relevant, but I am using Firefox.
Andrew
QUOTE (Andrew Gibbens @ May 28 2006, 09:27 AM) 
Sorry to clog up your tutorial with this, but it is relevant - feel free to delete this message (or I will) after it's read.
I find the 'attachmentID' function behaves in a way that I can't predict - it is by no means certain that it will insert the photo at the end of the current text, if at all. And if inserting more than one photo they seem to chose their own order to appear in, not mine! Instructions on how to get this to work consistently would be welcome.
I don't imagine it's relevant, but I am using Firefox.
Andrew
I find the 'attachmentID' function behaves in a way that I can't predict - it is by no means certain that it will insert the photo at the end of the current text, if at all. And if inserting more than one photo they seem to chose their own order to appear in, not mine! Instructions on how to get this to work consistently would be welcome.
I don't imagine it's relevant, but I am using Firefox.
Andrew
I use FireFox also Andrew. What I find the easiest to do and predictable is to type all the text, and get all the pictures ready to upload via the "File Attachment." Then when I'm ready to upload within the text, I place the cursor in the text where I want a picture to appear (by clicking within the text ...and putting in a "carriage" return if necessary), then click "Add into Post." If you've done that with multiple pictures, you'll notice the "attachmentid" is in numerical order based on the order you clicked "Add this attachment."
Does this help
So I should test this method to see if I can post a photo of a British folding fiberglass trailer in its folded state here:
Click to view attachment
in its partially-raised state here:
Click to view attachment
and in its fully-raised state here:
Click to view attachment
and then post the message to find out if it worked.
Andrew
On edit: Thanks Donna, that does work as promised!
Click to view attachment
in its partially-raised state here:
Click to view attachment
and in its fully-raised state here:
Click to view attachment
and then post the message to find out if it worked.
Andrew
On edit: Thanks Donna, that does work as promised!
Glad the instructions were understandable...and doable!Really cool pictures too Andrew
I wanted to try a picture
This is up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Thought I was posting 3 different sizes but they look the same to me. You're welcome to delete this if you need to.
This is up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Thought I was posting 3 different sizes but they look the same to me. You're welcome to delete this if you need to.
Okay, Chris. Notice that pic no.1 and pic no.2 both look good (the same) when you click on them. Notice that pic no.3 is pixellated. I'd say it's too small... But you've demonstrated here that a 15k pic file can look just as good as 120k pic file. (The 3rd one is just 7.5k... Not enough data in that one to make looking at the expanded view desirable.)
Thanks for your test.
Thanks for your test.
What do you do if you do upload a picture and then find something wrong with it, wrong picture, etc?
I see "Manage Current Attachments" but it doesn't seem to do anything.
I see "Manage Current Attachments" but it doesn't seem to do anything.
Next to the Manage Current Attachments is a down arrow, pull down on that and click the button with the RED X. The software will ask for confirmation to delete. Once deleted, you're good to upload another picture.
BTW: There should be a number inside parens (1) next to the Management Current Attachments title that tells you how many pics you've uploaded. No number, no pictures have been successfully uploaded.
Does this help?
BTW: There should be a number inside parens (1) next to the Management Current Attachments title that tells you how many pics you've uploaded. No number, no pictures have been successfully uploaded.
Does this help?
QUOTE (Donna D. @ Jul 1 2009, 05:48 PM)
Next to the Manage Current Attachments is a down arrow, pull down on that and click the button with the RED X. The software will ask for confirmation to delete. Once deleted, you're good to upload another picture.
BTW: There should be a number inside parens (1) next to the Management Current Attachments title that tells you how many pics you've uploaded. No number, no pictures have been successfully uploaded.
Does this help?
BTW: There should be a number inside parens (1) next to the Management Current Attachments title that tells you how many pics you've uploaded. No number, no pictures have been successfully uploaded.
Does this help?
Doesn't work that way. All I get is a bar with a very small up arrow, a smooth section, a cross hatched section, a very small down arrow and a smooth section. The small arrows look like they are clicking but that doesn't do anything...
QUOTE (Roger C H @ Jul 2 2009, 01:44 AM)
Doesn't work that way. All I get is a bar with a very small up arrow, a smooth section, a cross hatched section, a very small down arrow and a smooth section. The small arrows look like they are clicking but that doesn't do anything...
I don't know what I did, but I suddenly got a little box below the "Manage Current Attachments (x)" window. I found the red x, removed the two pictures, and inserted the correct one. Thank you.
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