Inserting Picture/Images In Your Posts/Threads

[JimK]

Hello, I'm an avid shooter love guns and enjoy your forum very much and finally decided to register so I could participate and join the fun.
I would like to be able to include pictures from time to time, but have no idea how to do it. I know I can't just insert them like I do with email so I thought I would ask for your help (cross my fingers).
I use Win xp pro, IE 6.0.29 with all the updates and have a high speed cable connection.
What do I need in order to post pictures? If I need a webpage....will one with Yahoo (GeoCities) or one with my Road Runner (cable) company work? If I use Microsoft Front Page to build my website will it work?
I know nothing about tags, codes and such and the tabs up on the task bar (Code, List, List=, Img* and URL) are only confusing to me. So if you wouldn't mind taking the time to explain what and how the process works I would really appreciate it. Please use easy to understand terms because non computer types like me tend to get over whelmed very easily when it comes to computer talk.
Thanks,
JimK[/img]

[toyfj40]

[quote="JimK"]
I would like to be able to include pictures from time to time,
but have no idea how to do it.[/quote]
Welcome JimK to the forum. I'll attempt a brief answer to posting photos.

1. Yes, you need some external/"other" web-host for your image files,
you mentioned a (yahoo/Geocities) FreeWeb-site
or your Host-ISP provided webspace. either/both will do just fine.

you may want to pre-size your image file to be an appropriate size
for multiple-downloads... like 50-75Kb works for a lot of files
but some images may need 200-300Kb... but a HUGE 1-2-3Mb file
that comes from some new digital camera is a burden to a forum-reader.
Also, there is a Height/Width aspect of an image that can make it OverSized
to show in a posting...
2. Upload your photo/image files to that host.
either .jpg or .gif (other formats work, too, but that'll be most of them)
3. make note of the FULL-Internet-URL address,
ie: http://www.Mywebhost.com/someFolder/det ... wPhoto.jpg
or some-such-looking conglomeration.
4. begin your post on this forum, I'm typing in a window with smilies
on the left and some feature-buttons above...
5. at the place in your posting where you want an image,
then you can manually type the Begin-IMG-Spec-Tag: [IMG]
immediately followed by your Hosted-Image-URL
and closed by the End-IMG-Spec-Tag: [/IMG]
you'll see something like: [IMG]http://www.Host.com/folder/Image.jpg[/IMG]

6. then, when your posting is being read, the image-file will be inserted.

NOTE: I checked "Disable BBCode" to enable the Tags to be seen,
instead of utilized to display an image...
I'm not trying to write a full-doc, off-hand... try it and use the
PreView button below your window to test-the-view...
good luck.

[Bullseye]

Welcome JimK. In addition to Toy's excellent comments there are some free internet picture hosting sites available, like Photobucket.com, where you can upload images and direct link them to websites. Some Webhosts prohibit direct linking, which is what you are doing when posting a picture onto a forum or website, so be sure you can post from your image host.

Clicking the IMG button on the posting a reply menu is a great aid in publishing pictures. Click once then paste in the http:// address (URL) and then click the IMG button again to close the image code and display your picture. Take care, because the format for posting pictures is very syntax specific. This means one little missing puncutation mark can cause the image to not appear. You can click the PREVIEW button to see if your image will display in the posting before submitting it to the forum. If it fails to post, then you have to check the format carefully. Once it's right, everyone can enjoy the photo.

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye

[JimK]

Thanks Fellows! I'll try and build a website and take some pic's tomorrow so I can give it a try.
JimK

[Bullseye]

You don't have to build a website if you don't want to, just register with Photobucket and start uploading images. http://photobucket.com/register.php?link=topmenu


R,
Bullseye

[JimK]

Bullseys, I downloaded a jpg file to Photobucket.com and seeing if I can get it to go. Thanks for all the help. This is just a pic of Opie (My 20 month old Brittany) wanting to go wiath dad for a ride. Sorry no gun pic's yet.
Jim

[Bullseye]

I see a spotted pooch and a water scooter. Looks good!

R,
Bullseye

[JimK]

Got to make it smaller (640-480 is too large). This is great.....Thanks again.
Jim

[Bullseye]

For a simple size reduction MS Picture Manager works pretty well. Click "Edit Pictures" and then scroll down the right side of the screen to "resize pictures." You can rezise them three ways: by preset sizes; by pixel dimensions; or by % reduction of the photo. Save it and your ready to roll.

R,
Bullseye