How to post images

If you can't get your picture to upload here, it must be HUGE in file size. The limits are set to 200kb, which should be PLENTY for all pictures. I think the problem is that some aren't editing and resizing their photos. For posting on the web, all photos need to be resized, and not just the pixel dimensions.

I resize everything in Photoshop, but I'm sure most of you will have an image editor on your computer. 5WOP3, maybe you can chime in and let them know which program to use (I'm not up on what comes installed since I've never used anything but PS).

The pixel dimension limits are 800x640, and the file size limits are 200kb (I prefer editing to 640x480 though for forum posting, but that's your choice). Edit your images within those limits, and you'll never have a problem. I think most people are just uploading straight from their camera, which will give you the biggest sizes...but for the web, images need to be resized for many reasons. If not, we'd run out of space quickly. :lol:

The entire site is designed with 1024 x768 resolution on a 17"/19" monitor (the most commonly used resolution and monitor size used today) in mind. That's a happy medium which should work for everyone.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_display.asp


Here's a test image....let me know if you guys would like the thumbnails to be larger, or if we should even use thumbnails at all...it's your guys'es call.

My recommendations -

For the site - I personally would disable the file attachment function. I think the space/bandwidth could be used for other things (more PMs, larger avatars, etc.,). If someone asked how to attach a picture, I would refer them to using photobucket. By doing this, you cut down on space and on bandwidth taken up on the server.

For users -

Image hosting
I recommend photobucket for image hosting. With photobucket you have a ton more options that you can use. Resize, special effects, organization, rename, you get alot of space and best of all - its free. I even have the upgraded pro version.

Photobucket also automatically resizes pictures upon uploading to a certain size. 1024x768 is the largest you can use on the free account, but the pro accounts can do some very large pics. 3 or 5 mph i think. You would see grains of dirt on my XX from 20 feet away haha.

Video Hosting
Youtube. Get an account on YouTube and start uploading your videos there. They have options that allow you to insert comment bubbles now at certain times on the video and alot of other neat features.

Photobucket has video hosting as well. The one and ONLY thing I like about photobucket hosting over YouTube hosting is that whe you upload a video, you dont have to wait for it to be processed like you do on YouTube, which sometimes take up to 30-45 minutes depending on the length of the video you just uploaded.

I have no problem allowing users to upload to the sites space, especially at this time. We're not too big yet where it would affect performance of the site at all. Down the road, who knows, but I don't think it would ever be a problem.

The only problem I have with external hosting is that people will remove images over the years from their photobucket account, or let the accounts die off, and then we're left with a bunch of broken images all over the place. That can really frustrate members looking for a specific image, which may be of great importance to them to view. If they upload straight to club700xx.com, the images will be working virtually forever, years down the road. :tup:

I can't tell you how many forums I visit that have broken images in the posts, ones just made a year or two back. :steamed: