All about Using Images Online.
There are many places that you might want to post images online, and for less experienced internet users this can be a difficult task to understand. On this page I will try to get you through the basics of posting images, covering the 2 places that you are most likely to want to post pictures. These are:
1. Forums and Message Boards.
2. Websites.
Depending on where you are posting your images you will need to use different types of HTML code. (Don't worry if you can't write HTML - there is an easy way around this)
But first of all, no matter where you post your images you will need an online image hosting account(don't worry this won't cost you a thing). The only other way to post images is to hotlink this means copying the image location of a picture that someone else has posted and pasting the code into a forum - this is not approved of !!! Hotlinking to images drains the bandwidth available for the original image poster and they may have to remove their pictures as a result (which will also mean that your link will no longer work either). Hotlinking is like image piracy - please follow the instructions on this page and don't be tempted to hotlink.
Personally I use photobucket as my online image host, I've had very few problems with it so far, although there are other hosting sites available for you to use. But as I'm most familiar with photobucket that's what I'll use to demonstrate on this page. A quick warning - the descriptions I give on this page are for Windows operating systems, if you're using different systems (such as Mac - some elements may differ)
Uploading a Picture To Photobucket.
OK, so make sure you've got the picture that you want to post saved to your computer's hard-drive (make sure you know where it's stored on your computer!)
Open up an Internet Browser Window and go to www.photobucket.com Click on the "Register Now" option to sign up for a new account. The sign up process is fairly straight-forward, just choose a username and password and then follow the instructions that appear.
Once you have registered your account log in. The first page you will see should look like this:
The bit you are interested in is this bit:
Click on the "Browse" button. This will open a "Choose File" box:
Find the picture you want to upload - this is why I said that you should save it in a location that will be easy to find! When you have selected the file that you want to upload, and you have the location in the file name box (this will appear automatically when you click on the picture you want to upload) click the "Open" button. The "Choose File" box will then vanish and you will be left with the file name in the upload box:
You can type a description of the picture in the box below the filename by clicking where it says "Describe it" - I don't usually bother doing this, you can if you want to, but it's not compulsory.
OK, now you've selected the file you want to upload click the "Upload it" button. Depending on your image size and your connection speed it could take a few seconds or a few minutes to upload your picture onto your account. When photobucket has successfully uploaded your picture it will refresh the page and the message "Images Uploaded!" will appear at the top of the screen.
Well Done !! You've just uploaded your first picture onto your image hosting site! Right, now for the tricky bit... posting the image where you want to.
Posting Images In Message Boards And Forums.
So by now you should have been able to upload an image onto your image hosting account (photobucket). Now I'll explain how you use that uploaded file to post pictures on message boards for other users to see.
For each image you have uploaded you should see something like this:
Ignore the "Move", "Edit" and "Delete" buttons for now, (unless you've uploaded the wrong picture and want to delete it). The picture in the middle should be a smaller version of the picture you've just uploaded. The filename of the picture appears underneath the thumbnail image (in my case the file is called mainpic.jpg) And underneath that is the important bit! The three boxes at the bottom contain the all important HTML code that you need in order to post your images anywhere.
As we are posting a picture to a message board we are interested in the code in the box next to the word "Img". (This code starts [IMG]http:// )
Select all the text in the Img box, usually just a single left click in the box is enough to highlight the taxt, but if not click and drag with the mouse until all the text is highlighted:
Then copy this text, either by right mouse click (and selecting copy from the drop down box that appears) or by selecting copy from the Edit menu (on the toolbar at the top of your internet window).
Open up another internet window and log in to whatever message board or forum you want to post your picture in. Either start a new thread or click reply on an existing message topic.
When you have got to the point where you would normally type your message to be posted on the board paste the text you have copied from your photobucket account into the message - don't worry if it looks like nonsense text at the moment all will be revealed shortly!
Your message composition should now look like this:
Now type whatever text you want in your message - but be careful not to alter the image text in any way, even changing it by one letter or dot will mean that the image location isn't correct and so it won't display your picture correctly.
If the option is available click the preview button, this will give you an idea what your message post will look like.
If you're happy with how your message will look click the "Post Reply" button ... Et Voila !! you've just posted your first picture (round of applause!)
Depending on what message board you use some sites ask you to post all pictures in the forum so that other readers won't have to follow any image links to view the pictures you post, but other sites ask you to post just one or two pictures and post the rest of your images as links.
In order to post links in your message you just need to follow a very similar process to the one you've just completed. When you're in your photobucket account rather than selecting the code in the Img box, select and copy the code from the URL box(which starts with http:
Paste this URL code into your message, and when you post your message in the forum other members will see a link that will take them to a page with your picture on it.
There you go - now you've mastered that, the world is your oyster!!!!
If you're still having difficulties just EMAIL ME and I'll try and help you to sort out any problems.
Avatars and Banners.
Throughout this site I've put avatars and banners for you to use on your own computers or chat-room / message board profiles. If you've never used these types of media before I'll explain what they are and how you can use them
What is an Avatar?
An avatar is a small image (usually 100 pixels by 100 pixels big)...
that you can attach to your profile on message boards or chat-rooms. This image is usually located near to your username, often to the left of the messages that you post. Avatars can be still or animated images. They serve no purpose other than brightening up your profile.
What is a Banner?
A Banner is very similar to an avatar, but it usually appears underneath any text to you have written, in your signature bar. As with avatars banners serve no real purpose other than to brighten up your profile on message boards, although they can be used to advertise products or sites. Be aware that some message boards may frown on the use of banners advertising other sites, especially if they aren't relevant to the message board or forum that you are posting in.
Banners can be various sizes. You may want to check with the board that you intend to post on to find out what the maximum size of banner they allow you to use is. Some boards limit the size so that people with slower internet connections aren't sitting around for hours waiting for each page to appear. Other boards apparently set no limits.
How To Use The Avatars On This Site.
Ok, so first of all please don't link directly to the avatars on this site. This is called hotlinking and the more people that do it the more bandwidth I use on my site. I only have a limited amount of bandwidth so if people hotlink I may have to get rid of some of my media...which I really don't want to do!!!
When you find a picture that you want to use right-click on the image and select "Save Picture As..." from the drop-down menu. Save the picture to your hard-drive.
What you need to do is find an avatar, on this site or anywhere else and save it to your computer and then upload it to your online image hosting account Click Here if you don't know how to do this yet.
When you have uploaded your selected avatar onto your image host account select all the text in the URL box which appears underneath the thumbnail image of your picture:
When the text in the URL box is highlighted copy the selected text by either right-mouse-clicking on the selection and choosing copy from the drop-down menu that appears, or alternatively click "Edit" on the menu bar (at the top of your screen) and selecting copy from the menu that appears.
Open another internet window on top of the one you have logged onto your photobucket account on. Opening another window means that you are able to switch between the windows easily.
In this new internet window log on to the message board that you want to use the avatar on and enter the section that allows you to modify your profile. In your profile there should be a space for you to put the URL of your chosen avatar:
In the box nest to where it says "Avatar URL" paste the code you have just copied from your photobucket account - choose the size of your avatar (as I have said most of the avatars I have posted on this site are 100x100pixels) and then click the option on your profile that says something like save changes or modify profile or apply changes etc.
Hopefully you should now have a brand new avatar to go with your profile!!
Well Done!!!!!
How To Use The Banners On This Site.
In order to put banners on your profile you need to follow a slightly different process. You will still need an image hosting account - remember hotlinking is not allowed!! Banners appear in your signature bar.
Follow the same method as before in uploading a banner onto your image host account.Click Here for help with this.
But, this time, rather than copying the URL text as you did when you inserted an avatar into your profile, you will need to copy the text in the Img box:
Switch to the internet window in which you have logged onto your message board, and enter the section that allows you to change your profile.
Find the section that allows you to manipulate your signature bar. Paste the text from the Img box that you have just copied into the box where you can type your signature, and then save the changes you have made.
Hey Presto! you should have added a banner to your message board profile.
Just EMAIL ME if you have any questions.
Wallpapers.
As well as avatars and banners I have posted several wallpapers on this site that you can use on your own computers.
So What Is A Wallpaper?
A wallpaper is a picture or photogaph etc that you can use as the background on your computer screen (i.e your desktop image).
For example this is what my desktop looks like at the moment :
If you have seen a picture on this site (or anywhere else) that you want as your background first of all you need to save it to your computer.
To save a copy open the image up by (left)clicking on the thumbnails that you see on the webpage. This will probably open another internet window so that you can see the wallpaper at its full size. Then right click on the image and select "Save image as.." from the drop down menu that appears. Save the picture somewhere (make sure you can find it again!).
When you have saved a copy of the picture to your computer, minimize your programme windows so that you can see your desktop (the screen that you see when you turn your computer on).
Right Click on your desktop and select 'properties' from the drop down menu.
Click the 'Desktop' tab at the top of the Display Properties box.
Click the 'Browse' button on the right hand side, and find the picture you want to set as your background from wherever you saved it on your computer.
Select the 'Stretch' option in the position box and then click apply.
A word of warning... Not all pictures will make good wallpapers. Some may be too small, and won't have enough detail, this means that they appear blurry when you use them as wallpapers. I have tried to create wallpapers in the most common size for computer screens, (I have a standard 17" screen) however if you have a widescreen monitor then the images on this site may not be suitable for your computer as they may become distorted due to the different in size ratio.
If you have any problems 
me and I will try to help.
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