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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2009 16:59:09 GMT
Even though there is a permanent post in Port Authority called "How to Post Pictures", there are always new refinements, tips, and techniques that we can share with each other. Some of these have been discussed on other threads, but they bear repeating here. One exciting new feature is that we now have the ability to put text to one side of the images we post. Information on that is available in the link above. So here we go. Please, if you have a suggestion, give details in your post about it. Saying, "I think acmepics has a good resizing program" may not be helpful to someone who doesn't yet have your level of skill. If you can post a link to the program and provide instructions on how to use it, you will be someones hero.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2009 17:11:25 GMT
Re-Sizing PicturesIn her fabulous on-going thread about Winchester, Spindrift asks, "Instead of choosing the pre-set picture re-size options I'm attempting to re-size them myself. I find the 'medium' option is too small. I've been experimenting with sizes but can't settle on the ideal size for Medium. Can you help please?"Here is how to re-size pictures on your computer using Microsoft Office Picture Manager. This is the program I use. I don't really know how to re-size in any other program except for the pre-set ones Spindrift mentions above. Re-sizing pictures this way will save you tons of room on your computer and make it far, far easier to attach them to email. If you try this program and like it, you can set it as your default for opening pictures, which will save you the first step outlined below. Note that you don't necessarily have to use the Export step as explained below. That is for when you do not want to alter the original. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Choose any photo you have saved on your computer. Right-click on its thumbnail or name, move down the menu to Open With, then choose Microsoft Office Picture Manager.
NOW you're in business!
First make sure you're not altering your original. Go to File (extreme upper left corner) and choose Export. (please refer to Reply #10 above for more detail)
Once you've Exported your picture, close it out, then go back to your picture files and select the Export version and right-click, etc. as above.
If you wish to do any cropping, or any other editing, click on Edit Pictures in the toolbar above the photo.
Once you've done all that to your satisfaction, check out the percentage in the middle of the toolbar, click on Edit Pictures again, choose Resize, then put that percentage number in the slot that says "Percentage of original width and height". Click OK.
Now go back to File so you can Save, and you're done.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2009 17:25:50 GMT
Positioning Images on the PageThis can be done by using the left margin , right margin , or center button above the message box. Paste your url, then highlight it and click the image button , then highlight all of that & click the button for the positioning option you've chosen. In sequence, it will look like this: http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/417/rose0984725.jpg <--picture url[img src="http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/417/rose0984725.jpg"] <--picture url with image tags[right][img src="http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/417/rose0984725.jpg"][/right] <--picture url with image tags and right margin tagsand the result of all that looks like this:
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2009 17:47:50 GMT
Adding spaces between picturesThis is useful not only for between pictures, but anywhere you'd like to put some extra space on the page. Simply type the word space backwards, that is, e c a p s, but without the spaces between the letters as shown here. Here are two images with only one regular space between them: Here are the same two with three e c a p s added between each picture: You can also add those spaces in front of an image to better position it on the page.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2009 20:25:34 GMT
Thanks for that info. Bixa. I'm still learning how to post pictures and had no idea how to put 2 or more on side by side.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 25, 2009 22:22:15 GMT
Well, I hope anyone who is still learning, or who is having trouble will read Howto Post Pictures, then this thread. Also, I hope people will ask questions in this thread and also add any of their own tips.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2009 19:11:00 GMT
"Lifting" a Picture
That is, how to get the url from almost any image and post it here:
Mouse-over image. Right-click. Choose "Properties" Choose "Location" & copy. Paste here, highlight, & click on image button.
This is particularly useful if you have pictures in a Facebook account. Since they're already hosted there, you can copy the Facebook urls and post the pictures here. Just remember you have to do it from the full-sized Facebook picture and not from the thumbnail.
To get the url from your Flickr account, leave off everything that comes after "jpg" in the url.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 27, 2009 21:56:19 GMT
Thanks Bixa. That's really helpful advice. I don't have this Microsoft Office Picture Manager. I use Photobucket (as recommended by you) and am adept at re-sizing pics on their Resize programme which offers Tiny, Small, Medium and Large. The problem with these options is that the Medium size is too small to be acceptable and the Large is too large for all my pics. Photobucket also offer a manual rezise option and I've started to experiment with this. I am only guessing but, as an example, if I want to change a size of 1024 (wide) to 650 - the length is automatically calculated by the software. My problem with manual re-sizing is that I don't yet know the ideal sizes to be able to put two or three pictures side by side. Could you possibly tell me the ideal size in figures (550 or whatever)? What size was the rose picture above? That's an acceptable medium size. Kerouac, in one of his Paris threads (the dancing one) posted three or four pics in various sizes side by side. How did he do this? RE: E c a p s.. I have been trying this out but I thought you said we had to put a space next to the for the programming to take effect? Do you mean that we should write (like this) and not like this? - e c a p s? I'm not clear on thisi point even though I've read your instructions several times. I can't grasp it. I'm sorry. I know that success in posting pictures requires Effort and Practice and Lots of Time! ( I noticed that e c a p s hasn't shown up at all in the above sentences).
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Post by spindrift on Jul 27, 2009 22:00:19 GMT
Oh boy! it's difficult
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 28, 2009 1:20:09 GMT
I don't have this Microsoft Office Picture Manager. It's so useful! Just to make absolutely sure, you did right-click on a thumbnail of a picture saved on your computer, then clicked on "open with" to see if the menu offered Microsoft Office Picture Manager, didn't you? I use this option to get the pictures how I want them before taking them to Photobucket or Imageshack, which will then host them at the 640 x 480 size that's just right for the forum.I use Photobucket (as recommended by you) and am adept at re-sizing pics on their Resize programme which offers Tiny, Small, Medium and Large. The problem with these options is that the Medium size is too small to be acceptable and the Large is too large for all my pics. Spindrift, the 640 x 480 size -- Photobucket's large size -- is the size you want for most pictures. I wish they would spell that out. When Imageshack offers to let you resize, they tell you what each size if for, and the 640 x 480 is for message boards.Photobucket also offer a manual rezise option and I've started to experiment with this. I am only guessing but, as an example, if I want to change a size of 1024 (wide) to 650 - the length is automatically calculated by the software. My problem with manual re-sizing is that I don't yet know the ideal sizes to be able to put two or three pictures side by side. Could you possibly tell me the ideal size in figures (550 or whatever)? What size was the rose picture above? That's an acceptable medium size. Spindrift ~ if you will click on any image you see (such as the rose picture above) and choose Properties, it will tell you the dimensions. The pink rose photo is 301 x 373. Photobucket's Medium is 320 x 240. That's what size all the pictures are in the Catalogue of Skins, for instance. Remember when the hosting site offers you a size, what is meant is that your picture will not be saved as any larger than that size, not that it will necessarily be exactly that size.Kerouac, in one of his Paris threads (the dancing one) posted three or four pics in various sizes side by side. How did he do this? Kerouac will have to answer that. RE: E c a p s.. I have been trying this out but I thought you said we had to put a space next to the for the programming to take effect? Do you mean that we should write (like this) and not like this? - e c a p s? I'm not clear on thisi point even though I've read your instructions several times. I can't grasp it. I'm sorry. I know that success in posting pictures requires Effort and Practice and Lots of Time! ( I noticed that e c a p s hasn't shown up at all in the above sentences). The reason that e c a p s doesn't show up above is because you were doing it correctly. I have to write it as "e c a p s" with the spaces here, or it can't be seen. You can manually space, then write e c a p s then manually space again, etc., which is how I do it, but I don't think it matters. You could also simply write a string of e c a p s without manually spacing, I believe.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2009 4:07:14 GMT
I often crop pictures, which allows more of them to fit on the same line depending on how they're cropped. I work on instinct a lot, but if I'm not sure, I used the 'preview' function here and move things around or resize them if necessary.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 28, 2009 4:57:00 GMT
I look at every picture I take to see if it would benefit by cropping. This is a good way to get close-ups of people, or to feature a particular thing. No surprise -- I use Mcrsft Ofc Pctr Mngr for this task.
Cropping probably needs to be covered in this thread -- anyone who has some pointers, feel free to jump in.
I rely heavily on the Preview function. When using text wrapping or lining up pics on the same line, it's the only secure way of putting together a coherent post.
A security tip for when you're creating an elaborate post with lots of pictures and captions:
Preview your work as you go along, then copy & paste the approved versions into a Word document. If you should accidentally zap your work, you have it stashed with all the ubbc tags, spaces, etc. in the document.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 28, 2009 8:52:01 GMT
Thank you both for your efforts to explain and in fact I now understand a lot more! I had forgotten that you can see the size of a pic when you bring up 'Properties'.
You see, Bixa, I bought a picture programme called Microsoft Digital Imaging so all my pics automatically go there. It's similar to Adobe Photoshop but is easier to understand. I do all my pic alterations - lighting and cropping adjustments ' in MDI. I then upload them to Photobucket and resize them just before downloading. I also use Preview.
I guess it's only practice before I finally grasp the essence of posting pics as I want them to appear. I must be patient.
I'm glad I now fully understand about 'e c a p s'....
I'll soldier on...... ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 28, 2009 16:26:01 GMT
Ahhh ~~ okay, I didn't realize you had that capacity, Spindrift.
I would think it would have some of the same features as McrstOfcPicMngr, since it's presumably a more complete program. If so, you should be able to visually preview different sizes of pictures before saving, rather than having to rely on strict numbers.
This is really a matter of practice and learning. I spent a good half hour yesterday trying to get two photos and their captions to do what I wanted them to do. What I learned from that experience is that one needs to add something to "stop" the text-wrapping process. I've been using a long line of dashes ----------- , which seems to work. I'm eager for other people to start experimenting with text wrapping, so we'll have more input.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 28, 2009 16:46:55 GMT
One other thing --
I strongly recommend that anyone using Photobucket check out its Help section. It is, miracle of miracles, actually helpful!
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Post by spindrift on Jul 29, 2009 8:59:13 GMT
Yes....I'll experiment when I'm not actually doing a photo-essay!
there's more to posting artistically than meets the eye!
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Post by spindrift on Jul 29, 2009 13:10:17 GMT
Jazz - it's so exciting learning new posting skills! ;D
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Post by Jazz on Jul 29, 2009 13:49:50 GMT
there's more to posting artistically than meets the eye! There is a huge discrepency between how I would like my photo essays to look and my skills! But, I was very happy to learn how to align the photos and my comments.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 29, 2009 16:51:43 GMT
One note here about picture sizes: PLEASE, if you are using an image from the internet, CHECK THE SIZE BEFORE POSTING.If you've found the picture in Google Images, for instance, it will tell you the size right below the thumbnail, for instance. To illustrate my point, here is a url from a Google Images picture: www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/Animal/Pigs/Pig-6-IAARIUBXLX-1680x1050.jpgWhen you open it, it seems big, but not that big, right? Okay, now look at it again. If you move your mouse around, you'll see that your pointer has become a little magnifying glass with a + in it. That's a big clue right there. Click on the picture and it will expand to its true size -- the size you will be foisting onto a thread if you post that picture here. That monster will horribly slow the loading of the entire thread. To drive the point home, click on the picture again. It will return to a more sedate size, but look at the top frame on your monitor. In Firefox it says "(JPEG Image, 1680x1050 pixels) Scaled (53%)". IE only shows the pixel size, but that should be shocking enough.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 29, 2009 16:59:22 GMT
I think I'll look at Photobucket Help to see what it offers before I venture into Microsoft Office Picture Manager...this sounds too complicated. .... I recommend printing out both of these threads and practicing using the Reply box with the Preview option. You will have the directions beside you and not be 'backing and forthing', becoming frustrated and confused. Jazz -- do try opening one picture with Microsoft Office Picture Manager before you decide it's too complicated. Photobucket recommends that you manipulate your pictures before hosting them to Photobucket. If you'll open a picture with MOPM, you'll see just how simple it is to use: Click on Edit Pictures at the top of the page. Click on the desired function in the bar that appears on the side. Work your will on the photo. Undo and redo as many times as you wish -- nothing is permanent until you hit Save. The cropping feature is what makes me like it so much. Simply push and pull the clearly marked brackets that appear around your picture when you choose Crop. THANK YOU for the excellent suggestion for learning without despair above! As you point out, it's simply too daunting and confusing when you try to go back & forth.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 30, 2009 6:59:20 GMT
A note on Kodak Gallery:
The bottom line is that Kodak Gallery will not allow you to post pictures you have stored there.
If you're logged into your Kodak Gallery account and get the url of a picture from there to post here, you will be able to see the picture for a while, but no one else will. That's because it's stored in the temporary files on your browser, allowing you to see the posted picture, but no one can who doesn't have access to your browser.
However, if you have a picture that is stored in Kodak Gallery and not on your computer, try this:
Click open a thumbnail of a picture you have saved there.
Look below the picture where it says "Download high-resolution image (xx KB)"
Click on that, then choose Save from the pop-up window.
The picture is now saved into your computer and you can use a picture hosting site to get a url in order to post it here.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 30, 2009 17:22:08 GMT
Bixa - I'm glad you gave us that exercise on the nice pink pig....now I know what to look for!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2009 21:34:24 GMT
I will soon learn to embed my text properly and your heads will spin.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 30, 2009 21:47:31 GMT
Like Linda Blair in The Exorcist?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2009 21:51:41 GMT
With spinach!
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Post by spindrift on Jul 31, 2009 8:56:53 GMT
Kerouac - I am looking forward to seeing your text and then learning from it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2009 17:42:15 GMT
I am not motivated enough yet since my primitive posting style seems sufficient for a lot of people at the moment. But I will get around to it sooner or later. You have inspired me with the Winchester texts.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 31, 2009 18:04:52 GMT
I am REALLY keen....I even paid to go on a tour of Winchester's cathedral tower this afternoon to take some pics. Now that I'm in the mood I can hardly wait to progress with superb presentation styles, embedding and all that! Go, go Kerouac AnyPort will be the internet's ichi-ban, numero uno, number one Round-the-World Photo Essay website ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 7, 2009 20:50:25 GMT
Yaaaay, Spindrift -- you're an inspiration!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A note here about Photobucket:
I have been having a problem wherein I could not upload. I tried the techniques in their help section to no avail, so wrote to them. Wow. What followed was a complete correspondence with real people committed to helping. What a pleasant experience!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 9, 2009 19:13:41 GMT
Picasa: forget it!
I just downloaded this program so I could check it for someone else. What a load of extensive, fiddly crap. AND you can't get a link from it in order to post a picture here.
I'll be happy for someone to correct me, but in the meantime I'm off to uninstall this useless program from my computer.
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