AmityMama is a wonderful community, and many of us like to share pictures.

But that's not always easy to do. First, you have to have a digital image. Then it needs to be uploaded to a web hosting site. And then there are several ways it can be shared at Amity's - either as a link to the image, the image shown in the body of your post, in your signature, or under your username (aka "avatar").

I'm going to try to take these one at a time, to take the mystery out of sharing your photos.

GETTING A DIGITAL IMAGE:

If you have a digital camera, this is fairly simple - take the photo and upload it from the camera to your computer. If you have a scanner, you can scan in a photograph taken with a conventional camera. Or some photo processing places will put your photos onto a disk which you can then transfer to your computer.

UPLOADING IMAGE TO IMAGE HOSTING SITE:

Update for 10/05 NOW IF YOU ARE a SUPPORTING MEMBER you have your own ONSITE photo gallery!!!! so, sharing pics is easier than ever!

If you don't have a web site already, there are several free image hosting sites (don't use geocities or ofoto - these sites block access to images posted on third-party web sites like Amity's):

http://members.iwahm.com/manager.cgi
http://www.ivillage.com
http://tinypic.com/
http://www.shutterfly.com
http://www.photofun.com
http://www.webshots.com
www.growthspurts.com
www.truepath.com
www.i-love-cats.com
And an online photo resource guide here:
http://www.andromeda.com/people/ddyer/photo/albums.html

Caveat: shutterfly's URL's (and I think at least one other hosting site people use) do not link well here. However, you can still use shutterfly as an image host if you take your picture's URL and make it "tiny" at www.tinyurl.com. Then use the tiny/short url in your posts or signature here.

Be aware that not all image hosting sites do well with the image markup (ie photopoint, photos.lycos, geocities) - I don't know why. Try using another image hosting site, or this cool "attachment" trick discovered by Renata instead:
If you'd rather not use one of the above hosting sites, you can upload your picture as an attachment on the test board at amitymama, and then use the attachment as your link for your picture. Right-click on the image as described below, to find the URL. Use the "img" tags as usual, also described below. Be aware that the test forum does get purged on occasion - I try to save the attachments people use in their signatures, but everything else may be deleted if it is over 2 months old.

Once you get the image uploaded to a hosting website, if you are on a PC you can right-click the image and look at the "properties" to find out the URL. Use your mouse to highlight the URL, and press CTRL and "c" at the same time to copy it (pasting is CTRL-v). You could also write it down to use later - it should look something like: http://your.website.here/your_image_filename.jpg.


SHARING A LINK TO THE IMAGE (AKA making a clickable link):

To make a clickable link to your image (or to any URL), type:

[*url]http://your.website.here/your_image_filename.jpg[*/url]

AND TAKE OUT THE *'s. You can use this "[*url]" markup language in the body of your posts, or in your signature file.


SHARING THE IMAGE IN BODY OF POST

To show the picture in the body of your post/message, type:
[*img]http://your.web.site/your.image.jpg[*/img] and take out the *'s.

Make sure there are NO spaces in between the brackets & your imagefile's name, either before or after. This will work for many image hosting sites.


SHARING THE IMAGE IN YOUR SIGNATURE

1) Go to the "My Page" link (top center link, next to "register")

2) Click on "Edit Profile" link

3) Put in your signature information under the "Signature" block - you can
use markup language here, such as
[*img]http://your.web.site/your.image.jpg[/img]
or
[*url]http://your.web.site/your.link.html[/url] (again, take out those *'s)

4) Click the "Submit modifications" button at the bottom of the page where you've edited your signature.


SHARING IMAGE IN SIDEBAR OF POSTS, UNDER YOUR USER NAME:

If you want a picture (aka "Avatar") under your name, you need the url of a TEENY picture (it's got to be under 50 x 50 pixels). Most PC image processing software will allow you to change the size of your image. You'll probably want to save it as a jpg or gif image. Once you have the image uploaded to an image hosting site:

1) Go to the "My Page" link (top center link, next to "register")

2) Click on "Edit Options" link

3) Near the bottom of this page, click on the "Change Avatar" button

4) choose the radio button for "Use custom avatar" and enter the URL of your tiny picture in the space provided:
http://your.web.site/your.image.jpg
YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO RE-Check the "Change Avatar" button after entering your URL.

There is a choice to "upload an avatar from your computer" - I am uncertain as to whether that choice works or not at this point (it used not to).

5) Click the "Submit Modifications" button at the bottom of the page where you've added your avatar.

ADVANCED TOPIC: MAKING A CLICKABLE IMAGE/BANNER IN YOUR SIGNATURE

(Please be aware that there is currently a $20 per year charge to put your site banner in your signature)

Since html code in signature files no longer works, I found the VB code which allows you to do this! Here's what I have in my signature:

[*url=http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1461][*img]http://wahmommy.com/members/gibbsm/star.gif[/img][/url]
{take out the 2 *'s)

If you're "into" putting your imood info in your sig, I *think* this is how to do it:

The current mood of beth@nitroba.com at www.imood.com is
[*img]http://www.imood.com/query.cgi?email=beth@nitroba.com&type=1[/img] (take out the *)

The current mood of beth@nitroba.com at www.imood.com is
http://www.imood.com/query.cgi?email=beth@nitroba.com&type=1


HOW TO KEEP FROM VIEWING IMAGES:

For those of you who *don't* want to see the pictures, because they slow down your computer too much, you can "turn off" the images to your web browser.

With Internet explorer - go under "Tools - Internet Options", click on the "Advanced" tab, and scroll down to under the Multimedia section and uncheck the box that says "Show pictures" next to it.

With Netscape, go to the Edit - preferences menu, then click on the *word* "Advanced" and uncheck the box "Automatically load images"

There is also a section at Amitymama in the "Edit options" which allows you to customize whether or not you wish to see avatars, signatures, and images.


I hope this article has de-mystified the use of images and clickable links at Amitymama's! Feel free to experiment in the "test" forums by clicking here (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=34)
And you can also find more vB code information by clicking here (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode)

Aahhh.. my poor ego!! ROFLOL! :D

Both of us should moderate this board just for the sake of it LOL, although recently I got a little burned out with the same q. "how do I post a pic".

Renata, you rock. I want to acknowledge that it was Renata who discovered the way of hosting your signature & other pictures at Amity's, through the attachments.

I'm really happy this forum is here, if only to make it easier to find the "how-to" posts!!! I had written the above article for the mamazine, but the first time my article was obsolete by the time it was published (and only half of it was published), and I'm not even sure if it's going to be in the 2nd mamazine. So this way hopefully it will reach more people.

Here's the VB code to use for a clickable image (this is what I use in my signature file now - take out the two *'s)
[*url=http://site.you.want.to.link][*img]http://site.which.has.your.image/star.gif[/img][/url]

I'm still confused about what I need to do to get my animated clickable banner back in there.

Here's what I used to have:

<a href="http://www.afinerthing.com"><img src="http://www.amazingdesignsolutions.com/AFinerThingBanner2.gif"></a>

Does anyone know what it should be?

Nancy, your code should be (take out the 2 *'s below):
[*url=http://www.afinerthing.com][*img]http://www.amazingdesignsolutions.com/AFinerThingBanner2.gif[/img][/url]

And you should get:
http://www.amazingdesignsolutions.com/AFinerThingBanner2.gif (http://www.afinerthing.com)

Well, apparently that isn't working for me - amazingdesignsolutions appears to be down. But once it's up again, it *should* work!

Trying to put my picture as an attachment to the test board is not working. I just spent about an hour trying to attach it there and I just get a little box in the message with a small red "x". I can't right click on it or anything else.

I really don't want to download any more software to my computer so using the test board would be optimal.

I clicked on the IMG to add an image these two ways:

C:\Kodak Pictures\2003-06-22\DCP_0845.JPG
http//C:\Kodak Pictures\2003-06-22\DCP_0845.JPG

I also used the attach file option but my file is to big. When I try to resize it using my software it just keeps cutting off parts of the picture.

I'm very frustrated. I just hoping that this is a lot easier than I think. I would really like to share some Sew & Shows on the Sewing Board.

Thanks~Ramie

Originally posted by Ramie
I clicked on the IMG to add an image these two ways:

C:\Kodak Pictures\2003-06-22\DCP_0845.JPG
http//C:\Kodak Pictures\2003-06-22\DCP_0845.JPG


When you do it this way, you are linking the image that is on your personal computer. It is not available for the rest of us on the internet, thus you get the "X" icon. Anything having a C:\\ in it (or other letter) indicates the local hard drive.

Do you have a web site? If so, you should upload the image there, then link to it (don't worry if you don't know what I mean, read further).


I also used the attach file option but my file is to big. When I try to resize it using my software it just keeps cutting off parts of the picture.

Thanks~Ramie

What image software are you using? You should look for the option of saving the (uncropped, that is not cut) image as a jpg (or jpeg, which is the same) file, and then play with the compression settings that are given as an option in the "save as" dialog - usually somewhere in between the lowest and highest compression works the best, as it reduces the file size, and the quality is still resonably good.

If you can't find it in your imaging program, read this article, and try it:

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28530

I don't explain there about image file size reducing, but when you go there, there will be an "optimize" option. Try playing with those, setting a different quality setting (again, somewhere about 50-75 usually would work best depending on your begining image). This software works for .gif and .jpg iamges only, so if yours is, let's say, a .bmp or .tiff, you will have to open it in some software on your computer and save as .jpg (best for photos for web use).

LMK if this is too confusing, or if you need more help.

Thank you for the info on the pics!! As you can see I got my pic on here I wanted...granted it is huge..lmao:thumbsup: For anyone who cares...I used the Amity test site to do this...that was super super easy!! Thanks again!!

Glad you did it!!

BTW if you want/need to "shrink" the image, I have a post about it here: http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28530

--Renata

What if we have a Mac...does anyone know how I would get a pic of my daughter up on my sig? I have tried doing it using the instructions...but it doesn't work.....:confused: Please help if you can! Thanks

This is what I'm using off shutterfly and I'm getting the X


http://www.shutterfly.com/ttp://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d731b3127cce8e6ca35561ea0000001610

help!
Bethany

You needed to take out some extraneous letters in http://www.shutterfly.com/ttp://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d731b3127cce8e6ca35561ea0000001610 - it looks as if you combined http://www.shutterfly.com with http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv etc.

OK, that worked! Now how do I change my feedback URL to just show up as "My Feedback". Thanks!

Originally posted by seahorse
OK, that worked! Now how do I change my feedback URL to just show up as "My Feedback". Thanks!

Look here: http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47207

:)

Originally posted by mrsinchworm
What if we have a Mac...does anyone know how I would get a pic of my daughter up on my sig? I have tried doing it using the instructions...but it doesn't work.....:confused: Please help if you can! Thanks

The Mac really isn't that different. The biggest problem I see is if you are trying to use that shutterfly link, it won't work. Go to the picture you want--open it in the large screen (not the thumbnails). Then, control click (hold down control while you click, it's how you right click on a mac) and scroll down to "open image in new window". Then, highlight that text, and open-apple C to copy it. That is your link.

then, follow the instructions: [*img]shutterfly link here[*/img] (take out both * first)

I skimmed though here, but I didn't seem to see anything about slide shows. How do I upload a slide show into my sig line? THANKS! :)

You cannot upload slideshows, but you can make an animated gif image (that's what the "slideshows" in mamas' sigs here are).

Something I just found out recently from Jami...

If you post three picture attachments back-to-back w/ no text replies in between, any new pictures posted after that will replace the old ones... You can bypass this by entering a reply with no pictures in it (ie add 3 pictures, then reply with a text post, then add more pictures).

nt

Apparently the ticker can often come with characters in its URL which confuse the vb code here. In such cases, you can go to www.tinyurl.com, change the URL to a different (shorter) URL, and try using that one. I understand that even the tinyurl may not work... in that case, try again (and perhaps again). There's an "open new window" on the www.tinyurl.com page which allows you to test your new URL before using it - I encourage you to do this! :)

Need help pls!!

Selissa told me to click on "reply" and go down to browse and select my picture....

I did that and opened it and submitted it to the test forum and it came back and said my pic was too big...

How to make it smaller????

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!!!

I think if you go here:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28530
then you may be able to figure out how to reduce the size of your picture. HTH!

Margaret

Okay, so I uploaded a pic in the testing forum but when I right click it, I don't see anything about "properties" or the picture's url. What am I doing wrong?

Shelia,

Perhaps you are on a Mac rather than a PC? On my PC, if I right-click on the picture, it gives me a list with "properties" on the bottom - I choose that and look at the address and get http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1467613

For a Macintosh, use "control-click" rather than "right-click"... ie hold down control while you click - that's how you right click on a Mac.

Originally posted by RocketScientist
Shelia,

Perhaps you are on a Mac rather than a PC?

No, I am on a PC. No hope for me?

Sure there's hope for you! I just put your picture in your sig file.

I'm curious though... when you click on a picture here (any picture) with your right mouse button, does anything happen? What browser are you using?

Originally posted by RocketScientist
Sure there's hope for you! I just put your picture in your sig file.

I'm curious though... when you click on a picture here (any picture) with your right mouse button, does anything happen? What browser are you using?

Thanks so much! I loooooove you!!

I did try clicking other pics to see what would happen. Still the same. No "properties" or urls shown. I use Yahoo dsl.

I have tried and tried again a million times to attach a new photo for my siggy. I have read all the info and still can't figure it out. It is so silly becauae I had one before. Every time I try to attach it in the test forum, it says that it isn't the right kind of file. It is jpg though so what am I doing wrong?

I am on Yahoo! DSL as well and can't find any "properties".......when I right click

I am on Yahoo! DSL as well and can't find any "properties".......when I right click
Try right-clicking on the rainbow under your username... do you see a menu pop up on the screen? If so, "Properties" should be right at the bottom. This is if you are on a PC. For a Macintosh, use "control-click" rather than "right-click"... ie hold down control while you click - that's how you right click on a Mac.

If you're still having problems, feel free to PM me.

So I am the last remaining person who still can't do this. :( I have tried following all directions.

photobucket does not let me size avatar to 50x50

And the sig picture I am linking says the file is too big.'

Please help.