Howto Post images in the forum

[mutley 4,487]

Here is a guide on how to post screenshots on our forum.

First of all you need to know how to take a screenshot, please refer to this excellent article here

So, armed with your screenshot, how do we get them to show in the forum?

Important! You cannot link from your screenshot saved on your PC to the forum, it has to exist on the internet somewhere so it is always accessable.

As we have limited space on our server you cannot upload directly to our server, like most user forums we ask that the screen shot or photo be hosted on a remote image server designed for this purpose and use image links in your forum post to pull in the image from the remote image host.

Examples of web image hosts are:

http://photobucket.com [Edit - PhotoBucket no longer free for hosted images - avoid this one]

http://imageshack.us

http://www.imagebam.com

http://picasa.google.com

All of these hosts have a free account option and some have paid accounts as well. The difference is normally with a paid account you can store more, bigger images and have a far greater bandwidth

With these web hosts you can create albums, I normally create a new one each month to help organise them but that is not compulsory.

The web host will usually have an upload button that fires up a browser to find the photo on your PC, once your image is selected, the file is then copied to your album in the remote location.

Once uploaded, select your images and display the links. there should then be a section where there are links available to copy, then paste into your forum post. You will have a choice, either the direct URL address like

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/mutleys/2012/jan/forum.jpg[/CODE]

or with the URL address with img tags either side.

	[IMG=http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/mutleys/2012/jan/forum.jpg][/CODE]



	


	I normally use the image tag version as it saves time later on if you have many images.



	In the forum, when you make your post there is a picture icon above the typing area, if it is greyed out then you need to switch it on using the switch icon.



	


	Using the picture icon, another window pops up and you enter the URL address (Without the tags)



	


	This then copies the image into the post and you will be able to see it. (Only a small image used below)



	


	Add some text and post.



	If you have many shots, then upload them all first to your image host, select the ones you want and copy all the tags.



	


	Then paste them straight in, the images will not show straight away but they will if you use the preview option



	


	You can then edit in the text you want, preview, then post!



	Tip: The preview button is your best friend if you have a long post as it can be frustrating to see errors in a post you have just made and inconvenient too 


	If you have any questions then post them here.



	Cheers...Joe