Josh
09-01-2009, 10:00 AM
This has been asked over and over so I figured I would put together a post explaining the easiest way to resize, attach, and embed images just like the Pros do. Images really add a lot to your posts and help other members to understand what your talking about. AKA... posting images makes your posts more interesting.
Step 1: Resizing the Image
This one seems to be the toughest one to get people past. Some of you know how to use photo editing software but for the majority of you its black magic. So here's the easiest way to resize. I haven't tried installing this on Vista yet but I can confirm it works fine on XP. You will only have to set this up once then resizing images will be a piece of cake form now on.
IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS XP DO THIS....
To download Microsofts Image Resizer which is part of their windows XP power toys, follow this link then scroll down and on the right you will see a link entitled "Image Resizer" Its the 5th link from the bottom in the right column.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS VISTA USE THIS... (Thanks Bob. D)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/phototoysclone/
Once you download this, run it. The install will be fairly short and once its installed you will have a new option when you right click on an image called "Resize pictures"
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8132&stc=1&d=1251812540
To resize a large image to make it small enough for the forum, simply right click on the image and choose "resize pictures" you will then get a screen that looks like this....
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8133&stc=1&d=1251812540
I would suggest choosing 640x480. Once you click ok it will spit out a copy of the image in the same directory with the word "(small)" in the name.
Step 2: Attaching the Image
The next thing your going to want to do is attach your resized image to the thread. To attach and image scroll down past the submit and preview buttons until you get to the "Manage Attachments" button.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8134&stc=1&d=1251812540
This button will pop up a new window. In this window you will want to hit the Browse button and choose the image you just resized. Click Upload and the image will then be attached to your post.
You can attach up to 5 images on any given thread.
Step 3: Embedding the images in your post
You will see some posts on the forum like my tutorial here where the attached images are actually embeded in the post text. To do this all you need to do is scroll back down to the attachment area (below the submit and preview) and you will see links to all your attachments.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8137&stc=1&d=1251813552
You will need to click on the link of the image you want to embed. When you click on the link it will open a new window with that image in it.
Next copy the URL from the address bar and close the image window.
Now go back into your post and put your cursor where you want the image to show up.
Finally click on the little icon that looks like a mountain and a sun. Then paste the URL your just copied for the image into the text box.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8136&stc=1&d=1251813552
Hit ok and you are all set.
I would encourage you guys to try this out. It may look like a lot of steps but it is relaly easy once you get the hang of it and it really makes threads more interesting having pictures.
Josh
Step 1: Resizing the Image
This one seems to be the toughest one to get people past. Some of you know how to use photo editing software but for the majority of you its black magic. So here's the easiest way to resize. I haven't tried installing this on Vista yet but I can confirm it works fine on XP. You will only have to set this up once then resizing images will be a piece of cake form now on.
IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS XP DO THIS....
To download Microsofts Image Resizer which is part of their windows XP power toys, follow this link then scroll down and on the right you will see a link entitled "Image Resizer" Its the 5th link from the bottom in the right column.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS VISTA USE THIS... (Thanks Bob. D)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/phototoysclone/
Once you download this, run it. The install will be fairly short and once its installed you will have a new option when you right click on an image called "Resize pictures"
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8132&stc=1&d=1251812540
To resize a large image to make it small enough for the forum, simply right click on the image and choose "resize pictures" you will then get a screen that looks like this....
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8133&stc=1&d=1251812540
I would suggest choosing 640x480. Once you click ok it will spit out a copy of the image in the same directory with the word "(small)" in the name.
Step 2: Attaching the Image
The next thing your going to want to do is attach your resized image to the thread. To attach and image scroll down past the submit and preview buttons until you get to the "Manage Attachments" button.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8134&stc=1&d=1251812540
This button will pop up a new window. In this window you will want to hit the Browse button and choose the image you just resized. Click Upload and the image will then be attached to your post.
You can attach up to 5 images on any given thread.
Step 3: Embedding the images in your post
You will see some posts on the forum like my tutorial here where the attached images are actually embeded in the post text. To do this all you need to do is scroll back down to the attachment area (below the submit and preview) and you will see links to all your attachments.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8137&stc=1&d=1251813552
You will need to click on the link of the image you want to embed. When you click on the link it will open a new window with that image in it.
Next copy the URL from the address bar and close the image window.
Now go back into your post and put your cursor where you want the image to show up.
Finally click on the little icon that looks like a mountain and a sun. Then paste the URL your just copied for the image into the text box.
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8136&stc=1&d=1251813552
Hit ok and you are all set.
I would encourage you guys to try this out. It may look like a lot of steps but it is relaly easy once you get the hang of it and it really makes threads more interesting having pictures.
Josh