Usage of forum & how to post photos

[Jamie]

Hi,

please note that posting anything we consider offensive etc will result in you been banned from accessing this website. Please note we can also do this to anonymous/guest users,

Regards,
Jamie

[t.horne]

I am new to the forum, and would like to know how to add photographs to the forum.

Could you help me on this topic

[IanF]

Either select the new 'topic' button or 'post reply' and fill in the text box and title. Photos can be added to threads to illustrate a point or in the gallery forums.

Then click on 'Additonal Opitions' button below left of the text box.

A drop down menue appears so you can attach a photo which you just browse to on your hard drive - previously prepared of course. Click on '(more attachments)' to add up to four photos per post.

Photos can be up to 200kb file size. It's a simple method - a lot eaiser to use than on many other forums.

[peregrine]

Ian, I've been trying to post some photo's but they are too large evidently. Can they be resized in anyway ?

[IanF]

For upload the file has to be under 200kb.

There are a couple of ways you can reduce the file size.

Which ever method you use though it's usually better to crop the original photo to whatever shape you want and then resize it to smaller dimensions with the longest one 800 pixels or 600 pixels such as 800x600 pixels or 640x480 pixels.

Next step in whatever photo software you're using you need to reduce the kilobyte (kb) file size. Most software if not all has a 'save as' function where you can save a copy of the original file. Some software also has a 'save for web' function which is probably better if you have it as an alternative. As well as renaming the file you can adjust the amount of jpeg compression. Around 85%-90% compression is usually sufficient for a 800x600 file to get it under the 200kb limit - but it does depend on the content of the photo. A bird in flight against a blue sky will be a pretty small file size and need little compression but one sat on grass or in a tree with a woodland background will always be a very large file and require more compression. Sometimes it's a question of trial and error adjusting jpeg compression until the right file size is achieved. Don't overdo the jpeg compression though as the more you apply the more grainy (pixelated)the result will be.

An alternative method of reducing file size - which I tend to mostly use is noise filtration software. There's a couple of alternatives but NeatImage is very popular and free to use at home - you can even download filtration settings for most camera brands and models - which speeds up the process. Picturecooler is the one I tend to use more.

Whichever method you use though always work on a copy file as once the changes are saved there's no going back!

[peregrine]

Cheers Ian, when I have a few spare hours I'll try out your advice. Though as a technophobe I'll think I'll just stick to files under 200 kb if I can   

[Jamie]

Hi,

if you want a very easy way of resizing your photos which will also get the size down so you can post it you can use a site like http://www.shrinkpictures.com/ . Here you just select the file you want to resize, set the size to 760 and press the resize file button. You then click another button that appears to save the resized file. I had a go and it is very simple and worked well

Regards,
Jamie

[noelg]

 :)Hi Jamie Ian as someone who uses this may I pass a comment, this would be an excellent forum if people replied to the posts and not just viewing them

[Dan hymer]

On the contrary I have found that everytime I have asked something! I have almost instantly have had a reply! So I would say that this infact is an excellent site!

Keep up the fantastic work!

[noelg]

Hi Dan sorry but just have a glance at the statistics those viewing a topic as opposed to replying e.g. swimming peregrine 138 views but only 1 reply somebody else out of that 138 must have some thoughts;good birding and my friendship Noel

[Fred Wright]

I have been trying to submit a report of the highlights at Saltholme today but all I am getting is that my report is considered as "spam"