34 replies to this topic

[bean_fidhleir]

Can anyone explain how to post a series of images, such that each one has a little arrow embedded at the side which lets the viewer move on to the next in the series? Thanks.

I can explain it if you really want me to, but the amount of work for anyone on our side of Maestronet's forum software is all out of proportion to any benefit, believe me.

[bean_fidhleir]

Apropos sizing images, one thing that is often confusing is the way windowing software (not just Windows, but also the various flavors that run under Unix, on the Mac, etc) will seem to produce a "free" resize without any effort on our part.

The bad part about that is that it's not really resizing at all except visually during the display process. To get an apparent size reduction to (e.g.) 50%, it will ignore every other row and column of pixels. Or to get 25%, it ignores 3 out of every 4 rows/cols, and so forth. It's not discarding them, it's just not displaying them. So the image appears half (or a quarter or whatever) the size, linearly, than it really is, but the amount of space it takes up on disc and the amount of time to display it both remain the same.

To get true resizing requires a "raster graphic" editor, aka bitmap editor, such as Photoshop. GIMP seems to be a pretty competent editor too, tho clunky, and has the major advantage of being free. I've not done more than fool around with GIMP, since I own P'shop, but from what I've seen it should certainly work well for resizing and cropping images for Maestronet. There are other capable editors as well.

The process is simple, though tedious:

1. Load your image into the editor.

2. View the image at 100% size. This is important, since if what you're trying to show is too small, you have to resample upwards. Or, of course, if it's going to be too large even when cropped, you need to resample downwards. But if you can see the detail you want at 100%, and it's not too big, go to step 4 and crop.

3. If the detail is too small at 100% size, re-sample your image upwards. Try to do it by doubling (one pixel becomes four) or, if you must, tripling (one pixel becomes nine). The reason for that being that you want to avoid forcing the software to invent pixels by interpolation. That's where the blurring and artifacts come from.

If the detail will take up too much space even when cropped, resample downwards instead. Again, try to avoid forcing the software to invent pixels. The safest size is 50% (the software will discard every other row and column). Other relatively safe sizes are 80% (discard 1 of 5), 75% (discard 1 of 4), and even 25% (discard 3 of 4).

Bad sizes are the ones where the software can't discard a whole number of pixels. If you try to reduce to, say 2/3 size, that's 66%, there's no way to extract the excess 34 pixels per hundred evenly across the whole image, so the software tries to smooth things over by inventing, which never really ends well.

4. Using the selection tool, zero in on the important part of the image, copy, and paste creating a new image. Save off that image. Repeat til you've captured all the areas of interest and, finally, post them.

Hope that helps.

[Ron Peters]

If you are using windows XP you can load this nifty powertoy from MSFT called 'image resizer'. It's the simplest way to resize. IMO

link here: http://windows.micro...oads/windows-xp

The way you use it is to right click on a picture icon, a menu appears and you'll see the selection to 'resize' your picture. If you select multiples (using CNTL), it converts all selected. You will notice there are several choices? I think the 'small' would suffice for posting here. There is also a 'custom' resize selection wherein you may customize.

I found that it's best to put all your pictures in a folder, then use the tool, but before you do that, create another folder within the first and label it 'small' (or?). When the tool is finished, it places all the converted pics at the bottom of the large pics. Move them into this 2nd folder to keep them from mixing with the originals. Otherwise, it will organize them numerically, original; small; original; small; original; small; which, if you convert a bunch will make them difficult to herd - once you back out of the folder and go back in.

There is also one for Vista, but not in the same place. You'll have to search for it. Win7? I'd poke around I'm sure there's another one by now?

Disclosure: I have no vested interest in MSFT

[tucgood]

If you plan to add photos of an instrument (or anything else) to the site, please size the images before uploading. If the image is larger than the average high res screen, it's very difficult to view (can only be accomplished by scrolling). If you need to illustrate a detail, please crop your shot.

Thank you!

I am not sure how to upload pics at all, can you please tell me?

[Joseph Swenson]

Thought I would give this thread a shot. I've seen others asking how to post thumbnails of images that pop up and show the larger view and the ability to step through multiple images. But no answer how its being accomplished.

Anyone care to share the secret?

Thanks,
Joe

[drob]

How do you insert photo's on this site? Every time I click insert image it won't do it...I have photos of 3 violins I would like to add to my posting...
Thanks

[Joseph Swenson]

I've only been able to use the inset image tool to link to images on other websites where I have uploaded them.

This is a really old thread. I hope someone with the info sees our posts!

Joe

[Mikiemax]

I've only been able to use the inset image tool to link to images on other websites where I have uploaded them.

This is a really old thread. I hope someone with the info sees our posts!

Joe

I'm also having a problem posting any pictures. It's really frustrating because it takes so long to take them, download them from the camera, convert them to the correct size etc. and then write out the post, for them to fail to upload.

Mike.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

I'm also having a problem posting any pictures. It's really frustrating because it takes so long to take them, download them from the camera, convert them to the correct size etc. and then write out the post, for them to fail to upload.

Mike.

As I don't know what specific problems you are having, I can only respond generally.

There are two upload systems on the board. Which one appears on your screen will depend on which version (flash or basic/standard) you've selected in your settings (profile). I find the flash version the easiest, but it does not work on some older browsers.

In both versions of the uploader, you need to upload your photo attachment first, then insert it into the text.

[Marc Genevrier]

Jeffrey, I hope you don't mind if I put a link to a brief tutorial I wrote some weeks ago :

How to insert photos

Note: this is for the standard version, since I didn't knew there was a flash one!

[Jeffrey Holmes]

Jeffrey, I hope you don't mind if I put a link to a brief tutorial I wrote some weeks ago :

How to insert photos

Note: this is for the standard version, since I didn't knew there was a flash one!

Thank you Marc!

[Mikiemax]

Thank you Marc!

Thanks guys, I'll check those out!

[Mikiemax]

I'm inclined to think now that, perhaps I can't use the attachment function either because my browser doesn't support it (Safari) or maybe it has to do with a temporary limitation in relation to the number of approved posts I have yet to reach.

When I tried to link to the pictures hosted elsewhere, it simply wasn't allowing my flickr account, so I guess I'll have to set up another account.

[Barlera]

If you plan to add photos of an instrument (or anything else) to the site, please size the images before uploading. If the image is larger than the average high res screen, it's very difficult to view (can only be accomplished by scrolling). If you need to illustrate a detail, please crop your shot.

Thank you!

[redbrown]

Thanks, I'll giver a go...