Attaching an image to your post

Adding an image to your post adds interest, colour and life to the web site and we encourage you all to select an appropriate image to accompany your post.

However, on most web sites doing anything more than 'shooting off a quick comment' can be daunting and perplexing also because, it seems, each web site employs its own methods and processes.

This quick guide can make the process (of adding an image to your post) much easier and will hopefully encourage everyone to 'have a go'. Don't be intimidated by the number of words below. Take your time and have a good read. Once you have uploaded an image once or twice you'll never need to look at these instructions again.

1. Preparing your images for upload
   • Resize your image to 800 pixels along the longest side,
   • Reduce the number of colours used in the image to 256. Any more colours may be good for printing but really is overkill for images used on web sites,
   • 'Save as' a copy of your new image in JPEG (.jpg) format using 75% compression,
   • Try to keep the image file size to be under 130 Kb. That should be easy if you have carefully followed the previous three steps,
   • Ensure that the file name you choose for your image is descriptive but use HYPHENS '-' instead of spaces between words. Some search engines and browsers break on a space in a file name and people will get a '404 file not found error'. Doh...,
   • Refer to your image manipulation/editor software instructions for further information. We recommend the popular and powerful Irfanview program for all Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and 7 users. Best of all, it is FREE. See http://irfanview.com/ for more information.
2. Uploading your images
   • Log in to the web site,
   • From the menu bar, choose 'Create content' and 'Image',
   • Type in a suitable 'Title' for your image. Be descriptive. A title like 'photoD0456' will never do (remember this title, you will need it again later).
   • Select an appropriate gallery from the 'Image Galleries' drop down list. If there does not seem to be an appropriate gallery, choose the 'Odds and Ends' gallery and contact webmaster to create a suitable new gallery,
   • Should the photo relate to a program on 4CCR, type three characters of the program name in the 'Program Tags' field and WAIT for the list of programs to come up. Click on the desired program name to proceed. Otherwise just ignore the 'Program tag',
   • The 'Action or Type' tag is a bit harder to explain. Type one or two characters of what you think this tag may be and WAIT for the list of 'Action and Type tags' to come up. If you need a new Type or Action tag, please contact webmaster,
   • Should the photo relate to one or more Presenters at 4CCR, type three characters of the Presenter's first name and WAIT for the list of presenters to come up. Separate each name with a comma and repeat the process. Otherwise just ignore the 'Presenter tag' field,
   • Under 'Image' click on 'Browse' to select the image file you have previously prepared (and saved on your computer) for upload to the web site,
   • Ignore the 'Rebuild derivative images' check box unless you are changing/replacing an image you previously uploaded,
   • In the 'Body' field, type a suitable description of your image. Include names of people, locations and places in the image. The more the better. This description is also used by the search engines to index your image, so do not mince your words. we want people to find your work,
   • Ignore everything else and click on 'Preview' to see what your image post will look like and that all is as you intended. Remember to click on 'Submit' to finally submit your image post to the web server.
3. Finally: Attaching an image to your post
   • From the menu, choose 'Create content' and 'Blog entry' or 'Forum topic',
   • Scroll down to and click on 'Attached images',
   • In the 'Existing image' drop down list, click on the title of your previously uploaded image,
   • In 'Image title', give your image (another) descriptive title relevant to the topic of your 'Blog entry' or 'Forum post'
   • Done... Image attached. Our server will display a 100x100 pixel 'thumbnail' in all 'lists of posts', a 300x300 pixel 'preview' in your post (when you click on 'read more' or on the title) and you may at any time enjoy a full size version of your image by clicking on the thumbnail or preview.
4. What we may do with your image
   • You should ONLY EVER post images that you own or to which you hold publication rights. Under the Copyright Act we are obliged to immediately remove any image on request of the copyright holder,
   • By posting your image here on this web site you irrevocably grant the owners and operators of this web site the right to use your image for whatever (legal) purpose we choose, anywhere and at any time,
   • The webmaster and/or Committee members may, without notice, unpublish or delete any image at any time if it is deemed unsuitable for this web site or for whatever other reason,
   • The Webmaster, designated Editors and/or Committee members may, without notice and for whatever reason and at any time, change or edit the Title of your image post, the Tags you have chosen or the Description you have provided with the image. Generally we would only do this to ensure that your image 'fits' into this web site, on pages and lists and under the various 'Tag' categories chosen in the desired manner in keeping with the spirit and purpose of this web site.

Have fun. We look forward to your images and your posts.