How do you adjust the size of pictures before posting them?

[hamishspence]

If you want to post, rather than link to, a picture, but it is too large (or too small to see well) how do you adjust it so that it is the right size for the forum?

[Rawhide]

No images are stored on the server. All images are either linked to directly ([url] tags), or linked to through embedding ([img] tags). There is absolutely no way to resize an image through the forum software.

You must resize it on your local computer before uploading it, or use the image hosting site's resizing feature.

[hamishspence]

So- if it was somewhere like Wikipedia, you'd have to have an account there, resize the existing pic on the site, and link to the resized pic?

[Zeb The Troll]

Or save it to your hard drive, upload it to someplace like Photobucket, and resize it there, then link to the Photobucket copy.

[Jimorian]

No, you'd have to download the picture, resize it with software like irfanview, then upload it to your own account at a site like photobucket or to your own webspace.

The photos at wikipedia are open source, so this is allowed (I believe as long as you attribute). Be aware that this is not the case with some other sites. For example, do NOT do this with webcomics, just link to the appropriate page.

Generally, "hotlinking" a picture from another site is frowned upon because it uses up their bandwidth. If it's stuff like the many internet memes you encounter, you're generally ok to re-host on photobucket and the like, then link to it there with the IMG tags. Many sites will have a posted policy about this somewhere so that you can be sure you're doing what's allowed.

[GrlumpTheElder]

Or save it to your hard drive, upload it to someplace like Photobucket, and resize it there, then link to the Photobucket copy.

You can actually load it directly to your photobucket from the internet.

Just above the uploader bit, click on 'More Uploader Tools' then on 'From the Web'.

Once uploaded you can resize it on photobucket.

[hamishspence]

I know you can set the size of avatars differently from the size of the actual image the avatar is based on.

Maybe there could be something like that for the main forum- allowing you to treat any image like an avatar, and thus set it to the correct size?

Or would that be too complicated and data-intensive?

[Eldan]

ImageShack is actually useful for that, since it simply has a "resize" button in the upload menu.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

The photos at wikipedia are open source, so this is allowed (I believe as long as you attribute).
Not all pictures are under the same license. Some are even copyrighted, but they are used on Wikipedia under Fair Use. It would most likely not be Fair Use used on the Forum. It’s important to look at the copyright information on the picture’s information page before you do anything with it.

[Rawhide]

Before you upload an image, be sure that it is not copyrighted and/or you have the right to upload it.

Before you embed an image hosted on another website, be sure that hotlinking is allowed by that site. Being allowed is not the same as being able to.

You must have two separate images to have two different sizes. Some image hosting sites may do this for you.

For resizing, and all other image manipulation tasks, I prefer XnView (http://xnview.com/en/index.html).

[NerfTW]

Also keep in mind that an image you have no control over is an image that can get you in serious trouble at any time. Hot linking not only uses up bandwith, but can be changed to anything the person who has control over the original wants.


One second you're linking to a diagram of second century troop movements, the next it turns into hardcore porn and you get an infraction.

Never hotlink. Both as a courtesy and to cover your own backside from retaliation.

[The Dark Fiddler]

I know you can set the size of avatars differently from the size of the actual image the avatar is based on.

Not anymore, you can't.


Maybe there could be something like that for the main forum- allowing you to treat any image like an avatar, and thus set it to the correct size?

Or would that be too complicated and data-intensive?

Probably would be, since it was removed from avatars.

[Kobold-Bard]

You can actually load it directly to your photobucket from the internet.

Just above the uploader bit, click on 'More Uploader Tools' then on 'From the Web'.

Once uploaded you can resize it on photobucket.

Did not know this. Thanks much.

[Trixie]

ImageShack is actually useful for that, since it simply has a "resize" button in the upload menu.

Except that will make the quality of resulting image suck, at least compared to what Irfan or Xn will produce.