This is my set of instructions, which I have now edited and improved several times. I hope it is clear now. I'm sure there must be other ways to do this, but this is all I know and I know it works.
Join
www.photobucket.com - it's free and fast.
Go to "My Albums" and hit "choose files". It will show you any file on your computer, so find your pictures. Then upload a picture (or several) in it's original format. It can be big. You don't need to resize it at this point.
Then look at your "album" (The "My Albums" button at the top will get you back there).
First you need to make a copy of it that is the right size to meet the forum rules.
Pick the picture you want and above it there are several blue buttons. Click the "edit" button on the far left. Now you have opened the picture in an editing page. On the top click the "resize" button. "keep proportions" should be checked already by default.
The size/detail of the picture you start with probably affects the end product. Your goal here is to get the biggest numbers in the "New Size" boxes BUT have the final picture be less than 50kb. This is what I do:
The simplest way is to go to the drop down menu right below "New Size" windows and hit the arrows and select "Website 320 x 240". Then go to the bottom and click "Save a copy". When the new image appears, look below it. There is a grayed out "File Size:" entry with a number next to it that shows you the kb size and the pixel count for width and height. That is usually right under 50kb. When you click on "my albums" at the top you will see that the last picture you saved will be in the upper left hand corner.
When you see it in the album you can check the little box below it (don't click the picture itself, as that just takes you to it and it's a dead end) and some buttons below (at the bottom of the page) will turn blue.
Pick the last one on the right that says "Generate HTML and IMG code".
IT will take you to a new page and give you a choice of 5 ways to code your picture.
The fourth one down is the one that is used most here, as it will put your resized picture in your post or signature.
When you click on your choice, it highlights it, but copy that link anyway like you normally would.
You can paste your picture in the body of a reply or post.
You can also insert it into your signature if you go to your signature box edit page on this forum which is under "My Forum Settings" at the right above and then the "My Personal Info" tab on the left, then at the bottom in the big box and just paste into that signature box.
NOW, if you want a clickable thumbnail of a big picture like I use, then skip the resizing step and check the box below your original big picture and then go down to "Generate HTML and IMG code" and hit it. Then pick the third selection and paste it in your signature or message. That way we get to see a huge picture if we want and you save space on the forum server. Win-Win.
That's it.
Favoured: 3
Bye.
