Posting images in a thread
This procedure describes how to insert an image directly in your Forest Hills High School Forums post using a free, outside, image-hosting website. (Forest Hills High School Forums rules don't allow you to use Forest Hills High School Forums as an image-hosting site.)
At first glance, this procedure may seem long and complicated, but there are only four simple steps to start posting your images:
1. Set up free account at image-hosting website.
2. Upload pics to host site.
3. Copy the URL (web address) for your pic.
4. Paste URL in your post between [IMG] tags.
This procedure describes the four easy steps and provides additional info, but once you paste your first pic, you won't need any procedure to remind you...it's really very easy.
1. SET UP FREE ACCOUNT AT IMAGE-HOSTING WEBSITE
To insert an image directly in a post, you first have to set up a free account on an image-hosting website. Luckily, there are many of those sites, such as photobucket.com, imageshack.us, freeimagehosting.net, AOL, your ISP, and many others. Google "image host" to find one you like.
During account setup, a good hosting site will ask if you want your pics/albums to be "Public" and viewable by anyone or if you want them restricted somehow. Choose "Public," "share with anyone," "view by anyone," or similar option so they can be viewed wherever you link to them. A good site will also allow you to set up "secure" albums for pics you want to limit to certain people, or to no one but you. Just make sure you upload pics to the right album...could be embarrassing.
Caution: People will be able to see your link text by right-clicking on the image and checking "Properties." Since that text will have your user/album name, you might want to use a screen-name rather than your real name when setting up your host account?
2. UPLOAD PICS TO HOST SITE
Once you've set up a free account at a host site, use its "UPLOAD" feature to place your .jpg, .gif, or .png pics in your "albums."
Warning: If you use your personal or business website as your host, be aware that pictures you post will give others a path (URL) to the "insides" of that website, from which they could "explore" other things you or others have posted there depending on the "snoop's" expertise. For such sites, you can either: 1. make sure your other folders and files are "restricted" (need password, etc. to view), or 2. make sure you don't post anything, anywhere in the website, that you really don't want others to see.
3. COPY THE URL (WEB PATH ADDRESS) FOR YOUR PIC
When you are ready to paste a pic in a post, go to your host site and copy the URL for that image, which is text that describes its address on the web, i.e.
Code:
http://www.your-image-host.com/your_account/picture_001.jpg
Hint: For pics you use often (once they are on the host site), you don't need to go to your host site to copy the URL. Just paste the URL text one time in a document on your computer, then you can copy that text much more quickly. There's no "magic" in the URL text copied from a host website vs. the same text copied from a personal document; it just has to be plain text in the structure/format of a typical HTML link ("http://...").
If using photobucket.com (no "www." in front), you can open your album and click on a pic to bring up your actual, full-size pic (not a thumbnail). Below each pic, you'll have several boxes for copying text to paste but only two are the type you need for a post:
a. Direct Link -- this is one URL code you can use but it requires also using the Insert Image icon in the post window .
b. IMG Code -- Same as Direct Link above, except it's easier to use since it already includes the [IMG] tags you'll need so you won't have to click the Insert Image icon in the post window. If you use this code and also click the Insert Image icon in your post window, you'll end up with double [IMG] tags. Your link will show up properly, but it'll have an extra set of [IMG] tags that show on screen.
To copy the "Direct Link" or "IMG Code" in photobucket.com, left-click it so it's highlighted, then press the Ctrl+C keys...ignore the small pop-up that says "COPIED" after highlighting, it doesn't work reliably.
4. PASTE URL IN YOUR POST BETWEEN
TAGS
There are three ways to insert/paste the URL code for your images in the post window, depending on which URL code you copied from your album.
a. If you copied "Direct Link": Click the "Insert Image" icon above the post window, then immediately paste (Ctrl+V) the copied URL text in the "Script Prompt" box, over the already highlighted "http://" in the box. You don't need to put your cursor in the box or delete the highlighted "http://"...pasting will replace that highlighted text. Then click OK.
b. If you copied "HTML Code": Just paste (Ctrl+V) the copied HTML Code in a blank area of your post. You don't need to use the Insert Image icon or click OK since this code already has the required [IMG] and [/IMG} tags front and back.
c. You can type the [IMG] tags yourself: If you prefer, you can paste the Direct Link (w/o [IMG] tags) in your post, then type the [IMG] tags yourself on each side of the URL...the plain
at the end. In that case, you won't use the "Insert Image" icon above your post.
Whichever method you use, you should end up with an
tag at the end. The [IMG] tags tell the viewer's browser to display the image residing at the web address (URL) that you insert between the tags, like
. (The slash is a universal "end" command for an HTML instruction. To see an example of HTML code, IE users can click the View > Source menu item on any web page.)
Note: There should be NO space between the [IMG] tags and the URL text and NO space inside the brackets.
ANOTHER METHOD FOR LINKING
You can also link to your pics, or other peoples' pics in other sites, by right-clicking on the full-size pic (not a small thumbnail). Click Properties at the bottom of the window that pops up, then copy the "Address: (URL)" for that pic, which should start with "http" and end with jpg, gif or png, then paste it as described above.
You can only use this "Properties/Copy URL" method on other peoples' websites that allow open and direct links to their pics...some do and some don't...depends on the website design and security. (Make sure you give proper credit to the site for a pic that's not yours....copyright laws apply.)
One common mistake is copying a "HTML Tag" (see above), which doesn't start with "http" and end with jpg, gif or png. If you see a link with "extra" text in front or behind, sometimes it works to copy all the text, then cut the "extra" parts.
Always a good idea to "Preview" links that you make to pics in another person's or company's website and, again, make sure you credit the other site.
Hope this helps!
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