Images in PMs

[raybo]

Is there a way to insert an image in a PM here at PA? I've tried the "Insert image" button but that doesn't work, also I can't paste the image file name in a PM either.

[kingfin66]

It definitely does not look like it is as easy to attach images to PMs as it is to regular forum posts. I am by no means an expert on this topic, but it looks to me like you will need to utilize a photo hosting site to accomplish your goad. These are sites like photobucket, flickr, etc.

I am copying and pasting instructions that a prolific image poster on another site I have posted on gave to me a few years ago. These were the instructions for flickr. Note, they may be somewhat different, but I think they are still helpful. Here ya go! (BBF is an acronym for the site where my photos were posted)

The URLs have to end in the formats allowed - with .jpg, .jpeg, .png or .gif. If you're using Flickr, like you had mentioned earlier, they've recently changed things a bit, and it's much easier on a Mac than a PC to find that .jpg URL for a photo. It looks like for PC, if you get an address through the Share menu, it now gives you a link to the image web page (with no "jpg" in it), not the image, which would explain your Invalid File errors.

Either way, from the individual Flickr photo web page, don't use Share, but go to Actions -> View All Sizes.

From there, click the photo size you want (choices along the top). The largest sizes are usually the best; BBF will shrink it to fit in the message board site, but you'll be showing the biggest photo available. If it's like 3000x something, though, it may be too big, and BBF will tell you. If so, get a smaller size.

Now, in Mac, just right-click on the photo itself and select Copy Image Address, than paste the result in the BBF URL field.

In PC, they've made it harder. For PCs, right-click on the photo and select Properties. The pop-up Properties window will contain the actual URL pointing to just the photo (under Address: (URL) - something like http://farm9.staticflicker.com/******, eventually ending in .jpg). Drag to select this URL with your mouse, copy it (right-click or Ctrl-C) and then paste it into the BBF URL field.

Sorry about that, I have a Mac and use Flickr all the time, and copying URLs is easier, didn't know PC's were so different there, this is a recent change. If that's too much of a pain, Imgur and Photobucket are also very good free photo hosting sites and may have an easier way to get URLs for PCs.



Good luck!

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by raybo

Is there a way to insert an image in a PM here at PA? I've tried the "Insert image" button but that doesn't work, also I can't paste the image file name in a PM either.

You can insert an online image...and that's what the "Insert Image" button is for...you press that button and paste the link to the image in the box.

You can't upload an image from your computer...

[kingfin66]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

You can insert an online image...and that's what the "Insert Image" button is for...you press that button and paste the link to the image in the box.

You can't upload an image from your computer...

Exactly. And uploading the photo to a hosting site effectively makes it an online image. Truth be told, if you are using PM, it would probably just be much faster to e-mail the image to the recipient.

PA, you must be a real night owl.

[PaceAdvantage]

Night owl? I USED to be...being online at this hour has been a real rarity for me the past year or so...don't get used to this...

[raybo]

Ok, all that makes sense. Just thought that the "Insert image" button should work like an "Insert Photo" button.

No problem, thanks guys!