Here are Tom's updated instructions. I have not updated the website yet. One of many things I need to get done.
Pictures.
The first thing to do is record your pictures in a folder on your computer. I download my pictures into a folder called "original-photos" and will read from that file but never redo a picture and overwrite it in that file. My ultimate backup.
Step Number two.
Go to
www.xat.com and download either the JPG optimizer or the image optimizer. I prefer the image optimizer.
step number three
Load your computer darkroom software. It's the program that probably came with your camera. Picture it, Adobe photo home edition, HPphotosmart, Kodak? etc.
Use this software to crop your picture the way you want it and to brighten, lighten or otherwise manipulate it to look the way you want it.
Step number three.
Write this photo out into a folder where you can store it under a title that will allow you to find it later. ie. dangsawmill or dangfamily. (click on "File" and use the "save as" option.)
Step number four
Load up the optimizer you have chosen and use the size option to bring the width to 300pixels or less.
Then use the optimize option to bring the density of the photo to less than 15k.
It will take some practice so that you don't lose the definition in the picture.
Step number five
Write this picture into another folder. You could name it optimizedphotos or something like that.
When I write my picture into this file I change the name by adding my name to its front and -opt14 (the 14 being the optimized size of the picture) to the end of my original title but before the ".jpg" Make sure you are creating jpg formatted pictures. Some software, like adobe, will try to record the picture in their own format but will give you the option to create it in your selected format.
step number six
Create your post.
under the box that you create the post in will be a link for uploading your pictures to the forestry forum picture file. It reads 'upload and attach images"
Click on this link.
A window will open with the forestry forum kid on it and an address window
Click on browse
find your picture and double click it or click open. its title will appear in the upload box.
click upload.
(if your picture is less than 15k) You will see the description window where you will be told your picture successfully uploaded. Name the picture and provide a description of what it is. When you submit this you will notice a tag that says "Add this image to post". When you click on it it does a copy and paste to your clipboard. You won't notice anything happening other than a box appearing that instructs you to return to your post and click on the "insert image button" to place the picture in your post. It will be placed where you placed the cursor.
When you post your post, the image will appear where the first IMG in the URL appears.
NOTE
It is preferable that you not place pictures side by side in the post, but rather one beneath the other. If pictures are side by side you could destroy the integrity of the screen and cause it to expand beyond the design limits. That is also why it is pertinent to keep the width of the picture at or less than 300pixels.
