Posting a sketch

[lionelsoni]

Can anyone out there tell me how to post a sketch on the forum, or point me to an existing topic that explains it? I find that this computer has a program called "mspaint", that my daughter uses to draw pictures. I think I can use it to create a 24-bit bitmap ".bmp" file; but I don't know whether or how I can get that into a forum posting.

[johnnyc]

Save the .bmp file in a folder on your computer . Now follow the photo posting instructions from Sunday Photo Fun post . You can also scan a drawing done on paper and use the same posting method . John C.

[lionelsoni]

"Linking directly to images on Shutterfly’s servers from external sites is expressly prohibited."

Is this what I'm trying to do?

[Roger Bielen]

I haven't tried it but could you do a copy and paste?

[webenda]

I use mspaint for all my drawings. The only thing it lacks is the ability to rotate images one degree at a time. It has 0, 90, 190 and 270 degrees and flip right left / top bottom. (There is a way around this limitation.)
To draw this little locomotive I expanded the drawing 800% (to draw fine detail) and turned on the grid (aid for locating pixels.) When you are ready to post to your photo hosting site, save it as a .jpg. It saves space, plus I do not think you can post .bmp here.

The link at "New to toy trains? Stop here first "Posting photos on the CTT website
":<http://www.gahannawedding.com/Train%20Photos/PhotoPosting%20on%20CTT/CTTPOSTING.htm> does not work anymore. It needs to be updated to: <http://www.past-timehobbies.com/photoposting_instruct/index.htm>
These are excellent instructions from Tom Pescha. I used them and obtained success on the first try. (Proof of excellence instruction if I can understand them.)
I did not use a picture hosting site, like www.shutterfly.com. I used Earthlink's web building application. (Part of the deal when you sign up for Earthlink e-mail service.)

If you right click someone's picture or drawing and then select properties, you can see where the photo/drawing is hosted. Most of the guys on CTT seem to use shutterfly. Linking to images from an external site is what you do. I think that means you cannot link to shutterfly images or other people's images. Everyone links to their own without problems.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Bob, bmp files don't work here, they need to be jpg or gif. I know you've seen some of the sketches I've done. I just do them on paint, but then I convert them to jpg using an old copy of Corel Photo House.

Hosting is the key, the images need to be up on the web first, not just in your computer. Then you have two basic options, post a link to the image, or if possible have it show up directly in your post.

In my case, my ISP gives me 25 meg with my account.

[spankybird]

Here are 2 other sites, both require you to re-size your pics, as they have a limit to max size.

www.villagephotos.com

Villagephotos will limit the number of files or total mgs before charging you for hosting.

www.2and2.net

2and2.net will also limit you to 1 mg max file size, which means most pics have to be resized. The down size to this site is it lacks file folders to find your pics after uploading them.

I have used Shutterfly for over a year without any problems. I believe Wayne is correct about posting other peoples pics. It doesn’t take much to edit an IP address and see other peoples pics.

tom

[webenda]

A lot of the guys and gals on http://www.modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB2/ use Village Photos. http://www.villagephotos.com/ which site specifically says, "
Welcome to Village Photos, the best image hosting solution for auctions, bulletin boards, photo sharing, and more. External linking is permitted on free accounts! "

Hmm. Maybe Shutterfly means just what it sounds like they mean [?]

[spankybird]

Oh yah, you will still have to covert it to a jpeg or jpg file. Most editing software will allow you to do a ‘save as’ with a chose of extentions.

tom

[lionelsoni]

I had figured out the .jpg business.

But I find it hard to interpret the Shutterfly rules any way but as forbidding me to use it for my purpose. I think Wayne and I may have the same feeling about this.

I looked at the Village Photos site, which does seem to allow it. But I am confused as to whether I should use Village Photos or the Image Cave site that they mention. Are they the same company? With the same service, both free, or what?

[johnnyc]

http://photobucket.com/

Here is another host you can try , John C.