I'm seeking tips on uploading photos. Currently when I start a new blog, I hit the add an image button and upload directly from my computer. I know the pictures should look much better then they do on the blog. How do you all load your pics into a blog post?
I'm in the habit these days of cropping and saving as medium quality jpgs before I upload them. Mostly to save space, I would have run out of free space on the web albums a couple of months ago now if I hadn't started doing that.
ReplyDeleteThe game itself is saving them as the best quality image that it can generate. And I do use the infamous Photoshop to create the web versions.
I was actually posting them the same way - just use the image button on blogger to upload them. Right now, I'm using Picasa to upload them so I can choose an album.
BTW - I was thinking about posting my philosophy on running multiple blogs - would anyone actually like to read that?
ReplyDeleteI upload straight from my documents so I would be no help.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read it PiB.
Yes, I'd like to read it, PiB. The more information and ideas about blogging we can pool together, the better for us all.
ReplyDeleteI need to learn photoshop. Obviously, it's a key element. Did you buy a version? Which version? I'll try to figure it out on my own. I'm not afraid to experiment so that should be a plus.
The Photoshop version I have on my computer is a free version called 'Elements' that came with my computer, Chyrsame. It has all the same "basic" functionalities as the full version, such as resizing, cropping, some tools, etc. I'm not sure if it's downloadable, but if you're looking for something like that, that's one option.
ReplyDeleteAnd PiB, I'd definitely read it. :)
Now, for how I do my images:
Lately I've been doing everything through Flock in a very hijinx way, but I'll explain a different version that doesn't involve Flock.
First, I upload everything via Picasa. There are options under preferences to preserve the image quality, to change the size of the image that's uploaded.. Right now, I'm uploading the smallest size available (640px), but preserving the image quality -- the file size turns out a bit bigger than uploading a larger size without image quality retention, but I've got plenty of room in my Picasa storage still, so it's not an issue yet.
Still, even not preserving the image quality, you'll get a better image quality than using blogger to upload the image.
Once they're uploaded, while writing my post, when I hit 'Add Image', instead of uploading from the computer, I select the web address option. Then, I go to the uploaded image's page, right click and 'Copy Image Location', and paste that into the "web address" needed for the image.
You can use the 'small, medium, large' buttons to resize it from whatever size image it is originally; right now, I manually enter pixel widths for my images, but that's a whole different story in and of itself. ;)
Running multiple blogs - some tips
ReplyDeleteThe first thing to consider is "Is this worth starting a new blog for?" If you have a few posts that don't fit your normal blog - it may not be worth starting a new one.
There's no harm in starting one for only three posts but no real advantage either. Unless the content is seriously different in nature then the other blog - more adult themes may require a new blog.
Once you start new blogs
a) don't stress over updating. If you don't feel like it, then it's not time to update.
b) don't feel obligated to jump to a different blog just because it's been a while. Fans of "Hi Mum, it's Sammy" may have to wait quite some time between stories.
c) notes on added Sims, relationships, careers can help you when returning to a blog after a break.
I sometimes add a page to a blog and leave it as a draft. My readers don't see it but I can - good for plots if you are writing a story. I had a plot outline for the Short Story blog that was stashed that way.
d) read the last post or two before you begin playing to get a sense of what was happening and how you were approaching that game.
e) look for natural break points to switch - wedding, new baby, death...
f) have fun. If it ain't fun, you ain't doing it right.
Questions - comments - complaints welcome.
It all looks great to me Pib. I sometimes stash updates too but am forever forgetting to read back over my previous blog even though I,m only doing one. Well, now two.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can't do a thing without my notes.
Hi Chrysame, sorry a bit late on this. I almost did not notice this one. I don't know if this is going to be useful, but I would like to share it.
ReplyDeleteTo upload pictures, I used Photobucket.
First,
- I edit the screenshot using ACDSee to resize it into 600 pixel width, add some brightness, sharpness, and contrast. If needed for a rare scene (like Lila sitting on a tree), I used Corel Draw.
- And then I upload the picture to Photobucket. To view it on my blog, I have to copy the link.
Look at me, all belated.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say, those are some great tips PiB. I give a lot of props to anyone that can manage multiple blogs or multiple stories... I just couldn't do it. Even if my story gets pretty complex, it's intertwined -- separating one story from another would be a nightmare! That, and multiple different games and families... I dunno how you guys do it.
There's some things in there that can be translated to having a single blog, too. Some tips that I should actually keep in mind... ^^
I'm kinda like Dee, in that I keep notes. I've got a binder atm with plot outlines, a list of content to go in each post, character development foo, notes on Jeb's cases, and to-do lists for in-game. It's... chaotic.
Kaleeko, I'm terribly jealous that you are spinning such a great tale. I have a ton of ok qualities ones instead.
ReplyDelete