Using Photobucket to Post Graphics at TBP

I have offered and been taken up on the offer to write a simple tutorial on how to post images with comments here at TBP.  Because you need an online photo hosting service to do that and Photobucket is free and easy, it is what I use.  Therefore, it is what I’m going to tell you how to use.

I don’t know if bandwidth/data usage is an issue with you because it has been a long time since I’ve been on a “normal” internet connection. However, before you start uploading a lot of photos from your computer, you probably need to know if your service has a data limit like mine does. Our service out here in the hills has unlimited downloads from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., which is why I’m sitting here at 1 a.m. working with graphics on Photobucket.  I should be able to upload this in about ten minutes.

If there are problems, just ask questions in the comments and I’ll address your questions. If you want to know how to turn screen shots into images you can upload, I can tell you how to do that too, but I just wanted to post the bare essentials for someone who wants to put a picture of their pet goldfish on the blog for all to admire.

1. Go to Photobucket.com and select the signup option on the far right.

2. Fill out the required information and open an account.

3. After you complete signing up, your “empty bucket” window will open and you may begin uploading photos.

4. You can drag and drop photos from your phone or you can upload photos from your phone or computer. I am on my PC so am uploading photos.  I have selected one photo of my dog scratching his ear.

5. Add title and description.   Once the photo uploads, the opportunity to title and describe the photo opens up.  While it isn’t necessary, it is a good way to keep track of names and dates in photos if you need to do so.

6. To add an image to a comment on TBP blog post, you must first select the link to add an image and then provide the correct URL from the photo hosting site to direct the blog to go “look at” that image.  I.e., copy the direct link and paste it into the photo link box at TBP comments.

7. Editing photos is pretty easy on PB. There isn’t an tremendous amount of editing that can be done as in PhotoShop, but there’s some neat things available if you just experiment with the “buttons.”  See my amazing photoedits below!

8. What an amazing portrait!

One last little comment about editing… many times the images you upload can be enormous. If they are, all you need to do is come back into photobucket to that image and select the “edit” key and then select “resize.”  Usually Width should not be more than 500 or it will exceed the screen on a tablet or laptop.  So, play around with the size, but never leave it huge because the image won’t be visible to most viewers since it will disappear behind the sidebars at TBP.

<a href=”http://s292.photobucket.com/user/maggie120/media/Photobucket%2014%20Resize_zpsxkspit3x.jpg.html” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm25/maggie120/Photobucket%2014%20Resize_zpsxkspit3x.jpg” border=”0″ alt=” photo Photobucket 14 Resize_zpsxkspit3x.jpg”/></a>

9. Now my bucket has two pictures, the original and the edited masterpiece.

9.5 Another way to add photos to your bucket is to search Photobucket for available images from other users. (Note: You can make your bucket private… for example my other account IS PRIVATE unless I selectively share the images. Photobucket is like other social media… it is possible to have “some” privacy, but you have to work for it.) To search Photobucket, enter your search term in the upper right search bar.

10. If you find an image you want to post on TBP but not save in your bucket, simply copy the Direct URL to paste into the image link on the comment.

<a href=”http://s292.photobucket.com/user/maggie120/media/Photobucket%2011_zpsaytamn69.jpg.html” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm25/maggie120/Photobucket%2011_zpsaytamn69.jpg” border=”0″ alt=” photo Photobucket 11_zpsaytamn69.jpg”/></a>

11. If you want the image in your bucket for your use later, then you will need to copy it to your bucket.

12. I found a charming little monkey with a pile of crap I’ll be flinging out there from time to time, so this was time well spent for me too!