Photo Page Tutorial

Please contact Angela with other questions about the photo pages or posting photos.

What is a kb...a quick lesson in bytes, kilobytes and more:

The standard measurement units used in computing are bytes, kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes. (In that order from smallest to largest.) For the purpose of uploading pictures here 128 kilobytes (kb) roughly equals 128,000 bytes. If you want more information on file sizes this link will probably tell you more than you wish to know... http://www.wu.ece.ufl.edu/links/dataRate/DataMeasurementChart.html.

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Why does my photo have to be 128 kb or less?

A file size of 128 kb or less is great for online viewing because it allows the picture to load relatively fast when you visit the page or click on a thumbnail. This is extra important when there are 30 or more photos per page. (P.S. - A "thumbnail" is a smaller version of the same photo that is usually a link to the larger photo.)

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How does a megapixel relate to photo file size?

The resolution your camera takes pictures at will directly affect the file size of the photo. The higher the resolution (i.e., 3.2 megapixel and so on) the larger the file size to store it. Larger megapixel and larger file sizes generally equal better print quality. I do NOT recommend taking a picture at a lower resolution unless you KNOW it will only be viewed online. (In other words, if you ever want to print your pictures, choose a higher resolution on your camera.) There are other ways to lower the file size of a photo for online viewing. (see below)

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How do I find out my photo's file size?

There are a few options here because every computer and every photo editing program is different.

1. Look for "Properties" under File, Edit or other file menu headings.

2. Some programs will allow you to right click on the photo and one of the choices might be "Properties."

3. Click on File, Open and go to the folder where the photo is saved on your computer. Then click on the little triangle beside the white file folder and choose "Details." (see graphic to the right) This will allow you to see file size, creation or edit date, etc.

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How do I change my photo's file size?

This one is a toughy... Again, every photo editing program is different so my suggestions will be general. Whatever changes you make, please make sure to do a Save As and name it something different so that you will always have your original to fall back on!

Cropping:

This is done in different ways by different programs, but usually you click a crop button and then either click and drag a box around the area to keep OR you drag each side to exactly where you want to cut the picture.
For online viewing it is great to crop the dead space from your photos thereby centering on the subject of your affection.
I can't tell you how many times I am sent a photo that is around 200 kb and when I crop a TINY bit off, it reduces down to 44 kb. (This happens because many programs add extra "stuff" when a photo is saved. Even though I didn't crop much, just the act of re-saving it got rid of the "stuff.")

Resizing:

Try this option if cropping just won't get the file size down enough.
Again, I can't tell you where to find your resize button; but when you do, you will probably be given a little window with the current size of your photo that you can change all you want.
Keep in mind when you use this option that you want to make sure to "Lock the Aspect Ratio" before you make changes! This will insure there will be no stretching or warping when you change the size. So you just reduce one of the sizes and the other one is automatically figured.
Also, a little dab will do you when you are changing sizes. If you go too small, it will be hard to see online. I usually resize down by about a 10th at a time until I achieve my file size.

Scanning at a lower resolution:

Many scanner programs allow you to choose the resolution at which you want to scan the picture.
If yours does, then when you scan your photo play with the resolutions until you find the right size without compromising online viewing quality.
Please see my megapixel note above about NOT taking photos at lower resolutions.

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What is .jpg (JPEG) format?

This is a common type of file for photos to be saved as and will show as the extension in your photo's name. (i.e. MariaatBeach.jpg) It is often (but not always) the default format for photos. Other formats include .gif (used mostly for cartoon type graphics) and .bmp (used in many email programs) among others. Our system requires the .jpg format for the photos to be viewed online. Many of the other formats will also cause photos to be very large in size.

If you need to change the format of your photo, use your photo editing program and click on File, Save As. Then under the line where you name your photo, click on the little arrow to the right and choose JPEG or .jpg. Then click Save. (See sample below.)

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Why am I asked for a login name and password when I try to submit my photo?

The most common reason for this error is the size of the photo. Photos that are taken with newer digital cameras or scanned in at a high resolution are maximized for printing but entirely too large for uploading to a website. When a very large photo is uploaded through our form (over 1 mb), the system often prompts for an administrator's login and password.

If you receive this error, please re-size or crop your photo so that it fits under the allowed 128kb.

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Can I upload more than one photo at a time?

Unfortunately, no, only one photo can be uploaded at a time. The system will allow you to click on more than one photo during the browse process but only one will be uploaded and sent to me. Also, we try to limit the number of photos posted by each family to 2-3 posted photos at a time.

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What will my photo look like online?

Once your photo is uploaded to the photo page, it will be added near the top in a small thumbnail format with your caption to the right. All a viewer needs to do is click on the photo to see the larger version. (A "thumbnail" is a smaller version of the same photo that is usually a link to the larger photo.)

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