Posting photos with Dropbox

I've been finding Dropbox a great way to post photos on the forum.
To those who aren't already familiar with Dropbox, it's just the greatest thing since sliced bread. You basically install it and it creates a folder on your computer called My Dropbox. Anything you store in this folder is automatically copied to a central server, so it's automatically backed up and you can then access it from any computer or smartphone, anywhere with an internet connection.
The good part, for posting photos, is you can create a public folder and you can post a link to anything you put in there, so anyone can see it.
With posting photos, I just put them in my public folder, copy the link to the clipboard, then, when posting, I click the Img tab and paste the link.
The advantage is, you keep control of the original image, so you can always go back and modify it (such as adding an extra label or whatever). Also, the image doesn't disappear over time, as it does with some photo hosting sites.
You get 2 GB of space for free. The photos are just screen shots, so they don't take up much of that space.
If anyone wants to try it, here's a link: http://db.tt/0hRRudQ

Declaration of Interest: If anyone ends up using Dropbox as a result of following that link, I get some extra free storage space, but that's not my motivation for recommending it ....... honest

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Chris - thanks for post. I already have a Dropbox account but hadn't considered using it to post photos on the forums. I'll give it a go.
Sorry I can't help with increasing your quota - I think I have 50 GB

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

Well I am on your side Chris even if Mickey has piked out....I have done the right thing and signed up for a 'Drop box'. (to keep me drop bears in). Hope the extra space you get will allow you to post some more great photos....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Good on you Pirate. I was thinking partly of your experience when I posted. Those original Pirate Pillow photos would never have disappeared if they had been in Dropbox.
I don't think Mickey piked out. He said he would give it a go with his existing account. I'm not particularly trying to get lots of free space - I only use about 10% of my space now - but thanks for the thought.

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I know mate...Just taking the 'mickey' out of Mickey..
Though I have yet to play around with it, it looks simple enough and should be very useful. In fact I can use it to show you my new baby as I am supposed to be getting my new dune AI today, though the truck is being held up with the Princes Highway closure near Orbost due to a large bush fire down here. Hope it doesn't melt into a blob with all the heat!.. ..Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

This is trial and most likely error..but here goes.

My very last sail on my 2009 AI...Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

That one didn't work Pirate. You need to store the image in the Public subfolder of your Dropbox folder (or a subfolder of the Public folder). With Windows, I then open the folder containing the image, right-click on the image, then select Dropbox from the dropdown menu, then Copy Public Link. That puts the link on the clipboard, ready for pasting. My Dropbox installation came with a text file in the Public Folder called "How to use the Public Folder".

As to sizing the image, it's the same using Dropbox as any photo hosting site. Personally, I resize an image so it looks the right size on my screen, then use a screen capture utility to capture the image to a file. That guarantees it will appear at the desired screen size and at minimum file size (screen resolution only).

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How's this then Chris?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19901890/IMG_1002.jpg

Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Great Pirate, but you need to click the Img tab before pasting, like you did the first time.
Is that dashing young fella on the windsurfer you?

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Here it is shrunk:

That also reduces the image size from 894 KB to 72 KB

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Great Pirate, but you need to click the Img tab before pasting, like you did the first time.
Is that dashing young fella on the windsurfer you?

Yes it is Chris. I used to be pretty good on the windsurfer and raced and free-styled them for years but I am just a little bit rusty these days as the picture shows.

I am lost in Dropbox how to reduce the image before posting it Chris without going into Photoshop or similar. Can you please talk me through it again?..Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Pirate, are you using a Macintosh or Windows or Linux?

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Chris I have a Mac with external storage server. My initial problem was caused by installing the Dropbox in the server which it didn't like at all. Now I have re-located it into the Mac it is working...Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Are you OK with shrinking the images too?

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No Chris...i have not worked that out yet. Your help would be appreciated..Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'