my connected community (mc2)

Using Images for Websites

Images (Graphics, Pictures, Icons) used on Web pages are usually in one of two filetypes: jpg or gif format:

JPG

GIF

JPG vs. GIF vs. PNG - comparison of the most commonly used graphics file formats for putting images on the Web

You can Search the Web for Images:

or look here:

See also: Copying Images from another Website (Downloading)
© When using images, don't forget the issue of Copyright!

Editing & Resizing Images

Images / Graphics / Pictures make life interesting! Do try to incorporate at least one image on your page, to liven up your text, or illustrate a point, but don't make it too big! Some photos can take a while to load... Please be patient!

Keep the filesize of your images small!
Large images take a long time to download and will not fit well on the page.

Auto Image Re-Sizing
Modern digital cameras often take very large, high resolution, images, primarily intended for printing. Such files take a very long time to download from the Web, and often look too big on a computer screen. Fortunately, the mc² Webpage Generator (My Webpage), now features an auto image re-sizing feature. This will optimise your photos for the Web.
The Auto image-resizer now works on:

My Webpage (mc² Webpage Generator)
My Photos (personal Photo Gallery)
Group Photo Gallery
Avatars (personalised icon)

Note that, for the auto-resizing to work, image file names must be 20 characters or less. If you use a longer filename, the image will not upload. To rectify this, just rename the image file on your computer with a shorter name, then try uploading it again.

Graphics Programs
To really work in detail with images, you will need a graphics program such as Photoshop or PaintShop Pro. Use these to reduce your file sizes or alter images.

Another program to try is Irfan View - a free image viewer, resizer and converter.

Picasa from Google, is a popular, free photo management system.

Or try WinSoftMagic (download a free trial version). Amongst other things, this will convert BMP (Bitmap) files (e.g. ClipArt) to JPG (format required for Webpages)

Alternatively, you can go to Start / Programs / Accessories / Paint
for the basic Microsoft Paint Program or, preferably, Start / Programs / Microsoft Office Tools / Microsoft Photo Editor .
Microsoft Photo Editor will allow you to save as GIF or JPG, as well as offering a range of tools.

Avatars on mc²

Avatars are used to represent yourself online with a small, personalised icon, or image (often comical). You can choose your own avatar on mc² by going to My Profile and either selecting an image from the drop-down box, or uploading your own image. Whatever image size you upload, mc² will resize it to become a standard, smaller image [thumbnail], which can be used as your avatar [online representation].

Your chosen avatar will appear next to your name on any messages you post in an mc² group:

If you browse your hard drive for your own image to upload, it needs to be in either GIF or JPG format (i.e. a web-compatible image).

See: More on Avatars...
See also: Avatar in the Glossary

How to Create an Online Photo Gallery
mc² now incorporates both a personal and group online photo gallery

See: Help with My Photos
See also: Group Photo Gallery Help

How to use images on another Website

You can refer to an image on another website, just by using the Image URL. To find out the URL of an image, click on any image with your RIGHT mouse button, then select PROPERTIES. E.g. the URL of the image below is: http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/images/URLtest.gif

Click on this image with your RIGHT mouse button, then select PROPERTIES, to see the URL of this image: images/URLtest.gif

The problem with this is that if that image is removed from the Website it is hosted on, it will disappear from yours, too, and you have no control over this. It is better to save your own copy of the image, and use this. Find out how, below:

How to copy images from another Website to your Homepage

To use images on other Webpages, you will first need to have a copy of them on your computer. To do this, go to the Website which has the image you want, then right-click on any image. Select "save picture as..." . Take a note of where you save it on your computer, e.g. the Desktop. You can then use your copy of this image when constructing your own Homepage. Have a go copying the balloons - just right click on them and select "save picture as..."
See also: Copying (Downloading) an Image

N.B. be careful not to breach copyright by "stealing" other people's work!
Ask first for permission, by emailing the Webmaster for the site the image appears on. There are many copyright-free images for the Web, see

Finding Images

See:

See More Image Help:

Photos / Images / Pictures

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Using Images for Websites

Editing & Resizing Images

Graphics Programs

Avatars on mc²

How to use images on another Website

Images and © Copyright