Hosting and Uploading Your Siggy

[sweetpea]

Updated 5/7/05

All siggy, counter and avatar help can only be helpful to you if your interface version is as follows - go into Edit options and all the way at the bottom are "Miscellaneous Options" - you will see "Message Editor Interface" - use the pull down box and choose "Standard Editor - Extra Formatting controls."

To put a picture in your signature (a siggy), you will first need to "host" it at a photo hosting site. We've listed a few reliable and easy to use choices below that are free and online. If you do not know how to save your siggy from the pick up thread, please refer to this link first: How To Save a Graphic

Register at one of these sites:

http://www.imagecave.com
http://mypages.iparenting.com/
http://www.photobucket.com/


Directions for image cave:

Once you register, you are directly taken to your album page. Look towards the bottom and it has a link that says "Click here to add photos to this album". Click on that and then browse your computer for the pictures you want to add.

Under that, you will see a checkbox for "optimizing your photos". That doesn't change the visual size of your image any, it does change the file size (Kbs) smaller and that's a good thing. You'll then receive confirmation that your files have been uploaded and can go to view your photo album.

When you want to use a photo for your siggy, just right click copy the url that says "EZCode" and then come back here to PTO. Then go into your user account, edit signature, click on the add a picture/mountain icon, and paste it in. Hit Preview Signature and you're graphic should be there!

Directions for iparenting:

Once you have registered they will e-mail you a password, once you retrieve the password sign into the site.

Once you have signed in scroll down a little bit until you see:
2. Files or Graphics for use in your Web Page

That is where you will click Browse and find your siggy/graphic on your computer. After you upload the picture, right below that section where you just were you will see "Files in your Directory." Once you click on your graphic that you want to use it will open in a new page (it appears as a link). Copy the web page link/address information from from the page that the graphic is in.

Then go to Edit signature. Make sure your cursor/mouse is blinking in the Siggy box and click on the little icon that looks like a mountain (it says "Insert Image" when your mouse is over it.) A dialogue box will come up - paste the code in there (either right click and choose paste OR click control +V at the same time). Hit enter and the code should be in the box. If you want to center your siggy highlight the entire code and click on the center icon.

Voila!

Directions for Photobucket

When you get to the main page you will see in the center of the site there is a "browse option." Click on that and find you siggy on your computer and then click on submit. Once it has loaded you will see a smaller version of your siggy (a thumbnail) - under the graphic you will see three codes. Copy the entire IMG Code. Then go to PTO and go to edit siggy. Once in your siggy box all you have to do is right click and choose paste into your siggy box. If you want it centered, you can do that after you are done pasting your link into the box. Just highlight the link w/ codes and click on center.


NOTE: There have been times when Photobucket is down for a short time, and you will see a red X as your siggy. Do not be alarmed by this or post about it - once it is back up your siggy will show up. If you are aware of other hosting sites, please PM me and I will add it to the list. After looking into all the ones above, I still love photobucket the best, no matter how tempermental it is!!