When you're posting an image of your character to this blog (like for a contest), please post a link directly to your image and not to a jump page. Here's how you do that for the various services.
ImageShack
To the right of your ImageShack image is this box, titled "Links to Share This Image":
You want to use the URL in the "Direct Link" box. You do NOT want to use the URL from your browser's address bar. The former takes you to the image and only the image, while the latter loads up all the ImageShack stuff that goes around it.
Good: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6329/leomm.jpg (From the "Direct Link" box in "Links to Share This Image" box.)
Bad: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/leomm.jpg/# (From the browser URL)
Bad: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/leomm.jpg/ (From the "Link" box in "Links to Share This Image" box.)
PhotoBucket
To the right of your PhotoBucket image is a box labeled "Share this photo":
You want the link from the box labeled "Direct Link", not the one from the browser's address bar or the one from the box labeled "Email and IM". The former takes you to the image and only the image, while the latter loads up all the PhotoBucket stuff that goes around it.
Good: http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx260/hastur1/Hero_Machine/cavalier.jpg (From the "Direct Link" box.)
Bad: http://media.photobucket.com/image/heromachine/hastur1/Hero_Machine/cavalier.jpg?o=189 (From the browser's address bar.)
Bad: http://media.photobucket.com/image/heromachine/hastur1/Hero_Machine/cavalier.jpg?o=189 (From the box labeled "Email and IM".)
PicasaWeb
PicasaWeb is not one of the preferred image hosts for this site. However, if you want to use it, please right-click on the image and choose "Copy Image URL" from the flyout menu:
Good: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HkpI-oBLspE/ThzQBQMpO3I/AAAAAAAADx8/52YwBH9XzKk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg (From right-clicking the image and choosing "Copy Image URL" from the flyout.)
Bad: https://picasaweb.google.com/110582698825637617540/Illustrations?authkey=Gv1sRgCLea29PPkPPaxwE#5628602354252725106 (From the browser's address bar.)
Bad: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8-no1oyz2HnpccqCZQzfCg0SVwt_GzEs7LqBcwS4Hj4?feat=directlink (From the "Link to this photo" box over on the right side.)
Facebook is the least preferred image host for this site. However, if you have to use it, make sure you set the image's properties to "public" or else I can't see it no matter what you do. To do that, edit the album you're going to use for your HeroMachine images and choose "Edit Album". In the dropdown labeled "Privacy", choose "Everyone" like this:
Since in February Facebook instituted their new JavaScript photo scroller, I can't figure out how to get a direct link. I know AJW still uses the direct method, so if you're willing to chime in via comments on how you do it, I'd appreciate it.
Deviant Art
Deviant Art is the home to a lot of mature illustrators. When looking at your image, in the right hand column is this set of links:
Right-click on the "Download Image" link, and choose "Copy Link Location" or "Copy Target Link", however it shows in the popup menu.
Wrist-mounted blasters.
@Jeff: I use Picasa and you CAN use the “Links to this image” thingie… Just gotta do a couple of things.
First, when you open that item, there’s a select box that says “Image only (no link)”. Select that.
Second, a little above the image only there’s a drop-down box labeled “Select size”. You should select either Original size (if your image is smaller than 800px) or Large 800px.
Last, copy the link that appears in the Embed image box.
As an addendum, IF you’re like me and like to put up your images larger than 800px, you can get a link from Picasa up to 1600px… all you have to so is find the part that says “s800” in the middle of the link and alter it to “s1600”. Here’s an example:
S800:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uXQehMaUYzQ/Svq3Kgd0TkI/AAAAAAAADg8/kbzAMVw8YgM/s800/meteor%252520defender.jpg
S1600:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uXQehMaUYzQ/Svq3Kgd0TkI/AAAAAAAADg8/kbzAMVw8YgM/s1600/meteor%252520defender.jpg
Now, remember that your browser may like to automatically shrink images to window size… most of them if you click on the image (usually changes the cursor to a magnifying glass) it should go back to original size.
@Danny Beaty: WHAT???????
Thanks Worf.
@Danny Beaty (1): Was that some sort of esoteric curse?
Well, shin-clinging rocket boots! That burns my hide! 🙂
I assume this was a request for unclaimed prize item poll.
Hmm…I wonder if Jeff is having trouble choosing a winner for the Leo contest and that’s why the results haven’t been posted. I wonder…
Any ideas on why the caption contest hasn’t been posted either? Other than the only reason I can think of, which is that they’ll get done at the same time.
Jeff hasn’t posted yet because there were 131 entries, most of which were posted incorrectly so had to be dinked with, then filtered, then a post written to explain — again — how to post a link, then the post announcing the winners written along with a list of people who didn’t post their link correctly in the hopes they’ll get shamed into shaping up, all of which takes time.
I like to post the previous contest results first so people have a chance in the sun for a while before putting up the next one. It’ll be coming here in about an hour, I reckon.
Sorry, a little grumpy today. It’s definitely a Bloody Mary Morning, to quote Mr. William Nelson.
OK Jeff 🙂
I’m feeling slightly virtuous because MY entries were all posted correctly, weren’t they? All 5 of them…
When i save my name and upload them Image Shack he changed that into the half. Sample: Kytana-Löwenjagd(i forget to change in english)= Kytwenjagd. I don´t know why. For “ö” i think he have problem with the umlauts….but why the rest were cut? Anybody knows a answer?
So, Jeff, will you post a link to this page with every contest?
And am I getting a vibe that you die a little bit inside with every DeviantArt entry and prefer not to acknowledge its existence?
Oops, forgot about DeviantArt!
@Jeff: So maybe you should fix the entry for Picasa, add one for DevianArt and then DO add this post to every character contest, in the instructions. Heck, if you’re feeling a bit OCDish you could even say “If your image doesn’t comply to these standards it will be disqualified”. 😉