What are the recommended ways to upload pictures?

[wakewatcher]

What are the recommended ways to insert in line images for members that aren't really tech savvy at all.  I have a forum where the average age of the user is like 70 years old. I'm just wondering what folks are doing wrt image insertion. I know that images can be attached but that isn't ideal.  Thanks to @lurkalot for introducing me to a Web App for converting Google Photo URLs to an image tags. This works well for those of us that use Google Photos but not so much for your average senior who doesn't. Short of inline pictures what would be great is like FB where you can do something like "Snipping Tool" to copy the picture to the clipboard and then easily paste it (cntrl-v) in the edit box.  Anyway looking for better ways to deal with images in posts.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

What are the objections to attachments?  There are configuration options which can make them easier to use and display differently.

[wakewatcher]

What are the objections to attachments?  There are configuration options which can make them easier to use and display differently.

hmmm... I guess I'm not seeing those options. My question, while not worded the best, was about in line pictures. The "Display image attachments as pictures under post" works fine for a post with one picture but not so much if you are using a series of pictures showing.... To do this, click this, then click this and then finally click this sort of thing.

[Mike66]

I use SMF Gallery Pro along with Post Image Upload, works fine 

[GL700Wing]

I manage three SMF 2.0 forums all of which allow members to attach images and by configuring attachment limits/restrictions and using a mod that automatically resizes image attachments I have been able to very effectively manage the amount of file space attachments consume.  For example, one of my forums has more than 22,000 attachment files that take up 1.6Gb of file space and another forum has more than 23,000 attachment files that take up 1.2Gb of file space.

You can use the Automatic Attachment Rotation (and Resize) mod to automatically rotate images to display correctly and/or resize images to reduce image/file size.  Automatically rotating and/or resizing images are features that are particularly useful for members who have difficulty doing this themselves.  Also, and even though this mod can automatically rotate images, you can also give members the option to manually rotate their images.

For inserting image attachments inline you can use the Post and PM Inline Attachments mod which allows user to include attachments in the content of their post.  This mod is easy to use and I have written a 'How To' topic on each of my forums to explain how to attach files and insert images inline.

Example:

HowTo: Attach Files and Insert Images

You can add photos by attaching them to your message - in the 'Attach' section (outlined in red) below the post text box simply select the file to upload by clicking on the relevant button (outlined in blue - the button will have a label like 'Browse', 'Choose File', 'Add File', etc - it varies from browser to browser ...).

To change the selected attachment click on the button again and choose a different file and to remove the selected attachment click on 'Clear Attachment' link (outlined in green).

To insert an attached image into the body of the message (ie, inline) place your cursor in the body of the message where you want the image to appear (preferably on a new line - the cursor position in the image below is shown outlined in orange) and then click on the 'Insert Attachment N' link (outlined in black) next to the name of your attachment you want to insert.

You cannot view this attachment.

If inserting multiple attachments they can be added on the same line as other attachments - particularly handy for reducing the amount of vertical space messages with attachments take up when displaying - especially on mobile devices - as the browser will automatically wrap them to fit the display.  Just make sure not to delete the spaces that are inserted between the 'tags' that are generated when you insert the images otherwise they won't wrap properly!

Final note: You will not actually be able to see the images you add/insert until after you have posted the message because they are not actually uploaded to the forum server before you post/save the message.