FAQ's about Photos and Videos

FAQ: On all of the website pages (except the forum area) there are pictures of various Dodge Dakotas and Durangos at the top of the screen. Can my truck be shown there too?

Answer: Yes! The photo gallery on the main pages of the site is dedicated to showing actual Dodge Dakota and Durango trucks owned by the users who visit this site (see highlighted picture below). All you need to do is send me some 200x150 pixel photos of your truck and I will get them added to the rotation. See the FAQ above for tips on how to shrink your photos. If you are having great difficulty getting your photos reduced just send them full-size and I will take care of it but it may delay how long it takes for them to be posted. You do not need to be a paid member to utilize this feature of the site.

Send your photos via e-mail to [email protected]

FAQ: My Photos are too big! How do I shrink them?

Answer: The primary reason is probably that your pictures are too large, especially if they were taken from a digital camera with a high resolution or megapixel rating. Here's how to shrink them if using a PC:

Step 1: Open the picture with MS Paint. This application can usually be found by clicking on your Start button, going to the Programs Menu, and looking in the Accessories section.



Step 2: Check the existing size of the photo. Go to the Image menu and select Attributes.



Step 3: It is recommended that the largest photos you post to this site are around 640x480 to 800x600 pixels in size. You can estimate how much you need to shrink your original photo by comparing the current attributes to the attributes you want to attain - ie: 1600x1200 to 800x600 is a 50% reduction in size. Do not make modifications in this panel because you will just crop the photo and not shrink it. Close the Attributes panel.



Step 4: In the Image menu select Stretch/Skew.



Step 5: Shrink the photo by altering the numbers in the H and W fields - ie: 50% will shrink the photo in half. Make sure you put equal values in the H and W fields or you will stretch the photo. If you don't like the results you can always go to the Edit menu and select Undo and try again with a different value.



Step 6: To save the photo's new size without overwriting the original photo, go to the File menu and select "Save As..." to save the photo with a new name.



Step 7: At the bottom of the Save As... window make sure the file type is .JPG. Give the photo a new name and save it on your hard drive wherever you like.



Step 8: Post your note! Before you click Submit New Thread, scroll down a bit further to the "Attach Files" section, and select the "Manage Attachments" button.



Step 9: Select the Browse button and go find the photo that you want to add to your note. If you only add one attachment per post the forum software will automatically display the picture when people read the note. You can add up to 5 attachments to one note (just repeat steps 8-9), but if you add more than 1 they will show up as links instead. Once you are done attaching pictures, close out this window and Submit your work.



If you have any questions please contact me at [email protected]

FAQ: How can I configure an avatar photo?

Answer: An avatar is a small picture which is displayed next to a person's name in every note they post in the forum. Many people select pictures of their truck, or something humorous. Please do not use anything Not Work Safe (NWS) as your avatar photo (no porn, no profanity).

How to configure an avatar photo:

Step 1: Go to the Forum's User Control Panel.

The User CP option is displayed in the top-left portion of your screen in the blue forum navigation bar.



Step 2: Select Edit Avatar from the user options on the left.



Step 3, Option 1: Use a pre-configured avatar photo.

The site has over 100 preconfigured pictures of various models of Dodge Dakotas or Durangos to choose from. If you wish to use one of these stock photos, simply click on the button next to the photo you wish to use, and then select "Save Changes" at the bottom of the screen. The stock photos are spread on more than one page, look at the bottom-right to see the buttons to see page 2, page 3, etc.



Step 3, Option 2: Use your own avatar photo.

Scroll down below the stock photos, and you can choose your own photo. If the photo is already posted on the internet and you know the URL, enter it here. If the photo is saved on your hard drive, click on the browse button to locate and select the photo. Select "Save Changes" at the bottom of the screen to save your avatar preferences when complete.





NOTE: You can only use small photos for use as avatars. If the graphic you are trying to upload is too big, you must shrink it. Check out this portion of the FAQ for advice on how to shrink a photo for use as an avatar.

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showpost.php?p=318857&postcount=4