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  So you want to add a happy snap or two to your latest post? Why not, it sure beats typing an extra thousand words!! Unfortunately, this task is not as straightforward with this site as it is with other social media. However, by following the advice below you should be able to achieve the desired results and impress us with your photogenic prowess.
 
Linked Image Option  < Preferred method.
This method requires that your images must first be loaded on a third party host such as Dropbox, Photobucket, Flickr, Picasa, etc or perhaps on your own or someone else’s website. The reason this is our preferred method is because it reduces the number of steps required and removes the burden of us having to store the image on our server (which costs us money!). To apply this method, follow these steps:
 
Step 1 Upload your image to your favourite online photo storage host. Most of these sites operate in very similar ways. Select your uploaded file and the host should offer you a link address. If the site offers a 'bbcode', copy that code directly, otherwise copy the "Direct URL" code {URL is just another term for link address in this case}.
 
If you are reposting an image from another website (and have permission to do so), click on the image then try to open its ‘Properties’ (by right-clicking or whatever).  Then look for the full URL for the file, highlight it with your mouse, then copy it.
 
Step 2 Log on to your Retrieving Australia Forum account and create a new Topic or click the [Edit] button on an existing post that was created by you.
 
Step 3 Type your message and then select the location where you want to insert your image. If you copied a "bbcode," just paste the whole thing where you’d like it to appear, otherwise type the following: [img]PASTE URL HERE[/img]. Replacing the "PASTE URL HERE" with the actual link address for the image.
 
Step 4 Click the [Preview] button to check if your image/s are appearing correctly, make any adjustments necessary and then finally click [Post] to post your message.
 
 
Attachment Option - Inserting images directly.
Sometimes it won’t be practical to use the preferred method above. If this is the case then it’s okay to load images directly from your computer into posts. However, please keep the number down to as few as is really needed. To apply this method, follow these steps:
 
Step 1 The first thing you should consider doing is reducing the size of the image. Most digital camera photos these days produce high-resolution images that are too big for our program. So, it will try to compensate by truncating the image and adding those ugly scroll bar things. There are lots of methods for reducing images (mainly with the use of ‘image editors’) and if you are not sure how, then Google “Reduce image file size” for various options available.
 
The ideal ‘file type’ to upload is a .JPG file, and to avoid possible complications, the maximum size to Resize your image to is 340 High in Pixels. The image width will generally not be an issue if your editor automatically scales down images in proportion to the height (most do this by default).
 
Remember to first Re-name and then Save any modified image/s to your computer. Once you get used to manipulating images this way you can also experiment with ‘cropping’ which can also reduce size.
 
Got that sorted out? Great, now try this...
 
Step 2 Log on to your Retrieving Australia Forum account and create a new Topic or click the [Edit] button on an existing post that was created by you.
 
Step 3 Below the box where you type your post there is a tab that says "Upload attachment". Click on that, then click the [Browse] button next to filename. Find the file of the image to be uploaded and hit [Add file]. You can then select the [Place inline] button which will insert the image inline with the text (NB sometimes the code for the image ends up inserted elsewhere in the text. If this happens, just cut and paste it where you want it to be). If you don't select the 'Place inline' option, the image just gets attached to the post at the end.
 
Here's an example of a standard photo reduced to the ideal size, i.e. 340 High (pixels).
 
 
 
Here's the same photo cropped, but still resized to 340 High (pixels).
 
 
 
Here's what happens if the photo is inserted without being reduced... Yuk!
 
 
 
  EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE - there's always one! The above applies to ideal photo situations but in some circumstances a reduced photo won't provide the reader with enough detail that may be needed, such as a photo that contains text to be read. In these situations it may be better to not reduced the photo. Readers always have the option to expand a trucated photo any time by simply placing their cursor (or finger for tablets) and single clicking (taping) to increase the size on screen. However this is not widely known amoung users. If you post a photo that is truncated, consider adding some words like "Click photo to enlarge" above or beneth it. 
 
The All Else Fails Option – A last resort back-up.
Please have a go at inserting images by yourself, however if things just won’t work out properly for you, then feel free to email any important image/s to RA Admin at retrievingaustralia@gmail.com with details of what you were hoping to achieve. We will try to take it from there.
 

Good Luck :o)