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my winter n layout - and this forum!

4156 Views 19 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  80class, 
D
hey folks, im back from holidays in the u.s. on weds and hope to get some work started on my winter scene n gauge german layout in the few days off before i go back to work.

next week im in tokyo for work for a couple of days and always enjoy going to shinjuku mainline station and taking pictures of the various bullet trains there, both inside and out!. they look amazing in real life - altho i dont have a specific interest in japanese railways - i like the bullet trains.

however ... and i wanna ask u guys about this:- i enjoy taking pics on my travels about trains/railways and hoping to post pics of my model railway developments on here for everyone to see and enjoy .... but ... iv had yet another message from DOUG ... one of this sites moderators complaining about the size of my pics.

i do notice that theres not a huge amount of pics being posted, some, but not lots - there cud be more given the number of members here all with a keen interest in one area of trains or another. i suggested that this is because of the complexity and time it takes to 1st of all upload pics to a web/pic hosting site then to copy the files to here and also have to reduce the file size as well!!!. surely in this day and age, a web site like this can handle the resizing of files automatically? ... this isnt the only forum i use - but its the only one i use that i get constantly whined at by one moderator about my picture sizes!.

so my solution/response is this:-

i could just stop posting any further pics on here ... but, post details of a travel trip, the pics taken and similiarly with my model, any progress made and pics taken - ill post the details on here - and if anyone wud like to see pics, email me and ill email the pics of progress/ rail visitis to you. this is a real shame -

this mod tells me that not everyone has broadband - very true - so how do they cope with rest of the internet/web? they might be used to waiting for pics to load in that case. his 2nd point - not everyone has a large screen - well my lil travel laptop is an asus eee pc - with an 8" screen and all the sites i use, this one included all seem to work fine!. so how small are their screens then?

i luv taking pics and sharing experiences with others ... i have to travel a lot with work and get to go to places that not everyone wud choose to go to on hols - myself included! ... it takes enough time to upload pics to photobucket for example and then onto here without intriducing a further complication - resizing!. its just another step that puts me off posting - and i feel thats a real shame. especially when the reasons giving are kinda weak and not very convincing - broadband and screen size. i mean, we r not all using mobile phones to access this site!.

so theres my moan of the day!. comments?-
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ebaykal
As much as we appreciate your pictures why not resize them?

I use this program and is very effective:

http://www.naturpic.com/resizer/index.html

Baykal
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Richard Johnson
***Microsofts inbuilt Picture manager also has an excellent edit/resize interface, and it takes only seconds to do it. In this day and age, would be very surprised if you do not have a couple of usable bits of software for image work on your computer!

DB... I have lighning fast cable on this computer but when a thread gets lots of large pictures it is to be honest quite annoying as it bounces along inserting all the images.

It really is not hard to resize images and it is a courtesy to all members to do so. We all do it routinely, and I think you should too.

By the way, Doug is not "one of the moderators", he is the forum owner, and overall as one who spends a lot of time helping with info in several forums/lists, I have to say that between him and his moderating team, this is about the best managed forum on the web bar none.

Richard
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D
hi baykal,

thx, glad u like them! ... just one reason - time! ... i take loads of pics - it wud take ages to resize them all!. ok, so i cud sit and go thru them 1 by 1 and decide which ones to re-size to post ... but id rather be able to post more than just 1 or 2 that i choose, id rather post a number of pics and let folks see for themselves instead of me being the judge of the best pics to post!.

other forums i use seem to do the re-sizing automatically when u post ... am puzzled as to the ancient system used here lol
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D
hey richard ... lol - why doesnt doug address himself as the owner then and just say - as the owner, i want xxx ... etc, then id hav just stopped posting pics straightaway!. i had no idea he was the owner ... he never mentions it!.

is it a personal or a generation thing? ... dunno - but when technology becomes more of a burden than a pleasure, i move onto something else/easier to use/less time consuming/hassle ... there was a great article i read about mobile phones recently -
its been noted that when folks get a new mobile, if they try to use a new feature on a new handset for the 1st few times and then cant fathom it out / feature doesnt work ... without having to read pages and pages of manuals, they give up using that feature and rarely will go back and try again!.

thats me and the computer/internet!. once something becomes harder to do/more time consuming then i kinda give up on it. am sure thats just me and these moby users!.

i hear where yr all coming from, but its purely time that stops me from sitting editing pics - ill let u know where u can find the full size - non edited ones!

thanks anyways guys
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ebaykal
Taking and sharing photos is also a part of our hobby.

Take for instance my Br 55 weathering thread. I took about 70 odd pictures of it. Then I select the best ones, resize them and tuck em to imageshack or photobucket. This takes not more than 20 minutes.
Surely you can squeeze in 20 odd minutes in your daily life.

Another thing, even if its a well taken picture but in huge megabytes, most people tend to skip that thread and carry on.

Baykal
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steam-driven boy
QUOTE (db ice 3 @ 3 Mar 2009, 14:35) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>hey richard ... lol - why doesnt doug address himself as the owner then and just say - as the owner, i want xxx ... etc, then id hav just stopped posting pics straightaway!. i had no idea he was the owner ... he never mentions it!.
I don't think it's been a secret or anything, and the reasons given for reduced image sizes stand anyhow - not just as an "I want...".

QUOTE is it a personal or a generation thing? ... dunno - but when technology becomes more of a burden than a pleasure, i move onto something else/easier to use/less time consuming/hassle ... there was a great article i read about mobile phones recently -
its been noted that when folks get a new mobile, if they try to use a new feature on a new handset for the 1st few times and then cant fathom it out / feature doesnt work ... without having to read pages and pages of manuals, they give up using that feature and rarely will go back and try again!.
I'm 53, I'm not really 'up' on technology of any kind but find the process of re-sizing and posting images quite straightforward. There's every wish to encourage posts from everyone here, and I've seen examples of willing helpers when problems arise. I am willing to work at those things that are harder, I wouldn't be building my model railway otherwise.

QUOTE thats me and the computer/internet!. once something becomes harder to do/more time consuming then i kinda give up on it. am sure thats just me and these moby users!.

i hear where yr all coming from, but its purely time that stops me from sitting editing pics - ill let u know where u can find the full size - non edited ones!
Yes, I'd be glad of your continued input, if you feel the need to post large numbers of large images maybe you could consider a Website and direct us to that? I don't know of any forum that is intended as a repository of every image taken by an individual.
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D
hi again richard & baykal ...

thx for yr replies ... i suppose we all enjoy different bits about the hobby ... i luv taking and posting pics - editing isnt my forte - i cant seem to make myself like it even though in desperation yesterday i even started going thru the menus in my digi -cam to see what options were available and it seems to be able to edit pics - not experimented with it yet, but ill give it a go with a non valuable pic and see what it does to it!.

richards option seems the ideal solution for me (he always seems to have good solutions to everything - like the n gauge pick-ups!) that of posting to a photo hosting site and then posting links direct to that for folks to see pics - ill give that a go!.

prob post my tokyo mainline station pics on there and see how it works!.

thx again ... its last day of my hols here in missouri ... must get packing - flt to chicago leaves at 15.40 then connection to london at 19.55 then connection to glasgow tmrw am at 11.50 lol ... still a few drinkies and my track planning stencil and pencils shud help that pass quickly!.

laters,

dbice3!
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Madkitten
Hiya i use photo resize which has a batch optimizer included in it allowing me to do hundreds of pictures in a few seconds. Ive never had any problems on here with posting piccys etc either. Also i do understand that about 40 % of users are still on 1 - 2 meg conections as they cant get any more in there area. We are on 20 - 30meg with O2 here on the south coast but that doesnt stop me taking that extra minute to make sure people can see my piccys.

PS - If anyone is having any probs just IM me and i will make them even less ..............

Nikki
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Madkitten
i resize to a different file then you have a set of originals and a set of resized ones making life easy to pick the ones you want .... I can do about 40 in about 1 minute - so its easy............................................

Nikki
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D
hey nikki ... thx for the kind reply and offer to resize pics for me - if i really need to resize a pic that i wanna post on this site then if its ok, i cud email it to you and then you can send it back to me to post lol ... u can see why im gonna not post many pics anymore - it cud take me days! ... thx again!
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steam-driven boy
3
QUOTE (db ice 3 @ 3 Mar 2009, 15:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>richards option seems the ideal solution for me (he always seems to have good solutions to everything - like the n gauge pick-ups!) that of posting to a photo hosting site and then posting links direct to that for folks to see pics - ill give that a go!.

prob post my tokyo mainline station pics on there and see how it works!.

Hi again,
I'll look forward to seeing those


QUOTE (Madkitten @ 3 Mar 2009, 15:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Also i do understand that about 40 % of users are still on 1 - 2 meg conections as they cant get any more in there area.

Nikki

I'm on 2meg and I'm likely to remain so unless charges come down, with the disability visited upon me I'm reliant on limited funds and don't see any realistic improvement on that


QUOTE (Madkitten @ 3 Mar 2009, 15:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>i resize to a different file then you have a set of originals and a set of resized ones

Nikki

Good general advice there


Regards.
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Richard Johnson
*** DB, you are missing something really, really important here. A forum is a "We" thing, not an "I thing".

Doug posts quite rarely about "forum management issues" and mostly as one of the members. Overall it is managed with a light touch and he should not need to announce his position to get a response.

Time is just simply no excuse - I work many, many hours and most late evenings on email because of time zones, yet I always try to find the time to select images or create drawings to help when they are wanted and size them appropriately - its really not hard, and the important thing is that is is respectful and courteous to do so.

I also used to travel constantly on business, and one thing you DO have plenty of is time, in airports, in planes.... why not use it instead of just being bored silly during the flight.

Anyone can post a wad of images - its a very now thing to do it but it is also a very "me" thing too. Bear in mind that unlike on a picture hosting site, images in your posts are here to stay and you cannot edit drop them later, so by randomly posting blocks of images the forums bandwidth is counsumed by the gigabyte!

Forum courtesy and respect for all says that for a good example - Ebaykals approach is the way it should be done!

However, just like advice, which should be well considered based on facts and not simply thrown together.... images are best sorted & thought about and then posted selectively. That way they are appreciated, and the forum is better for it, instead of bandwidth being taken up unnecessarily.

If its too hard then just go with the web links...

regards

Richard
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D
thx for yr latest advice richard -

i dont agree with quite a bit of it - u dont know my life at all - theres no reason for you to - this is only a railways forum so thats all im here to chat about!.

ill just elaborate on one aspect tho -

im never bored during the flight and i dont have time to edit the images whilst flying around - coz im one of the crew flying the plane - ok?! - good enough explanation i hope!. same goes for airports!. dont even think about suggesting what i shud do in hotels! ...

i run a little business from home - unfortunately non railway related (-: - im not gonna explain my life any more than just to tell you this - my time is very limited, i make the most of every minute and in this case - it IS my excuse .... i object to you saying it is simply no excuse - maybe for some people - i am not some people!. u dont know me/my life!. i have more pressing things to do than edit picture sizes

.... but i very much like your suggestion of the web links and hosting them elsewhere and thats what ill do!. ... and yes i agree about respect in the forum -

but right now, it seems better to take more from it and put less in!... less trouble that way!.

i like all your contributions to the forum that iv read ... yr a great source of info and products ... but lets drop this now ... i left home 10 years ago and dont need a new mama telling me how to best use my time! thx guys.
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R
A free auto photo resize tool
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Mercator II
Hope you have a great flight back, weather here is cold and windy, and as your heading North of the boarder, they are forcasting more snow tonight and tommorrow just for you!

I would love to see any any pics from your trip of the Bullets

As a side comment, Doug does announce his status every time he posts, in the side pannel under his name, in the section that says 'Group' his says 'Admin' not 'Moderator' He is also member 1 too

Enjoy your trips
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Chinahand
Well I've been watching this exchange for the past 24 hours and cannot, any longer, resist making comment.

Don't get me wrong, I do not, in any way, object the inclusion of photographs provided they demonstrate a modelling technique or achievement from which we can all gain something, which is, in my view, the prime reason for the existence of the MRF. However, for any one person to attempt to impose his will upon the majority cannot be justified.

We are, in the most part, all busy people with full time jobs i.e. we don't have 2 or 3 day lay-overs between flights, yet we can find time to select and re-size our photographs. Using Microsoft Picture Manager it takes only 5 mouse clicks, including loading and saving the photo, which takes less than 8 seconds for each photo. If you can't spare the odd minute or so to re-size 7 or 8 selected photos then perhaps, as has been suggested, it would be better to set up an album on the likes of Photobucket and simply post a link to it for those who are interested. Incidentally, given the upload speed of Photobucket, I can re-size about 25 photos in the time it takes to just upload half a dozen to Photobucket.

Have a little thought for others db ice 3 and realise that, when people become familiar with the time it takes to load one of your posts with the size of pictures you have been posting, they will simply stop looking at them. When that happens we all lose in the end.
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Richard Johnson
*** DB, its not necessary for you to agree


All comments on such subjects are just commentary and opinion. I say it as I see it up front and in this case simply chose to explain how this forums' members generally act with images and provided a general related perspective...

I'd definately prefer you focussed on flying the plane when needed :).... I spent many hours talking to aircrew during my many, many long haul flights, and know how busy they can sometimes be. My example of available time spaces was clearly flawed as you are aircrew but the principal remains. Neither I nor anyone else has time or inclination to tell you what to do... Life is too short.

As with all forum discussions... If you ask questions, you get comments, but feel free to ignore all content you don't like... We all have that priveledge.

The first and last line of my post define the issue pretty well anyway.

Richard
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Doug
I have been off-line for the past day and a half so I was not able to see this thread. Anyway, I've read it now.

First off, the rules are here to make the whole experience better for the majority of users. They are not here to cause grief to anyone in particular. We have always had an open attitude towards rules and guidelines, but once they are decided upon, we have to stick to them - and I'm sorry, if one guy it too busy to accommodate them then that is tough for him.

Regarding photos: If anyone has a large amount of digital photos these days, you need good photo management software on your PC or Mac. I can't imagine anyone just taking hundreds of photos and just dumping them into a directory unsorted or unmanaged. Most photo management systems will have resizing tools.

I use Google Picasa on my PC to organise photos. It is very good, enabling me to find a specific photo that I may have taken years ago. It sorts and catalogues my photos. Rotates, crops and fixes problems etc. It also allows me to export the photos for use online. In the export process, you specify the size you want the photos exported. You select the photos, press export and hey presto, they are exported and resized in one click. You can't expect anything easier than that.

Last point: there is one more rule: If you have any complaint or query about these guidelines, then please contact one of the moderators or the forum administrator. We would appreciate you discussing the application of rules with us privately and not having a public debate on the forums if you disagree with them. This forum is about model railways, lets not get distracted on other issues - like how to run and manage forums.
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80class
It really is so easy to resize and upload photo in so little time. I use photobucket, set to resize all photos and then upload a batch at a time. I really takes less than 30 seconds to do. Then when I'm posting and want to include a picture, just copy the img link and bingo.

We all have pressures on our time, but its no excuse for ignorance.

If you need any more help feel free to PM me,

Rob
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