INTRODUCTION

Welcome to my guide on how to post images on BLF!  

Now that Photobucket no longer offers free image hotlinking () we need a new guide.  

EDIT:  Also, this guide covers the current version of Drupal forum software that is on BLF.

In other words, these great guides are not as useful as they used to be because they have broken Photobucket images, and they are for older versions of Drupal:

JohnnyMac's guide:  http://budgetlightforum.com/node/18059

scaru's guide:  http://budgetlightforum.com/node/18864

By the way, I lifted plenty of text from JohnnyMac's excellent guide.  

IMAGE HOSTING

You have to host your images on an image hosting site before they can be posted on BLF.

There are many image hosting sites that are free.

Personally, I prefer Abload.de and Imgur.com

EviLore of neogaf.com wrote:

abload.de -- non-English, so may take a few moments to understand how to navigate, but very fast, short on restrictions, and has a batch uploader application.
imgur.com -- popular, moderately restrictive, and has web browser extensions available for convenient use.

(http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428775)

Once you host your image, it's time to post it on BLF with either the Simple Post Editor or the Advanced Post Editor.

SIMPLE POST EDITOR

Here's the standard way to post in the default Simple Post Editor.

(There is also a quick way that is explained at the end of this section.)

Click the Insert Image icon in the tool bar.

Paste your image URL into the "Image URL" box.

(An image URL typically ends in .bmp .gif .jpg or .png)

If that's all you want to do click "OK".

To make pictures larger or smaller there are a couple of options available.

The first option is to set the width of the image to a percentage of the page width.

Simply put the percentage into the box labeled "(OPTIONAL) Relative Width (%):"

It's best to make the relative width 100% or less, and remember to use the percentage sign.

The pic below shows what 50% would look like.

The second option is to set a picture to a specific size, like 800 x 600.

Enter the width & height in pixels in the two boxes labeled "(OR) Specific Height x Width (px):"

You can also input an image link.

If someone clicks on your image, they will be redirected to the link you provide in the box labeled "(OPTIONAL) Link to URL:"

Click "OK" when finished.

EDIT:  There is a quick way to post images in Simple Post Editor.

Just put an exclamation point before and after the image URL like so:

!https://i.imgur.com/b9yNWRS.jpg!

or if you want the image to be 50% as wide as possible, post this:

!{width:50%}https://i.imgur.com/b9yNWRS.jpg!

ADVANCED POST EDITOR

Posting images with the Advanced Post Editor is similar to using the simple post editor.

Click on the "Insert/edit image" icon.

In the "Source" box, input the image URL

In the "Image description" box, input a description, if you want.

In the "Dimensions" box, you have two options.

Your first option is to input a percentage in the first box as shown.

If you use a percentage, be sure to keep the second box blank.

Your second option is to input a specific size, like 800 x 600.

If you check "Constrain proportions" the aspect ratio of your image will be locked.

To unlock the aspect ratio, uncheck "Constrain proportions".

Click "OK" when finished.

CONCLUSION

Thank you for checking out my guide.

If you want to do mouseovers, you have to use the Advanced Post Editor, and mouseovers are very user-unfriendly.

For example, if you try to preview a mouseover, or if you "Enable rich-text", the mouseover will break.

Mr. Admin explains how to do mouseovers here:

http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/896251#comment-896251

Also, just a heads-up, I do not think that you can input an image link in Advanced Post Editor.

If you have any image hosting recommendations, feel free to post them in this thread.

Comments and questions are also welcome.  

UPDATE 1:

I would recommend against using Dropbox as an image hosting site.

Different internet browsers get different image URLs on Dropbox, so just because you can see your Dropbox image on BLF, others that use different internet browsers may not be able to.

Also, some BLF members have trouble posting pics from flickr on BLF.

UPDATE 2:

With Imgur and other image hosting sites, you need to use what they call a "direct link."

If you're using a mobile device, it is reported that you cannot get a Direct Link with Imgur.

Sorry, but I don't know which image hosting sites work best with mobile devices.