Suddenly, after years of using Photobucket for image hosting, they are apparently determined to rope users into some sort of $399 per year 'image hosting plan' that allows us to do what we've done all along for free. No thanks.

There's 'free' image hosting options that don't treat people like Photobucket has decided to, blindsiding users by holding their images hostage until people pay up. I'm in the process of transitioning my photo imaging to Imgur. There may be a glitch or two along the way, but I'll get it done ASAP..

Yes...this just happened to me too.

They apparently want $59.99 for a "3-party" allowed membership (for one year). And they started this yesterday; it's in their new TERMS.

So, while they don't delete anything in your "bucket" on their Site, all the pictures in a person's Avatar, Signature, or text with a photo example are gone...on this Site and others.

Unless the Site you're on has the memory resources for photo uploads, and Muniac's Site as well as many others don't, we will have to find some other way.

I'm working on a "fix" now (involves me on several Sites).

Alexd

So far I find Imgur a near ideal image hosting site. Easy to set up an account, and it looks as if there's none of the sort of BS that Photobucket suddenly came up with..

Good to know...I'll try them next.

I tried Flickr, but saw this warning: Don't use your account to host web graphics

I assume that precludes some of what we want to do.

Now, assuming IMGUR or others work for our purposes, it will be a large effort to D/L and erase a lot of things on Photobucket, and re- BBC it over here to "repair" past textual photo examples.

Alexd

Imgur works at least in part; I changed my Avatar a few minutes ago.

Have you tried sending a photo from IMGUR within a post yet?

Alexd

Well that's said about Photobucket. I'm sure other photo hosting services will jump in and provide a free (limited) service. I'm not familiar with Imgur but if it works, go there.

I use SmugMug (and have for years) which isn't free. Basic plan is $48/yr if paid in full. It's an excellent service.

What you need is a clean URL to an image file that can be embedded here in a post. It's also nice to have sizing options. The board software will restrict posting HUGE files which slows down the board and interferes with formatting. Some photo hosting sites will block an embedded URL. They want people to see the ads not just the photo.

As for clean URLs, cut one from the photo site and post it to your browser and see what happens. It should end in jpg, png, etc. You should see a photo appear with nothing else displayed.

Below is a sample photo link from SmugMug:

"https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Marysvale-UT-Riding-6112009/i-Ndwd74T/0/e3e15922/M/IMG_2766-M.jpg"

I've added the double quotes to thwart reprocessing of the link.

I've also used Smugmug for years and been happy with it. I consider it a modest fee for relatively easy access and a back-up of thousands of family photos/videos.

If you want to use it, Muniac or I can give you a discount code that'll save a few bucks.

I agree with photo storage on the cloud. For the bread, it's very reasonable. I have probably over 3,000 photos and videos uploaded. SmugMug's organizational tools are excellent. Everything you want is in there and it makes handling photos/videos easy.

Trying to store all this on a PC and back it up is a hassle. A PC won't let you easily share over the web either. I do have a PC based program called ProShow Producer made by Photodex which is a tool to create animated slide shows. Nice product.


ProShow Slide show hosted by SmugMug.

As for a SmugMug account, I'd be happy to assist.

Experiment with IMGUR posting:



Alexd
(Colorado 2016)

Looks like it's working on this end.