I have hosted on photobucket for some time now.....and I like the 10 shot limit rule.

 

The only think I might change is adding a shot to a post after the initial post.

 

So still a 10 shot limit per post but if only 1 shot was posted in the initial post there is still the option for the original poster to add up to 9 more later if needed.

First, we have always removed images after 90 days

why? all other aviation forums keep screenshots forever. Are you referring to removal of ATTACHED screenshots, not posted screenshots using links from photobucket which has no affect on your servers?

 

Aharon

 

The problem I have with that is No one runs FSX at such low resolutions so images get downsized and don't look as good which can defeat the purpose of trying to show how good something looks

Robains,

 

In reference to my statement "one thing I forgot to mention in addition to my previous post is that the new rules should have screenshot size limit of 1024x800 with freedom of leeway to allow up to 1200x 900 for error margin. Any screenshot over 1200x900 will be deleted.", please take look at my screenshots on screenshot forum and you will see it has not affected quality when reducing screenshots to 1024x800. When you upload screenshots to photobucket, photobucket automatically resizes screenshots to any specific size you want such as 1024x800. It has not affected my screenshot quality. If you are so concerned about extremely high quality of screenshots while reducing to 1024x800, you can use amazing freeware Light Image Resizer which can reduce a set of 20 or 30 or 10 screenshots to 1024x800 in one splitting second WITHOUT sacrificing screenshot quality.

 

Aharon

 

why? all other aviation forums keep screenshots forever. Are you referring to removal of ATTACHED screenshots, not posted screenshots using links from photobucket which has no affect on your servers?

 

We can't remove images that are not uploaded to here, so yes, I am referring to uploaded messages to AVSIM.

I have never used a cloud service, but it certainly sounds like a win-win situation.

 

One general question, when using these services, at a certain point when you go over a storage threshold, do they start charging for using their services, and if so, is it a very big charge?

I use photobucket to host images and then i post the image code on AVSIM which is an efficient method. The quality of images and the loading rate are not affected.

When you upload screenshots to photobucket, photobucket automatically resizes screenshots to any specific size you want such as 1024x800.

 

I actually use Photoshop Extended CS6 64bit, I'm pretty good with image manipulations tools   But when one is trying to demonstration an "aliasing problem" and resamples a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 down to a 1:1 size below 1200 x 900 it can remove the aliasing problem or make is less apparent -- that's typically what happens when you resample from high to lower resolution ... "quality" is often improved, but that defeats the purpose of demonstration of an issue at the high native resolution.

 

BUT again, the higher resolution has NO impact on AVSIM servers if the image isn't located on the AVSIM server.  If the concern is that it makes thread postings too wide (valid concern), then I think the latest iteration of this forum software will automatically limit the "display" size of a posted URL image in thread, then click on the image opens a full size frame.  I'll have to double check, but I thought I noticed that behavior change when AVSIM updated to the newer version of this forum software ... but I could be wrong.

I have never used a cloud service, but it certainly sounds like a win-win situation.

 

One general question, when using these services, at a certain point when you go over a storage threshold, do they start charging for using their services, and if so, is it a very big charge?

I'm looking at my Photobucket account now, I get 2.2 gigabytes of image storage in which I have used 327 megabytes, or 14.87% of my storage space. I also get 10 gigabytes of bandwidth a month, of which at the present time I used 341 megabytes, or 3%. As far as Photobucket is concerned, if you want more space, it really depends on how much more you want. The cheapest is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, and that will get you an additional 20 gigabytes in addition to the 2.2 gigabytes that you already have. The most expensive is $39.99 a month or $399.99 a year for an additional 500 gigabytes in addition to the 2.2 gigabytes you already have.

 

The above information is strictly from Photobucket to give you a general idea. I'm not sure what other sites like Imageshack does as far as rates are concerned. I guess the real question is do you really upload that many screenshots that 2.2 gigabytes on Photobucket isn't enough?

 

then I think the latest iteration of this forum software will automatically limit the "display" size of a posted URL image in thread, then click on the image opens a full size frame.

 

That is correct and if we were to make these changes, that is a function that we would implement, limiting the displayed image size of some reasonable amount. Clicking on the image would display the original image, size and weight.

The above information is strictly from Photobucket to give you a general idea. I'm not sure what other sites like Imageshack does as far as rates are concerned. I guess the real question is do you really upload that many screenshots that 2.2 gigabytes on Photobucket isn't enough?

 

Can't you get 10 gigs free from Google?

Can't you get 10 gigs free from Google?

That I don't know. I wasn't even aware that you could host images on Google in the first place, but even then, I have yet to upload that many images for that to be an issue.

I usually prefer to upload mine to Photobucket anyway and just embed the link. I'd have no problem if you got rid of image hosting.

Agreed. I'd like to see the present system maintained because I find the forum's integrated attachments function quick and simple to use. Having to upload pics to another site first and then get them into posts isn't nearly as convenient. So how about a compromise? If you want to attach more than 10 pics, or pics larger than the forum's maximum specs, or you don't want your images deleted from your posts after 90 days then link them from an external site. However, if you just want to quick-and-dirty put a few pics into a post and don't give a hoot about size limitations or your images' shelf-life, then use the existing attachments functionality. It's a win-win.

 

 

This is exactly what I had envisioned at the outset, if it is technically possible. If you host your images on AVSIM, the rules for you remain the same as they are now.  If you host elsewhere, the new rules (whatever they may become) apply to you.  Good call, Jev.

 

Keep the input coming, guys.  Some really good insight going on in here.

Just my 2c, while the avid photo poster seems to have all their ducks in a row with regards to an offline set up for photos, what about the simmer who post once in a blue moon?  For me that would involve a tad bit of work to set up a cloud, test everything just for a single photo? 

 

Just playing Devil's advocate here.  What about a six month trial of both.  Keep whatever rules are in place now for those who want to just upload a photo every now and then but give "cloud" users (or whatever their means to store offline), more freedom, more photos quantities and larger sizes for "pro".  Come back in six, look at the numbers and decide if a full switch is warranted.

The only issue I have (and always had) with self hosting videos, is security. Hosting on known reputable  sites like photobucket, flickr etc.. is no problem, but some may post to sites, that are less secure, and could be infected with malware or viruses. How would this be controlled? Could AVSIM itself become infected, if these sites are accessed through it?

 

Just my 2c, while the avid photo poster seems to have all their ducks in a row with regards to an offline set up for photos, what about the simmer who post once in a blue moon? For me that would involve a tad bit of work to set up a cloud, test everything just for a single photo?

I second that.

Although it seems like the majority of people posting screenshots here do that quite regularly, there might be some people (including myself), who might do so only very now and then.

Besides, if I understood correctly, you would completely end the ability to upload pictures directly to Avsim. What if someone needed to show a picture in order to explain his problem? I think opening an account somewhere else - and thus having to remember yet another user ID - would keep quite a few people (again probably including myself) from asking this question here...

 

Flo

 

The only issue I have (and always had) with self hosting videos, is security. Hosting on known reputable sites like photobucket, flickr etc.. is no problem, but some may post to sites, that are less secure, and could be infected with malware or viruses. How would this be controlled? Could AVSIM itself become infected, if these sites are accessed through it?

 

I meant self hosting sites (Don't know where videos came from??)