[Jon]

This basic tutorial covers how to add pictures and videos on Hotrodders.com, including:

1. How to post pictures on the forum.
2. How to post YouTube videos on the forum.
3. How to update your avatar (the image that appears beside your username in your posts).
4. How the "Last photo" feature works.
5. How to start a project journal or photo album for your pictures.

HOW TO POST PICTURES
There are two ways to add pictures to your posts on the forum: you can upload a picture directly from your computer, or you can embed a picture that's already on the web (for example, in an online photo album).

To upload a picture directly from your computer, click the "Manage Attachments" button towards the bottom of the posting screen. From there, use the "Choose File" buttons to add pictures from your computer, then click the "Upload" button to attach the pictures to your post.





To embed a picture that's already on the web, simply click the image icon above the posting box, enter the url of the image, and click the "OK" button. Some formatted text will be copied into the posting box.







You can use the "Preview Post" button to confirm that your pictures are displaying properly.


HOW TO POST YOUTUBE VIDEOS
You can embed YouTube videos directly into your posts, by using the YouTube button in your posting interface. To embed a YouTube video, you'll need to know the video's unique ID -- a series of letters and numbers used to uniquely identify each YouTube video (like a serial number). You can copy-paste the unique ID out of the video's url. The video ID does not include any leading or trailing question marks, equals signs, or ampersands (&).



Once you have the unique video ID, click the YouTube button, enter the video's unique ID, and then click the "OK" button. Some formatted text will be copied into the posting box.







You can use the "Preview Post" button to confirm that your video is displaying properly.


HOW TO UPDATE YOUR AVATAR
To add an avatar, or update your existing avatar, click on "My Profile" towards the upper left-hand side of your screen, while you are logged in. On the resulting page, click on "Edit Avatar" in the left-hand sidebar. From there you can choose from one of 100+ pre-defined avatars, or scroll down to upload a custom avatar image from your computer.


HOW THE "LAST PHOTO" FEATURE WORKS
The "Last photo" feature adds a linked thumbnail picture of your most recently-posted picture to your "postbit" (the text and images that appear with every post you make). The "Last photo" feature draws from pictures you've posted on the forum, in your photo gallery, and in your project journal. Due to formatting and sizing restrictions, the "Last photo" feature may not be able to make a thumbnail of every picture you post. This feature updates hourly.


HOW TO START A PROJECT JOURNAL OR PHOTO ALBUM
You can also add photos to your own photo album, or to a "Project Journal" -- a photojournal describing your hot rod build. To start a photo album, click on "Photos" in the top menu, while you are logged in. Then, click on "Upload Photos" to start your album.

To start a Project Journal, click on "Journals" in the top menu, then click the large "Start your own project journal" button.


Questions or comments? Please post in the Site Suggestions and Help forum.