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florencevassy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 1, 2004
204
0
Princeton, NJ
How do I post a picture of my desktop to the forum
(for the desktop pictures forum)?

I really have no idea how to do this, and I would like to add a picture
of my desktop to the desktop pictures forum.

If someone could please let me know I would appreciate it a lot! Thanks! :)
 

wordmunger

macrumors 603
Sep 3, 2003
5,124
3
North Carolina
Apple-Shift-3 saves a screenshot of your desktop to the desktop as a .PDF file. Double-click to open in Preview, then use File --> Export to save as a .JPG.
 

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
265
Whe you reply to a post, scroll down a little and you'll see where it says 'Additional Options' and where it says 'Attach Files' with a 'Manage Attachments' button... that's where.

Many people also host their own images elsewhere and link to them which shows the image at full-size.
 

wordmunger

macrumors 603
Sep 3, 2003
5,124
3
North Carolina
Blue Velvet said:
Whe you reply to a post, scroll down a little and you'll see where it says 'Additional Options' and where it says 'Attach Files' with a 'Manage Attachments' button... that's where.

Many people also host their own images elsewhere and link to them which shows the image at full-size.

Doh! Yeah, I think that's probably what they were asking.
 

emw

macrumors G4
Aug 2, 2004
11,172
0
Note that attachement limit is 100KB for these types of things, so you may have to reduce the file size when exporting (or use a more comprehensive app like Photoshop to do it).

Another option is to have a hosting site and place the image in IMG tags.

Edit: Dang I'm a slow typist!
 

florencevassy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 1, 2004
204
0
Princeton, NJ
Thanks

Thanks, that helped a lot. I only have experience using "Printscreen --> Control+V" in Windows. Ugh.

wordmunger said:
Apple-Shift-3 saves a screenshot of your desktop to the desktop as a .PDF file. Double-click to open in Preview, then use File --> Export to save as a .JPG.
 

PlaceofDis

macrumors Core
Jan 6, 2004
19,241
6
we need to make a sticky of this for the picture forums, anyone up to the task? i would if i had windows and could show how works there....
 

Mitthrawnuruodo

Moderator emeritus
Mar 10, 2004
14,674
1,493
Bergen, Norway
PlaceofDis said:
we need to make a sticky of this for the picture forums, anyone up to the task? i would if i had windows and could show how works there....
Well, I kind of made a how-to, in last months desktop image thread, the one I ment to link to above :)o):
Easiest way [to post your desktop], not using any 3rd party software...

1) Take a snapshot of your desktop. I find it easier to just hit cmd-shift-3 (although some like to use Grab for this)

2) You now have a file on your Desktop, typically called Picture 1.pdf, open that in Preview (should be the default when double-clicked, but Acrobat/Acrobat Reader etc. may have messed with that)

3) In Preview choose File -> Export... (cmd-shift-E), you now get a dialog box, choose Format: JPEG, and hit the Options-button

4) You get a new dialog called JPEG Options, choose Best Depth, slide the Quality Slider to Best, check the Target size button and write 100000 (some prefer 102400), and press OK

5) Back in the Picture 1.pdf-save dialog you navigate to an apropiate place where you want your Desktop picture (in JPEG format) to be saved (cmd-D will take you directly to the Desktop in all save and open dialogs) and give it a name (if Picture 1.jpg isn't good enough)

6) You now have a JPEG of your Desktop under 100kb on your Desktop (or wherever), this can be attached to a MacRumors post, using the Manage Attachements-button under Additional Options, when you Reply to Topic (or Edit Post). Click that button.

7) You get a pop-up where you can Manage your Attachements, under File to Upload click the Browse-button, find and OK your Picture 1.jpg in the dialog box, and hit the Upload-button. A message will appear: "Uploading File(s) - Please Wait", and after some seconds (more if you're on dial-up) your file will appear under "Current Attachements". Now you can "Close this Window"

8) Finish your post and hit the Submit Reply-button and you have posted your Desktop.

EDIT: This only works with the old Panther version of Preview. The new Preview in Tiger no longer has an export function where you can set a target size... :(
 
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