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There are four steps you will need to complete in
order to add a photo to your item's description. We have also provided links in this
section to other resources on the web that will either further aid your image processing
and/or help you store your images.
Step 1. Capture the
Image
The most common methods for capturing a digital image of your item
are scanning a photo/picture or using a digital camara to capture your item digitally.
Using either method will provide excellent results.
Some guidelines for Step 1 :
Using a Digital Camera
A digital camera is just like a regular camera, except the image is stored in the camera's
memory instead of on film. You simply transfer the file directly from the camera to your
computer using a cable or removable media which can be read by your computer.
Ideally, get a camera that stores images in the JPG format, since
this format produces Web photos are sharp and easily read by most imaging software. Also,
if you sell small items, make sure the camera you purchase has a lens that will handle
extreme close ups (known as macro capability). Most cameras with a zoom feature will take
excellent macro images but others will not. Be sure to find out all of the capabilities of
the camera before you make a purchase.
Using a Scanner
A scanner is connected to a computer and is controlled by a software application running
on the computer.You can scan the photo using the software program that comes with the
scanner, or, in most cases, access the scanner directly from your favorite image editing
software. You will want to scan the image at 72 dpi (dots per inch) since it will be
displayed at this resolution.
If you have a three-dimensional object that cannot be scanned
easily, you can still use a scanner to get that image into your computer. Just take a
photograph of the item and then scan the developed photo.
Step 2. Edit the Image
Once your image is in a digital form, you can view and edit it with
image editing software. Editing an image allows you to "crop" unnecessary
details and modify the image's dimension and graphic size so the image is small enough to
download quickly when someone views your item.
Some Guidelines for Step 2 :
Software to help you edit your image
Check to see if your digital camera, scanner, or video capture
software has some basic features which allow you to crop and edit the image.
If you need more software to enhance your image, there are several
excellent software packages less than $100 which allow you to resize, convert, and adjust
all aspects of an image file. Some of these include Picture It!, PhotoDeluxe, Paint Shop Pro, and LivePix.
If you are looking for free image editors, try searching from the
TUCOWS site http://www.tucows.com, or the shareware
site http://www.shareware.com for popular image
editors such as Graphics Workshop or older versions of Paint Shop Pro. You can also use
Microsoft's Picture Editor, which is shipped with the Microsoft Office Suite.
Tips for editing your image
Recommended Maximum Image Size: 50 KB (compressed)
Recommended Maximum Dimensions: 300 x 300 pixels
If your image file is very large, it will take a long time to
download over the Web. To help users more easily view your item, reduce your image's size
if it is larger than 50 KB. Large image files may discourage some users from downloading
your photo and may use up a lot of limited space on your Web server. Image file sizes of
10 to 25KB (compressed) are even better.
The software that came with your digital camera, scanner, or video
capture method will help you reduce your image files to a workable size while maintaining
satisfactory image quality. You may have to experiment a bit until you're satisfied with
the results. The image compression is usually performed based on parameters you set when
you save the image.
If you use a scanner to capture your electronic image, scan at 72
DPI. An image displayed on the Web will display only at this resolution due to computer
monitor design constraints. Scanning at a higher resolution will only make your image
larger, both in file size and display size on your screen.
Put your image into the
right format
Once you have the file containing the image on your computer, you
need to make sure you save it so that it can be used on the Web. While you can usually
choose to save your image in one of several different types of image files or formats,
there are only two that are appropriate for the Web: JPG (.jpg) and GIF (.gif). We
recommend using the JPG (.jpg) format for listing items on eBay since photos and images of
items appear best in this format.
In addition to choosing a format, you must also give the image file
a name. The end of the name will end in a dot (.) followed by the type of file you saved
it as: jpg or gif. You should not put any spaces or special characters (such as &, $,
or /) in the name of your file.An example of a file name is:
item1.jpg
Once you've saved your image, you might want to make sure it is
small enough to download easily.
Step 3. Put the image on the Web
Once you have an electronic file containing your item, you need to
upload the image to the Web.
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide some space on their
computers where their customers can post their web pages, graphics, and files.
Find out from your ISP how you can transfer your file to this space.
Most likely, you will need to use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) application to transfer
your file to your personal Web space.
If you are an AOL user
AOL users can go to the keyword MyPlace and access their own
webspace where they can follow instructions to upload their own images.
If you do not have
space on the Web
There are several places on the Web which will help you transfer
your image from your desktop to the Web, without having to get server space or using FTP.
These sites will get your photo through by email or their own proprietary systems which
allow you to upload an image to their site. There is a charge for these uploading and
"hosting" services, which can range from about 50 cents to 2 dollars (U.S.)
(depending on the image size and time they will host the photo) for each picture.
Step 4. Enter your URL
when you add the item
Once your image is on the Web, you need to add the exact URL of your
image to the proper field on the Add an Item form at Seller's Services.
Determine your URL
Once you have uploaded your image file to a place on the Web, you
need to know the file's Web address, also know as a URL (Universal Resource Locator).
An URL is like a postal address. The first part of the URL is
established for you by your ISP or photo hosting service. For example, it will look
something like this:
http://www.whatever.com/your_user-id/
The name of the file that you uploaded appears in the second part of
the URL. In this example, it would look like this:
photo1.jpg
Together, all the elements of an URL point to your file on the Web.
In this example, it would look like this:
http://www.whatever.com/your_user-id/photo1.jpg
Verify the image appears
with your item description
When you are adding an item to the auctions, one of the fields
available is for specifying the URL of your image. This field is shown below.
It is very easy to make a typographical error on this step. If you
do not enter your URL exactly correct, your image will be a broken link. One trick is to
view your image in a browser window, and then copy and paste the URL into the List an Item
page. Please make sure you:
- Include the proper extension of your image name (.jpg or .gif)
- Correctly spell the URL address
If you have followed the above steps carefully and correctly, the
image will appear when you preview your item description. If you do not see your image, go
back and check to make sure you typed in your URL correctly. (You can also verify that
your image is on the Web by viewing your picture's URL directly in a Web browser.)
Other reasons your image may not be appearing could be:
- The Web server hosting the images is temporarily offline
- The viewer's Web browser is not configured properly for viewing
images
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