How to post photos to DU (Rev. June 2020)
Last edited Mon Jun 22, 2020, 08:37 AM - Edit history (6)
As you have discovered probably by now, you cannot paste photos into the message text box here on DU. Hey, no worry! Even experienced DU members with thousands of posts have to sometimes ask this question, so... welcome!
For a photo (image, video, etc.) to display on DU, the hyperlink (also called the URL or web address among other things...) must be placed in the message box. The image will display when you click Preview (always test!) and when you post it.
SITUATION ONE: I want to post an image I found on the internet.
Depending on which internet browser you use, you may see different options when you right-click on an image you have found while browsing.
If you use Chrome or Firefox, a right click on the image will display Copy image address.
Then paste the copied address into the DU message box. Bam!
If you use Internet Explorer/Bing, right click the image, click Properties, and you will see Address (URL). Select the address (htt p://blah blah...jpg (or png, gif, etc.) and copy it. Paste it into the message text box on DU.
If you use a different browser, Google how to find the image URL for that browser. They are all slightly different.
NOTE: If you try the method above and you don't see the copy image address or Properties/Address/URL, it can't be done this way. You will have to get a screenshot of the image (Windows has Snipping Tool) and save it on your computer as a .jpg file (or .png) and upload it to the image hosting site, as detailed below.
SITUATION TWO: I want to post a photo that I have on my own computer. It is NOT on the internet (yet!)
First, get that image from your computer uploaded to a web-based image hosting site. There are many. Photobucket was very popular until just recently when it became unaffordable. Imgur is a free site. There are more explained in this document (valid as of 8/2/2017) https://www.lifewire.com/free-image-hosting-sites-3486329 .
Because of the different places to put your image, I can't give you step by step on how to upload your image. Once you have uploaded your image to your upload site, you will see that it may offer you various types of links. You need the Direct Link, as indicated in the screenshot below. Click the copy button. Then paste into your DU message box. Done!
YIKES! WTH? But it just shows the URL in the DU message box and not the photo!
The image you are trying to link to may be part of a slideshow or gallery. If when right-clicking on the image you want you don't see the copy image address or Properties/Address/URL, it can't be done this way. You will have to get a screenshot of it and save it on your computer as a jpg file (or png) and upload it to the image hosting site, as shown above.
The URL you pasted into DU must end with one of the standard file format extensions such as .jpg, .gif, .png, etc.
What about YouTube videos?
Easiest way is when you are on the YouTube page viewing your video, simply click in the address bar for the page and copy that URL. Then paste it into the DU message box. NOTE: DU does not recognize the 'start at' x seconds command, so you will have to literally type in the instructions something like "the relevant part starts at the 4:20 mark" See screenshot:
= new reply since forum marked as read
Could you give an explanation for using a Samsung Galaxy A53 5G , please?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17271923
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=367251
Because I see no "Message Box."
Help would be so appreciated.
https://postimg.cc/RNhmpTR4
https://i.postimg.cc/fbPWJYbc/image .png
...that I cannot see the Message Box?
Check this link to a screen shot of what I see when I click on Edit Avatar, please.:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=367251
And thanks so much for your prompt reply above
I am describing posting an image in a post. That's what my screen shot shows.
I am sorry I confused you.
For the AVATAR business... the file you wanna use has to fit in these confines as listed on the screenshot AND the file MUST be uploaded to DU. In that way it's NOT like posting a photo. If you are using your phone, the avatar photo MUST be on the phone.
Last edited Sat Oct 22, 2022, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)
...click on Edit Avatar:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17271923
And I see no place to insert this (my) image or this Internet URL to it:
https://i.postimg.cc/kXF541R6/Screen-Hunter-451-Dec-12-16-58 .jpg
I fear that I may have to take a wheelchair trip... (I had an operation for spinal stenosis 8/3/2022 to "snip, starting from the top, vertebrae 3, 4, 5, 6 & the top of 7 on the back of my neck where they fuse together, to relieve the pressure on my spinal cord" [pinched nerve(s).] Then a swollen testicle and a blood pressure reading of 209/109 resulted in a 911 trip to the hospital where they took a scan that showed my urethra closed off & needing my prostate to be reamed out. They then inserted a Foley catheter into my penis 9/2/2022, to remain until I heal from the operation I had 10/22/2022 that drained my swollen testicle.)... to my computer to insert my images, because my Samsung Galaxy A53 5G doesn't seem to let me upload my images directly, & instead wants me to go through their site:
https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/xLnvv4jQ4jBD
Sorry for the probably wrongly done insertion into the middle of a sentence above. I like to tell true stories from my life, because I believe it helps my memory, mightbeinteresting to others, & in this case, maybe helps or enlightens somewhat others with nerve pain.
Anyway, if you can help me here, I will so appreciate it. 
Mozilla Firefox - it works! right click on image, select "Copy link location", then right click and "paste" at the destination...
To get this, I pasted the link they gave without a proper picture extension and put it into my safari browser. Then I pressed the picture to get a “copy image” hitch provides a link.
I then have to delete everything past the “.jpg” and delete the “_d” before the jpg to make the image the proper size.
What is the way to do this now if this hack isn’t it?
?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
I am not sure what you mean by 'link they gave me'
If someone (or the internet) provides an image link it needs to end with .jpg or .png etc. DU doesn't recognize past that.
Are you trying to paste an image from the net? If so, display the image in your browser and (I don't know Apple stuff) right click and you should see get image link or some such.
Good luck
Display the image (click your name, then images) and THEN click the COPY button next to Direct Link
Copying the address bar URL just takes you to the image in Imgur.
ohhellyes previously known as ohheckyeah
Response to CurtEastPoint (Original post)
Here is the image URL from a FB photo. Doesn't work. As you know already!
?_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=85a577&_nc_ohc=IZH3D9_4afYAX9XUF0g&_nc_ht=scontent.fatl1-1.fna&oh=c8a1aa4130534960ef2c5966205f793b&oe=5F6BF36B
and I can’t find info anywhere, or maybe I’m just so ill equipped to do it. 
But shoot would love to show the plant AND the monarchs.
Had to make an image file to show the code, as even with [xmp] DU removes some tags (including [xmp] with the angle brackets).
Here is the code which survives, missing bits can be copied from the above image.
==================
Flickr Image Tag Extractor
body {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
margin: 50px;
}
textarea {
width: 400px;
height: 200px;
padding: 10px;
font-size: 14px;
display: block;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
button {
padding: 10px 20px;
font-size: 14px;
display: block;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
#result {
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
width: 400px;
height: 100px;
overflow: auto;
}
Flickr Image Tag Extractor
Extract Image Tag
Copy Result
Reload
function extractImageTags() {
const input = document.getElementById('input').value;
const regex = /[img](.*?)[/img]/g;
const matches = input.match(regex);
let result = '';
if (matches) {
result = matches.map(match => match.replace(/[img]|[/img]/g, '')).join('n');
}
document.getElementById('result').textContent = result;
}
function copyToClipboard() {
const result = document.getElementById('result').textContent;
navigator.clipboard.writeText(result)
.then(() => alert('Result copied to clipboard!'))
.catch(err => alert('Failed to copy result: ' + err));
}
from way back, and way back further...(oh, and some are really good, if I do say so myself) 
Stuart G
