Collections Subforum and Photos

[Matt]

As you all know, I am still developing this idea because I believe the world of collecting is going to be a big part of this whole deal. I want to be able to showcase collections effectively because I know you guys are very proud of them, as you should be.

I have purchased a gallery modification for the site called PhotoPost. Not only will it allow all of us to have a gallery for all of our pics (collections or not) but I can also use them in integrated pages for the site.

For right now, these will be here. I am having the modification installed today so I should be able to give you guys an idea of its vast functionality very soon. For the time being...the "collections" pages on the site will be off line but don't worry, I have all your pics saved an hosted, plus there is a copy here.

[Matt]

I am going to copy and upload all these pics into the gallery for "collections" today.

Expect to see a cool feature in this forum to display them soon.

[Patrick]

Matt, this sounds like it should be really nice. Thanks for all the work you are putting in to exhibit the beautiful books that so many small print publishers have worked hard to create, as well as all the other ancillary items.

I read in another thread somewhere that you now have the ability to waterstamp the photos. If you plan to copy and upload everyone's collections, I strongly recommend that you add some sort of TDT.com waterstamp to all of the copies. Thanks.

[Matt]

It is in development for sure Patrick. I figured I could wait a bit because of the small volume and also the fact that once they are posted in the forum (by the collector), pretty much anyone can copy and/or download the photo from there. Even guests.

I do believe all photos hosted on the site should have a watermark on them, I just have to figure out how to do it.

[Patrick]

... I do believe all photos hosted on the site should have a watermark on them, I just have to figure out how to do it.

Great idea, Matt. Of course, I say that as one who does not need to figure out the solution.

[Matt]

I believe all it comes down to is creating an image. But I want to make sure there isn't some kind of huge white box around it

[Randall Flagg]

Matt, you continue to evolve and improve the site.
Kudos to you.

[Matt]

Thanks Jerome, that means a lot to me.

Its an honor and a pleasure to even get to hang out with you guys.

[Matt]

Not quite done, all the photos aren't there yet but...

Collections

(you have your own folder)

it will change to your name.

This is a "random image" block so its just basically going to cycle 16 random pics from all the collections.

Suggestions are welcome as usual.

[Matt]

I know they all say "Matt" on them but its just the last person that edited them. If you guys go and add a description or anything to your collections photos

Scratch this, I found out a way to manually change the owner.

[Patrick]

Not quite done, all the photos aren't there yet but...

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/cmps_index.php?page=collections

(not published yet)
...

This is a "random image" block so its just basically going to cycle 16 random pics from all the collections.

Suggestions are welcome as usual.

That's cool, Matt. I assume you've only included Jerome's and Terry's collections so far...

[Patrick]

Your enthusiasm is admirable and infectious, Matt.

[Matt]

That is correct, and actually only part of Terry's.

Also, I need to do Jeromes a bit differently but it takes a while one image at a time.

Glad you like it.

[Matt]

I just want to say again the reason I have been making changes to how collections are view on the site is because of how cool they are.

I have been a comic collector and I know what kind of dedication it takes to maintain a good collections. You guys deserve the right to have your hard won collections showcased on this site. It means a lot to me that you would post them here--so thank you everyone.

Here is the official deal on how it is going to be done. Last time.

As you know, we have a gallery where we can now upload photos straight to the site. They are subdivided into Member galleries and Special Content Galleries. Guests cannot see the Member galleries

Under Special Categories, there is a folder called Collections

I am creating folders for each of you so if you don't have one now, you will soon. You will be assigned the "moderator" (seperate database from the forum) for your collections folder. That means you can add, edit or delete the photos at whim.

I will add those that have been posted already (I am working on Terry's ) but I would love it if you guys put any other Stephen King Collector Items in your folder in Collections.

If they are in there, they will automatically cycle through the random images on our Collectors page.

Again, I thank you all for your continued support on this. I am going to post a thread on how to upload to the gallery in the Welcome forum.

[Matt]

This page has been officially added to the site.

http://www.thedarktower.org/collections

I put an html disclaimer in there about reproducing the pics.

[Matt]

Also, I just wanted to let you guys know that you are welcome to edit your collections with more detailed descriptions and stuff.

The gallery allows for those and also comments. I just stuck in the line everyone put over their photo's in here.

[Nerak]

OK, I played...check out my pics

[Patrick]

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm totally confused between what appears to be a general members' gallery and a collectors' gallery. Mainly I'm confused by how to access each - not the "random 16 pics" but how to find specific collectors' galleries if they are not in one of the "random 16".

I can click around and find pages, but then can't reproduce those steps because I don't know how I got there the first time.

Is there a clear-cut instruction thread on the two galleries? Are they even even two different galleries? Is it just me? Probably.

[Matt]

If you check the gallery home (just by clicking on the "gallery" link) there should be a recognizable tree.

The system assignes them to you if you are the owner, meaning, if I search for Patrick then I am going to find all the images. They will also show up under "my photos" in your little userCP. That gives you the right to edit them at will.

Since you do not have a personal gallery yet Patrick, all photos that are assigned to you are sitting in your collection folder

gallery/collections/patrick

[Patrick]

Thanks for the additional info, Matt. I see how the Gallery works now.

I clicked on the UserCP button, but I didn't see any "My Photos" link there. I'm lame at this.

[Matt]

oops--perhaps..."my photos" on the top left

[Patrick]

I just merged the three informational threads in this subforum into one thread.

Also I removed the word "Photos" from each individual collector's thread title to shorten the titles - this way the most recently active thread's full title will be viewable from the Restaurant Forum.