PHOTOS SECTION - REDEVELOPED (automatic file resizing/optimizing; files up to 8MB OK)

In the first of our site updates/changes in time for the 09/10 season, we have completely redeveloped the Photos section of the site and it is now online and ready to use.

Basically, here is what's new:

• You can now upload your original photo 'as is', each up to 8MB in size - there is now no need to change the size and dimensions of photos before uploading them;
• The photos will automatically be resized and optimized;
• We have created a new simpler 'Single Photo' uploading page which allows you to just upload one photo at a time;
• We have also created a new 'Panoramic Photo' uploading page for panoramic-style (long and thin) images

The details:
Since we started our Photos section a few years ago we have always known that it would be optimal if members could quickly upload their photos 'as is' without having to worry about file size and image dimensions. For a number of reasons this hasn't been possible but with a fair bit of head-scratching, research and development along with a new server, we have been able to make this a reality.

The upload page itself hasn't really changed (although we have created two further uploading pages - one for a single upload and another for panoramic-style images). So it all looks pretty much like it has done since last season. But the system running in the background has been totally reworked with a view to making it much easier for people to use and upload photos.

So what does new system do?

- it takes your original photo(s) [each up to 8MB in size] and resizes it/them so that the longest side of the photo is 700 pixels in length (or 850 pixels in the case of photos uploaded using the Panoramic upload page);
- it optimizes the quality of the photo - saving it to a manageble size while retaining quality (settings determined by the system depending on the size of the original photo);
- a small snowjapan stamp image is also added to the bottom left of the photo. (Member names will not be added, but if you wish for your photos to display your username we will be happy to do that - just let us know).

If the longest side of your original photo is less than 700 pixels, the uploaded photo will remain unchanged.

The system accepts .jpg, .jpeg, .gif and .png image file types.

So you should be able to take your original large photos taken directly from your camera and upload them to SnowJapan without messing about trying to change the size of the photo. And the photo should end up looking very pretty online as well!

(The display of photos as well as galleries and user-defined galleries remains mostly unchanged).


Uploading links:
Multiple photos - for uploading up to 5 photos at a time
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_gallery_image_uploader.php

Single photo - for uploading one photo
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_gallery_image_uploader_single.php

Panoramic photo - for upload a panoramic-style photo
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_gallery_image_uploader_panoramic.php

Please note you need to be registered (it's free) and logged in to upload photos.


Uploading Photos - Help:
For more details on how to upload photos to SnowJapan, please read the information on this page:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photos-help.html

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Thank you to the friends who took the time to test the functionality and provide valuable feedback over the last month or so. We appreciate the help.

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Other changes to SnowJapan for 09/10:
We are currently working on other new functionality for the site and those updates will follow in the autumn.

By the way, if you have any relevant photos that you have not uploaded yet, please do give the new system a try.

We have done extensive testing on this new functionality over the last few weeks and are confident that it is working as it should, but always when complex coding like this goes out in the wild some issues may pop up, so any feedback is most welcome. As of course are new photos!

Thank you. Hope you like it.

Just uploaded some - worked without any problems.
Very nice work

That sure will make it easier to throw photos up there. Good move, will try it later on.

I was always ok with resizing (I will keep on resizing to send back home etc) but this really does make it easier.
It has been fun testing through the different stages and seeing it develop over the last few months as well.

I uploaded some (not very good) pics! The system worked great, didn't have any problems at all. This is a huge improvement not having to resize them etc. Great stuff.

Could have done with that last season

Looking forward to using it next time.

Always improving, glad to see you keeping it up.
That will encourage people (like me) to put some up.

whats the dif between a .jpg file and a .jpeg file? I always assumed they were the same

I think they are the same.

Anything to make things easier is good.

Nice one.
Lazy sods like myself might be called into action.

Haven't tried it yet but that is a great improvement.

nice, will have some next season

Muika,
It might be easier to upload to SJ and send the "folks back home" the link. Worth a try.

Yes it actually will be now!

But I have actually recently made a little online gallery thingy and I upload them to there so people back home can just check it out anytime.

In the process of uploading some (unspectacular) photos of Kagura. Very easy. Really good new system, totally hassle free.