Is seeking advise from Content Artist?

I am realizing showing and creating diary of my creations via blog just isn't working
any more.
I need better way to archive what I have created that I want to share publicly
in better way and way to create more secure back up system but I am not sure
exactly how to do this.
I thought about website but my html skills really stink but I could work on this.
Though of course there are risk putting up my art on website too but that doesn't
really matter to me at this point.
I thought about investing some money in online storage place but not sure if this
really would be worth doing or what the cost would be, or even where to go.
What I basically need is gallery place online that has storage space for images.
Most I can spend is about 10 dollars a month.
Anyone have any suggestions?

You could make a Yahoo group... that's free.

Failing that, there's Webshots, Imagehosting, Imageshack, Photobucket... or Snapzilla, of course. Alternatively, a Myspace page?

Depends how many images you're looking at hosting I guess. 50, 500, 5000?

Broccoli

I create a lot so I could easily in few years host over 5000 images.
What would be most securest way to share images of my work? Do you know Brocoli?

As anyone can right click/save as, I'd say none of them are secure in that way - unless you can slap a nice big watermark or something across them without destroying the whole image.

Broccoli

I vaguely remember having this code to disable right click but it wouldn't prevent prnt screening. I think I haven't tested it out.
I am sort of at this point where I rather create and have my creations seen, then not seen.
I am not sure if anything I am doing is good enough to be stolen.
I thought about interactive website but it require me learning how to figure out how to do this special browser window but I am not sure even where to begin or what it cost to do it.
There is lot of information, hosting, website domain things out there and its bit confusing.
I am semi-illiterate when it comes to this type of things.
Also I am thinking in future of doing some choose your own adventure rpg type games that are connected to my SL creations in the future if I can figure out how.

Hi FD

you could also check out elfwood galleries which are free to use as well

www.elfwood.com

they have hundreds of artists there showcasing work, and you can comment on peoples artwork as well, full of constructive criticism and helpful comments.

Yeah, and this doesn't really help because it relies on the browser to comply, and the image is in cache on the local disk. Using Flash images makes illicit copying a slightly more involved process, but has been "cracked," too. There are two possible meanings of "watermark"--a visible stamp across the image, or information embedded in the image without being noticeable. The latter, though, is still pretty "bleeding edge" technology and in any case would be of use for litigation or possible deterrence, not for actually preventing theft.

try this:

http://gallery.menalto.com/


you need.... i think php and/or cgi perms on your web space to install this. or you might need your web host to install it. (i'm on warped.com, and they install it for you.)

you set it up via your browser, upload via your browser, set everything via your browser. it automates a lot of stuff. BUT, you can only upload a maximum of 10 images at a time. (unless you use this meta upload thing... i wont say im an expert on it ;X )

the 2.0 version was going to have some security features in it. i confess, i haven't kept up with all that, but you should find the info there on the site, or be able to ask in the forums.

oh, and its free. at least the version 1 type is. or was. i better poke around and get updated.

fwiw, I've been real happy with photobucket.com. They have a professional version of it but I'm not sure of the price.

Hello FD. I suggest you take a closer look at the open source project 'Gallery':

http://gallery.menalto.com

It is free of cost, easy to install and set up. All you need is webspace with PHP and a database. The installation pretty much runs itself, and you can adjust the looks and functions of the gallery to whatever you want to make it blend with your website, blog or whatever you are going to use it with. Style, colors, formatting, everything can be changed if you want. It also has a online user community, so help should never be far away. Just check the documentation first. I have used it before, and it was so easy to install and use, it was a joy, and that was older versions than what they offer now.

You should be able to get enough webserver space and traffic limit with databases and everything you need for $5 - 10 a month, as long as you keep the file sizes at a realistic level (3-500KB each). $10 at most. You do not have advanced needs, only storage space and a fairly fast server.

A few things I would keep in mind:

- Always read the webserver provider's T.O.S. before you sign up, make sure you understand everything.

- Web server space is cheap. 1-5GB space is common even with cheap hosting packages, which should be more than enough for your needs. You can always expand later if you need, as all serious hosting services always are ready to help their customers with such needs.

- Check the server provider's uptime, meaning how much they manage to keep your website online. Downtime is when necessary maintenance, fixes or upgrades are required. I have had pretty bad experiences with bedroom business providers before, but if you use well established and solid providers that have been around for many years, they should at least be more trustworthy. Also, word of mouth can be a great help, ask people you know have high demands what they use.

- Customers usually get free DNS information and e-mail account(s) included with a web hosting deal. Having different e-mail addresses, such as [email]admin@mygallery.com[/email] and [email]sales@mygallery.com[/email] makes it look more professional and is easy to set up.

- There is no "unlimited traffic". Those are words used by the companies to attract new customers. Once traffic to your website exceeds their pre-determined upper limit, which they forgot to mention, you will be required to take necessary steps to lower it, or pay extra for the traffic. You want numbers, I.E. "Transfer limit: 3GB per month".

- Check around to see if others are happy with the provider you are considering to sign up with. Use services like www.hostsearch.com - where customers leave comments on the companies so that you can quite easily find the ones you need. You can filter out those with or without PHP, MySQL, price level, storage space, transfer limits e.t.c.

Just my 2 cookies. I want to emphasize that setting up your gallery on a new server should not be difficult at all if everything goes well. If it doesn't you have the whole Internet to ask for help and guidance, including these forums of course. Good luck with your exhibition

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas.
Part of reason I haven't switched is knowing what to do is really overwhelming.
If my traffic gets to high, not sure how I could afford the cost and traffic thing is bit confusing.
I don't really understand php, cgi or any of those other fancy things like java, flash,etc.
I will check out the suggested places.
There is lot to think about.
But I have been thinking about different things.
Even those internet website like storefronts sites but there is some issues with those.
How many visitors is 3gb worth of traffic?
I remember some of the freebie Sims content creators who hosted items end up having way too much over head cost when it came to server when I was there.
I can't really afford tons of items that are just hobby.
I decided against the business aspect of content for now because I just don't want the stress and I need few more years to perfect my skills before my content is high quality enough.
Lot of my friends say its good enough not too share but all I see is imperfections and flaws in my content yet I still want to show off what I have done if that makes any sense.

Hey FD,

I use SPGM

http://spgm.sourceforge.net/

it's a really easy to use PHP program that runs on a webserver. Once it is set up all you have to do is create thumbnails and upload and presto they appear live on your site.

I pay 90 us/yr for reliable shared web hosting with tera-byte.com plus negligible domain cost. (www.in2orbit.net)

If you limit your image size to 800 by 600 px for example you will save alot of bandwidth.

In terms of backing up your data in the original size, I would suggest burning off a dvd rather than trying any of the online photo places. Most internet connections have abysmal upload speeds so your 5000 images would take litterally months to upload...

If you would like I could help you set it up... IM in world and we can chat about it, or just say hi!.

-whyroc

Check out http://www.deviantart.com/ it has its own community of people who love creating art of all sorts and sharing it with other people. I can spend hours there just looking at everything created and shared by other people. You can even sell prints of your creations thru the Devian Art Store.

I did have deviant art account over year ago I forgot all about it. LOL
Hey there Whyroc. I think I cleaned up friend list and you removed you nothing personal.
90 usd at one for anything other then bill seems bit high for me right now but thats is possiblity.
I saw something about that site I though it was public domain sharing site.
I have cdrw but no dvd player or burner right now.
What I want to do is making interactive sim look page with links but no clue how to do it.
The bars would move and change.
You click the designs, favorite slurl locations or diary logs and it take you to specific pages,
gallaries for certain days.
If you clicked hugs there would snap shots of humorous hugs I had on given day in SL because I am very tiny and it often looks funny. LOL
But I don't know what this is called or even where to research this information.
From website it would look like this image below.
Anyone know what I am describing?

http://gallery.menalto.com Seems like it requires one to have one's own server is this correct?

I use photobucket, koinup, flickr and deviantart.

All are free. I especially like koinup its pretty easy to use and you can view other members "works" aswell.

Nat