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How to submit images to AllakhazamFollow

#1 Sep 25 2016 at 10:04 PM Rating: Excellent
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Admn Note: this thread is linked in the Forum Information & Useful Threads sticky .

Hi All - With EoK expansion coming up, it might be a good time to get some guidelines out on how to properly submit images!

Sometime recently (2015?) Sony/DBG changed the default file format for saving screenshots from Bitmap to JPEG. JPEG is a more readily recognized format and consumes less space on your storage drive, however the image quality is much lower than the former Bitmap. You will want to change the image type back to Bitmap to make sure you're only uploading high quality images! Please note that doing this will create one extra step in preparing your images to be uploaded, but it is highly advisable. If you really, really don't feel like it, then you can keep taking screenshots as JPEG files.

To do so:
  • Navigate to your EverQuest directory
  • Open the file "eqclient" with Notepad (right click on "eqclient", Open With > Notepad)
  • Scroll to the bottom of the [Default] section of the file and create a new line that reads: ScreenshotType=bmp
  • Now save the file and close it


Awesome - Now you are saving your screenshots as high quality Bitmap files again!

To take a screenshot, use the minus button ( - ) at the top right of the number pad on your keyboard (desktop computers). If you're on a laptop, you might want to configure a different key within the Options of EQ.




Getting The Best Shot

As you adventure in EQ, you'll want to take screenshots of various things you might encounter such as NPC's for quests, names, regular mobs, vendors, etc., ground spawn items, weapon graphics, etc. Here are a few tips for getting the best shot.

Ground Spawns
  • Be sure to grab enough of the surrounding environment so people have context of where the item is


NPC's
  • Grab enough of the surrounding environment so people have context of where the NPC is located
  • Take the screenshot from a front angle; either the right or left. This allows to capture more of the environment and shows more NPC detail
  • Have a light source equipped or your Gamma is adjusted not too dark but not too light so you can minimize post editing (if needed)
  • Do not have any pets, mercenaries or other PC's in the screenshot to not distract from the subject. Also do not have the NPC's targeted, we don't want 100% shown above the NPC or target rings; that's bad form!


Weapons/Items
  • It's is best to use a second character to take these shots so they have direct line-of-sight (LOS; you should already know this term if you're a caster! :p)
  • Make sure the lighting is not too bright or dark.
  • Stand against a wall to not allow any extra environmental items to enter the shot, this keeps things more standard and clean looking
  • Have particle effects on for the PC you are taking the screenshot from
  • You made need to adjust height, drop levitation or duck on the PC with the weapon/item equiped, or the PC you are taking the screenshot from so the subject is shot straight on and not from an angle


Your UI might sometimes get in the way of taking nice, big shots. Use the F10 key to hide the whole UI (you can press F10 again to get your UI back).
You can use the F11 button to hide/un-hide the netstat information (green line with numbers that tells you your connection speed to the EQ servers).
You can use F9 to cycle through the camera modes available in game. First person and overhead work really well!

Now that you have a small collection of images you want to upload to Alla, let's go through the editing and uploading steps.


Editing, Naming and Saving

I personally edit every image in Photoshop (I'm a designer by day), but this isn't always necessary or you may not have the expertise to do so. Let's start out with the editing steps for those able or willing to try as these do result in better quality images.

Remember, your images are found in the "Screenshots" folder of your EverQuest directory.

Editing Images for Upload using Image Manipulation Software
  • Please only use this option if you are familiar with editing images, I won't be able to provide help on using the software
  • There is an open-source program called "GIMP" which works on Windows/Linux. There is no cost and it works like Photoshop. This is a pretty standard program graphic designers use all over the world and is very helpful if you do not have Photoshop.
  • Croping: Crop the image so there is enough environmental detail for NPC's or ground spawns (~100px). For weapons, just crop a bit (50px) past the item on all 4 sides.
  • Light/Levels: I try to keep things simple and use the Levels adjuster to account for lighting. The auto function works about 50/50 and saves time. Make sure the subject's lighting is well balanced and that any environment in the shot is well lit too; under/over exposed images don't read well
  • Image Size: Adjust the image size to 76dpi and 500px x 500px. 500px is the maximum dimension for screenshots on Allahkazam.
  • File Type: Save the image as JPEG; this is the most appropriate type for images with lots of colors for web use.
  • File Size: Be sure no image is saved larger than 256kb. This helps images load extremely fast.


Uploading Images using MS Paint
  • Good ol' MS Paint - If you are not using the above software, you still have to use Paint to save your image to JPEG format
  • Since we're not using high-end software, it's very important to follow the steps outlined in the first part of the guide to make sure you have the subject at the right angle, with the right amount of lighting - practice makes perfect on this
  • Open your image in Paint
  • Save your image as JPEG


Saving & Naming Images
  • Save your image out to a new location and using a name you will remember. You could make a directory in your "My Pictures" folder called "Images for Alla" or something like that. I also then make a folder for each year (e.g. 2016, 2017, etc.) and then have two more folders called "NPC's" and "Items" inside each year folder.
  • Name your files something you'll remember. For Items, I use "Wurmslayer_Image" for the screenshot of the equiped item. For the stat window, I use "Wurmslayer_Stats".
  • When naming NPC's, name them something like "a-clay-golem_The-Foundation". I use the "en dash" (or what most people call a hyphen) for whole unit naming, in this example "a clay golem" and "The Foundaion" and then use the underscore to separate the whole units.
  • When naming NPC's, it's very helpful to name it exactly how it appears in game, sometimes one of the words is capitalized while others are lowercase
  • When naming NPC's, always add the zone including if it's in an instance as names have been getting reused a lot lately.




Getting your images uploaded to Allakhazam

  • To get your images uploaded to the site, follow these steps
  • Click the "Add Image" button on the page of the subject you're trying to upload
  • Click the "Browse" button and navigate to your saved image. If you are not using software to edit your image, your images will be in the "Screenshots" directory of the "EverQuest" folder on your computer
  • Once you've selected your image from your computer, click the "Upload" button (it's just below that "Browse" button you just clicked)
  • Now you are presented with an editing page and your image will be shown. Use the blue marker at the bottom right of the image to adjust the image size. Please be careful here, you can use "Shift+Left Mouse Click" to proportionally scale the image. Remember, it MUST be no greater than 500px in height, or 500px in width. Rectangular images (in landscape or portrait) mode are OK; meaning, you can upload an image that is 500px x 300px.
  • At the very top of the page, you have the option to add a Caption. This might be used for any misc. information that might not fit on the standard page information areas. I generally use it for named NPC locations, to state Spawn Location 1 , or something like that.
  • Now that your image is sized right, you can click the "Commit Upload" near the top left of the page to finish uploading your image. Note there is also a "Cancel Upload" button in case you need to cancel



Congrats! You've just help your fellow EQ players by providing them information to make their gaming life easier.

A few final notes:
  • All images will need to be approved by Admin before they show up, so you will need to be patient during expansion releases to see the fruits of your labor.
  • Please don't clutter the images with guild names, player names, fancy graphics (which is always bad), fancy borders, etc. You can use a small graphic for your name that is tasteful and of a neutral color (white, gray, tan) in an corner that does not distract from the image
  • You can view a few examples of how to make images by checking out this NPC: https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=50251
  • In the above example, note the amount of environment in my shot so players have context to where a NPC or item is. In this case, she is on grass, near rocks, near cages, a tree and a wall. Also note my small watermark at the lower right corner, in a typeface appropriate for a fantasy game, in white and just near my 1px white border I use
  • I ONLY use my watermark on named NPC's, weapon graphics, ground spawns, or other items of significance. I do not use them on standard NPC's that you will always find up or insignificant items like Iron Rations.


One second final note: Please leave any replies/feedback to updates needed to this guide. I only play weekends, so there will be a delay in my assisting.
Is there interest in knowing how to make map locations, especially for named NPC's?

Edited, Sep 25th 2016 9:12pm by Cylius

Edited, Sep 25th 2016 9:14pm by Cylius

Edited, Sep 26th 2016 7:36pm by snailish

Edited, Oct 11th 2016 8:50pm by Cylius

Edited, Oct 11th 2016 8:54pm by Cylius
#2 Sep 26 2016 at 5:35 PM Rating: Excellent
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Awesomely done! Smiley: clap

I will edit this to be in the FAQ sticky, feel free to edit out my name at the bottom of your post for doing said edit.
#3 Sep 26 2016 at 6:01 PM Rating: Good
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Is this Cylius's way of saying s/he doesn't like my recent image uploads? Smiley: tongue
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#4 Sep 26 2016 at 9:53 PM Rating: Excellent
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Friar Bijou wrote:
Is this Cylius's way of saying s/he doesn't like my recent image uploads? Smiley: tongue


I want MORE of your image uploads, but only if they're stick figures like your avatar!

Tat
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#5 Sep 27 2016 at 3:51 PM Rating: Good
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Can I go ahead and assume that the jpeg format is sufficient for item screen uploads or must I bitmap those, too?
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#6 Sep 27 2016 at 8:12 PM Rating: Good
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Glad this helpful. Seeing a few edits I'll need to make in a bit.

Friar - I would highly recommend using BMP as your default image storage type. Screenshots of item stats (if that's what you were referring to) will be extremely pixilated (blurry) if taken in the default JPEG format. But I'd rather see the site have any image vs. no image!
#7 Sep 27 2016 at 10:10 PM Rating: Excellent
I have Everquest save as bmp. Then when I edit the image, I export as png. Allakhazam doesn't allow bmp images unfortunately but png seems to be a better quality image than jpeg/jpg.
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#8 Sep 29 2016 at 10:25 PM Rating: Good
What about using the item preview window to show the graphic of a weapon?
#9 Sep 30 2016 at 12:55 AM Rating: Excellent
Yes that works very well. I use the item preview all the time to upload to images so people can see what the item looks like. What I do is of course open the image in my image editing software, then use the square editing tool to only highlight the piece of the image I want to post. Then I crop the image.

The nice thing about the item preview window is that sometimes it has a transparent background. So when you take a screenshot and post it here, it only shows your character and of course the item and no background so it blends in with the site nicely.

For example. https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=125341

Screenshot
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#10 Sep 30 2016 at 7:29 PM Rating: Good
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SSJGhol wrote:
What about using the item preview window to show the graphic of a weapon?


I try to leave the item preview window for items I can't obtain or nobody else has put images of up. I found the quality to not be as good; not being able to get the best shot. Going forward due to all information coming from Admins, I say it's fair game now!
#11 Sep 30 2016 at 7:35 PM Rating: Good
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Gidono wrote:
Yes that works very well. I use the item preview all the time to upload to images so people can see what the item looks like. What I do is of course open the image in my image editing software, then use the square editing tool to only highlight the piece of the image I want to post. Then I crop the image.

The nice thing about the item preview window is that sometimes it has a transparent background. So when you take a screenshot and post it here, it only shows your character and of course the item and no background so it blends in with the site nicely.

For example. https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=125341

Screenshot


Wow, it never occurred to me that uploading PNG's would retain their transparency. Most platforms fill in the transparency with white or black, so I just assumed Allah would too. This is good info and I can see the benefit of this for some subjects. I'll get that info added to the guide!
#12 Oct 04 2016 at 6:28 PM Rating: Good
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Cylius wrote:

Navigate to your EverQuest directory
Open the file "eqclient" with Notepad (right click on "eqclient", Open With > Notepad)
Scroll to the bottom of the file and create a new line that reads: ScreenshotType=bmp
Now save the file and close it



I did that, but the game refuses to change. It's still saving as jpg.

Smiley: mad
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#14 Oct 04 2016 at 11:24 PM Rating: Good
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Did you log out and re-patch? I had this issue on one of my machines, but can't recall what the remedy was at the moment...
#15 Oct 05 2016 at 12:30 PM Rating: Good
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Cylius & Laurana wrote:
Did you log out and re-patch?
Yep...still jpeg.
Smiley: frown
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#16 Oct 06 2016 at 5:43 PM Rating: Excellent
Friar Bijou wrote:
Cylius & Laurana wrote:
Did you log out and re-patch?
Yep...still jpeg.
Smiley: frown


You saved it under the [Default] section in your eqclient.ini right?
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#17 Oct 06 2016 at 5:51 PM Rating: Excellent
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Does whether you start EQ as "Run as Administrator" or not make a difference? All kinds of things are wonky for me if I don't run as admin.

Tat
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Michone, 115 Troll Shadowknight
Anaceup Mysleeves, 115 Erudite Mage, 2 x 300 Master Artisan
Snookims Whinslow, 112 Erudite Enchanter, 2 x 300 Master Artisan
<Inisfree>, Tunare (Seventh Hammer!)
#18 Oct 07 2016 at 12:07 AM Rating: Excellent
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Gidono wrote:
Friar Bijou wrote:
Cylius & Laurana wrote:
Did you log out and re-patch?
Yep...still jpeg.
Smiley: frown
You saved it under the [Default] section in your eqclient.ini right?
OK, it works now.

Cylius aught to change
Cyli wrote:
Scroll to the bottom of the file and create a new line that reads: ScreenshotType=bmp


to:

Scroll to the bottom of the [Default] section of the file and create a new line that reads: ScreenshotType=bmp

...because I put mine (originally) at the very bottom of the file as that (her) line seems to suggest.

Thanks for the clarification!Smiley: yippee
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#19 Oct 08 2016 at 10:25 AM Rating: Excellent
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The guide should probably cover the super basic "how to take the shot in game" aspect too?

gbaji wrote:
OzadarZek wrote:
It's actually the "*" key on the numpad now.


In addition to being the "-" key? Or as a replacement. Haven't tried to screenshot lately, but last time I did, it was the "-" key. I'd also be shocked if someone had a "*" on their keypad, but not a "-" (since they're all arithmetic keys, so you should have them all, or none of them).

Oh, for some actual valuable information, don't forget about the F11 key (I think it's F11, might be F10). It toggles you in and out of "no UI" mode. Basically, it'll remove all UI objects on your screen. No chat bars, menus, spell gems, hotkeys, etc. So if you want a picture without any of that stuff, it's pretty darn useful. It's also useful to know in case you ever accidentally hit it, cause you can't get out if you don't (no UI, remember). Fun times!
#20 Oct 08 2016 at 12:59 PM Rating: Excellent
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Where are you quoting this from? I don't see it anywhere else in this thread.

The screenshot key is the minus key on the keypad.

F10 gets rid of the UI. F11 toggles the netstat meter.

Tat
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Tatanka Wolfdancer, 115 Wood Elf Druid, 9 x 300+ Master Artisan, 7 maxed trophies (dang research! :)
Michone, 115 Troll Shadowknight
Anaceup Mysleeves, 115 Erudite Mage, 2 x 300 Master Artisan
Snookims Whinslow, 112 Erudite Enchanter, 2 x 300 Master Artisan
<Inisfree>, Tunare (Seventh Hammer!)
#21 Oct 08 2016 at 7:36 PM Rating: Excellent
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tatankaseventh wrote:
Where are you quoting this from? I don't see it anywhere else in this thread.

The screenshot key is the minus key on the keypad.

F10 gets rid of the UI. F11 toggles the netstat meter.

Tat



It's from a much older thread that comes up when you google taking screenshots in EQ.

The correct information is good to have confirmed here. Maybe this thread will come up higher in future searches than that old one.
#22 Oct 11 2016 at 10:05 PM Rating: Good
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Thanks for all the feedback. Made the following edits:

Added [Default] information on where to change the JPEG/BITMAP info
Included what button to use to take a screenshot ( - )
Added the F9/F10/F11 info and what they do

I will also get how to make map location images included probably at end of Oct or early Nov.
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