RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 12:44 GMT (UK)

Title: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 12:44 GMT (UK)
Oh dear I do not like this new change at all. The small images are terrible and are no good for my eyes and to have to enlarge everyone takes too long. If this is the future of this board I shall have to say goodbye I'm afraid. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
I wonder why no one asked us for our input  :(
Irene


Moderator Comment: title modified
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 12:49 GMT (UK)
Hello Irene,

We have spent months working on the upgrades to bring RootsChat upto 2012 standards. Technology has changed a lot over nine years and these new changes will help RootsChat be viewable devices plus improving the speed and the functionality of the site - All for Free!

Sarah
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 20 December 12 12:53 GMT (UK)
Too Small for me too...I don't know about anyone else but on my screen the interface has a 3 inch gap at either side...Oh dear...I understand that changes sometimes have to be made to keep up with changing technology but for a board that displays photos...I think this is a backward step and like Irene...too hard on the eyes for me :-\
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 20 December 12 12:55 GMT (UK)
No problems with text size at the moment on my pc
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 12:56 GMT (UK)
But if you want to see a photo restoration you have to click on each one to see what the restorer has done..this takes time esp when there are over 20 responses and for those with slow internet it will be a nightmare. I cannot see how it is faster or how brings us into 2012?

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 12:58 GMT (UK)
You can make the font bigger by holding down the "Cntl" key bottom left and then by pressing the "+" botton which is the top right. People on Tablets and Mobiles can pinch or expand.

Sarah
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 13:03 GMT (UK)
Is there a shortcut so we can "see" the photos at a glance please
I am not trying to be a pain and agree changes can be good but when you restore photos this new way will not work for me. I have no problem with the font size

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 20 December 12 13:03 GMT (UK)
Thanks Sarah....That's much better... People don't like change when it takes us out of our comfort zone but it's progress and in time...we will get used to it...It was a bit of a shock and I think an announcement of impending changes would have helped.
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 13:06 GMT (UK)
Carol can you see the photos without having to click on each one?


Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 13:07 GMT (UK)
Irene, it depends on the image size that is reposted back on RootsChat. Just looking at an example one posted 1200 x 900px .jpg shows up fine but any bigger it will show as an icon that you have to follow. Perhaps I need to post some advice on image sizes  :-\

Sarah



 
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 13:08 GMT (UK)
Good luck...we have been doing that for years  ;D ;D ;D

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Thursday 20 December 12 13:13 GMT (UK)
I find it hard to get used to also, but realize the old sizes took up a lot of space on the forum & slowed things down, so this is better than not having photos or having to pay to use it, we'll have to be more choosy about the ones we want a closer look at.  ???

Yvonne
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 13:13 GMT (UK)
Sarah can you show me where you found a photo 1200 x 900px .jpg that showed up fine...all I am getting is postage stamp sized images

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 13:17 GMT (UK)
Yvonne I am not arguing the fact that we all have to get used to it....Its that if I want to do a restore I have to click on every image...and if I want to see what you or carole or caroline or terry has done to a photo I have to click on everyone again.....I know some of the restorers are still on dial up or are on a download limit each month and this will not help them

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 20 December 12 13:25 GMT (UK)
Yes Irene..I double click on the photo and see an enlargement...we will get there ;)
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Thursday 20 December 12 13:58 GMT (UK)
Yes Irene,

I agree it's harder to view them, one I enlarged I had to still scroll to see the rest of the photo & another wouldn't download properly at all, maybe I won't be able to do as many restores, (it will be better for my RSI  ;))

I remember very well how slow dial-up is, it used to put me off looking at sites with photos.  :(

We will miss seeing them together to compare the restores as you say, it will take a while to adjust.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas,

Yvonne

 


Yvonne I am not arguing the fact that we all have to get used to it....Its that if I want to do a restore I have to click on every image...and if I want to see what you or carole or caroline or terry has done to a photo I have to click on everyone again.....I know some of the restorers are still on dial up or are on a download limit each month and this will not help them

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: jim1 on Thursday 20 December 12 14:27 GMT (UK)
Just playing.Trying to find the ultimate image size.
This is 600 X 800 & looks about as big as you can go without having to schroll.
Edit:
The ultimate physical size without having to schroll is 690w X 920h.

jim
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 14:27 GMT (UK)
Irene this is one of the threads that I was looking at, I can view all restorations apart from your - but your does seem to be the largest kb size......hmmm

Sarah
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 14:29 GMT (UK)
Another thought that I just had.....it may be the pictures stay as a small icon until someone views then they may appears as small images viewable without clicking on them  ???
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 14:31 GMT (UK)
Can you see this or is it stamp size.......hope its not my computer :'(

Irene

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,628177.0.html
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 20 December 12 16:01 GMT (UK)
I can see it okay when I click on it Irene...I'm not getting any email notifications for replies though :-\
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: LizzieW on Thursday 20 December 12 16:09 GMT (UK)
It's postage stamp size until I click on it.  I don't do restorations but I do like to see what people have done and now it looks as though I'll have to click through the restores individually.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: silvery on Thursday 20 December 12 16:42 GMT (UK)
One click seems to enlarge them and fixes them on the page.   
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: billkent on Thursday 20 December 12 17:02 GMT (UK)
That's true silvery, but in PNG format and windows is unable to let me fix it without tranferring it to photoshop to change the format to jpeg.

Bill.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Finley 1 on Thursday 20 December 12 17:03 GMT (UK)
This is a SHAMBLES  I am an extremely sad Rootschatter.  I cannot view anything, without having to RE-LEARN how to do it all.   

VERY VERY SAD
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Thursday 20 December 12 17:26 GMT (UK)
Hello Xinia,

I am sorry that you are uncomfortable with the new changes. The technology that RootsChat was using  was nine years old and was becoming almost a "record" in a world of mp3's.

The upgrade has carefully saved all the work and memories from now some of our now departed members and we have now made it faster and more viewable to people who couldn't use it before. 

Give it a few days and I am sure it will grow on you  ;)

Sarah
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Finley 1 on Thursday 20 December 12 17:34 GMT (UK)
Thanks Sarah
 I do accept what you are saying,  however at the moment, my head is in need of time to take it alllllll in. 

No doubt, after xmas when i have lots of free time.  I will be able to get to grips with it.

I hope... I am NOT good with change...
 :-\
xin
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 17:47 GMT (UK)
My problem is that I have a large screen but now I have 7"  (7 inch!) borders on each side of grey. I know I can use key commands etc to zoom in but is there a zoom command built in I have missed?  Not keen on thumbnail sized pics. I too like to see what the experts have done but that seems too difficult now. Will have to see but think I will not be posting many in the near future.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: tabsearch on Thursday 20 December 12 18:11 GMT (UK)
I must agree with Irene.   ;) What a shock! I must say I think this new layout is a step backwards. The previous layout was easier to see, filled the screen instead of leaving 2 inch side borders and the restores were instantly large and clear to see.

Well that's progress!  :(

David
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 18:14 GMT (UK)
The Mobi edition fills the screen but I want the full edition to do the same
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 18:43 GMT (UK)
But is this not silly?
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 18:57 GMT (UK)
Well, just seems such a shame.  Prob good on iPad etc.  Do the "power people" know the problem?
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Thursday 20 December 12 19:01 GMT (UK)
Sad


Rachel
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 19:02 GMT (UK)
Just asking.  What is sad?

Sad


Rachel
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Thursday 20 December 12 19:02 GMT (UK)
But is this not silly?

Have you tried the BBC Website on that too?
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 19:05 GMT (UK)
But is this not silly?

Have you tried the BBC Website on that too?

Yes, same problem. Not blaming roots
chat, just that the old one worked better.... Sorry. Will shut up now
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 20 December 12 19:05 GMT (UK)
BBC displays full screen on my PC. RC does not.

Alphabet soup ;D
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 19:06 GMT (UK)
BBC displays full screen on my PC. RC does not.

Alphabet soup ;D

I am using Safari on iMac
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 19:10 GMT (UK)
Is the site checked on as many popular formats as possible or.....?

Is it good on mobile devices? iPhone/ iPad
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 20 December 12 19:12 GMT (UK)
Yes, that's mostly the point of the upgrade. Use the MOBILE button top right to see the best format on your iPad etc...also see the main thread in the Common Room.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,628251.0.html
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 20 December 12 19:15 GMT (UK)
Yes I would go to the Common Room as most of the problems highlighted have been resolved or akcknowledged there...Let's have a bit more positivity and be a bit more supportive...lots of work and effort has gone into this...we are resistant to change...but will soon get used to it ;)
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 20 December 12 19:20 GMT (UK)
OK. Well done team. I am sure you will sort out any little problems. Thank you.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: lil growler on Thursday 20 December 12 19:21 GMT (UK)
Looks Great!  :)


Merry Christmas to everyone ;D

lil
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 20:50 GMT (UK)
Yes I would go to the Common Room as most of the problems highlighted have been resolved or akcknowledged there...Let's have a bit more positivity and be a bit more supportive...lots of work and effort has gone into this...we are resistant to change...but will soon get used to it ;)
Carol

I dont think so Carol...Do you think it is better  having to click on every thumbprint than seeing everything at one scroll down. !!!!!  Maybe your eyesight is better then mine  :D

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 20 December 12 20:57 GMT (UK)
Only a few of them open by clicking. The rest, most, of them I have to double-click, select download, wait for the download, open the downloaded files window, double-click on it, tell the program YES I WANT TO OPEN THE STINKING PICTURE IN JASC, WHAT DO YOU THINK I WANT TO DO WITH IT?, then tell jasc I KNOW I HAVEN'T BACKED MY FILES UP IN THE LAST 30 DAYS AND I DON'T CARE, JUST OPEN THE PICTURE ALREADY, then view the picture.

What a pain.

And yet, I remain calm :P
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 20 December 12 20:58 GMT (UK)
Its called progress China !!!!

Irene
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 20 December 12 20:59 GMT (UK)
Pppppththbbbtttt.

 :P
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 20 December 12 21:55 GMT (UK)
Double right click seems to enlarge only SOME of the photos I've tried it on ....

... all part of the learning curve I suppose; we'll get there in the end.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Thursday 20 December 12 21:59 GMT (UK)
Just asking.  What is sad?







Me is  ???

Sad is an emotion  :-*
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Thursday 20 December 12 22:03 GMT (UK)
How do we tell if we've marked a thread ? or posted a restore/comment  ?
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: jc26red on Thursday 20 December 12 22:46 GMT (UK)
I have to agree with Irene!
While I know that the site needed "modernising" and alot of work went into it, for the other RC boards, its a matter of getting used to it but the restoration board is unique. Its one, if not the most, popular boards and brings in lots new members... you only have to see how many posts people do before making a request to know that is true.  If the restorers are finding it difficult to work with the way the photos are being presented, it will limit which ones they chose to work on. The present format of postage size images before clicking on it is not good, its bad on the eyes.
The members and  restorers love looking at all the work that has been been done, having to click on each image is ridiculous.

And getting back to Sarah's comments oncomparing it with the BBC website, well, as a member of their forums for nearly 10 years, I can tell you the backlash when they changed to this kind of format was huge! but you can't fight a corporation and most of the forums were being phased out... Just because the BBC did it, doesn't make it the right way to go. I know other sites do the same thing, but they also use their side space for flashing adverts. Not something I would like to see on RC. Its all to do with revenue spinning.

This board aside, the long tall fonts are just plain silly when you have huge swathes of grey either side of the center panel! There are far too many different types of fonts being used... not a good image for quality branding.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 20 December 12 23:43 GMT (UK)
The tall font is difficult to read, as well. Especially in the silly pale pink.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: mozza29 on Friday 21 December 12 00:52 GMT (UK)
Book marked (to see if a tally appears to tell me I have contributed to this topic and if I receive an email to advise of other responses).

Morrie
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Friday 21 December 12 01:55 GMT (UK)
It won't Morrie, not yet anyway. But Trystan knows about the tally thing and says he'll fix it.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Brittaya on Friday 21 December 12 02:20 GMT (UK)
This worries me, because I love the photo restoration boards. They're possibly the very best thing about RC. But it's the people like Irene and Carol and Prue and Japeflakes and Chinakay and many many others who make them so wonderful. If everyone leaves RC the photo restoration & dating board will suffer. And I think so too will the site :(

I hope they manage to find a compromise so we don't lose all the wonderful people on here.

Britt
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: skippy2 on Friday 21 December 12 04:21 GMT (UK)
Been here since early 2004 but today, I thought I had arrived at an archived Ancestry site.

Agree with Irene and JC
Comment:- photo display/opening is inconsistant.

Clicking on topics/posts since upgrade reveals different displays. i.e.
Opens on page of topic/post.
Clicking thumbnail displays in new window.
Clicking thumbnail downloads to computer. (not good if you only wish to view).

Thumbnails and one size fits all window (displayed) really detracts from original and restored pics. They seem to have lost their unique individuality and charm.
I would not click through 2/3 pages of thumbnails to view restorations and / or the original or comparision of.

Skippy
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Friday 21 December 12 07:40 GMT (UK)
A huge thanks to you Jenny (JC) for putting it succinctly.

I know I've not been around much this past year (husband died) but I fully intended to get back to restoring on RC in 2013.

Popping in yesterday gave me such a shock.
I don't visit the other boards but assume, as Jenny says, that the changes will cause little or no disruption.

Rachel (in disbelief)


While I'm here I'd like to wish my fellow restorers best wishes for the festive season   :D
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: oldhippy on Friday 21 December 12 08:01 GMT (UK)
I couldn’t agree more. Good for you jc26red

The whole thing is a mess. Stupid tram lines each side for what?

Looking at the photos is so small. Its ridicules.  I think I’ll need to obtain stronger glasses. As a restorer I like to look at other restorers work. The old site all I had to do was scroll. 

One of the main things about web design has been ignored. You do not use so many different fonts. It should be easy on the eye, this includes colour and able to load quickly,  >:(
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Greensleeves on Friday 21 December 12 08:16 GMT (UK)
I have to say that I don't have any problems with the new format.  If I click on the thumbnail I get an enlargement; if I click on the link below it offers me a download option.   The whole site is running quicker and there are quite a few useful additions - plus a lot of existing ones which I had never discovered before!  I am assuming that the new format will help people on dial-up because they will not be trying to view entire photos all the time - they can select the ones they want to see.  I know it might feel like an irritation in comparison with our previous format, but when you consider the marvels of technology which have enabled us to be able to view and restore these images in this way, surely a couple of extra clicks here and there is a small price to pay? 

To be honest, if I was Trystan, Sarah and the team, I would be totally gutted to have worked so hard and be confronted with so many negative attitudes.  Okay, there will be teething problems - there always are when launching this type of thing.  But these glitches can be ironed out and the only way to discover them is to go live and let people report back.  I must say that I am utterly delighted to be able to work on people's photographs; I consider it an honour and a privilege to be part of the RC family which allows me access to such delights.  And I would be so sad if restorers stopped contributing their fine work to these boards.  You all know that so many people get great pleasure from seeing your work - just as you get great pleasure from creating it.

So may I take this opportunity to wish all restorers and posters and the RC team  a very happy Yuletide - a time for new beginnings and positive thinking!  Let's all work together to make sure that the restoration boards go from strength to strength and that any glitches and problems can be sorted to everyone's satisfaction and without acrimony.

Kind regards,
GS
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 21 December 12 09:14 GMT (UK)
Quote
To be honest, if I was Trystan, Sarah and the team, I would be totally gutted to have worked so hard and be confronted with so many negative attitudes.  Okay, there will be teething problems - there always are when launching this type of thing.  But these glitches can be ironed out and the only way to discover them is to go live and let people report back. 

Thanks GS - I'd like to support that view of things!   

Wiggy   :)
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 21 December 12 09:23 GMT (UK)
Quote
To be honest, if I was Trystan, Sarah and the team, I would be totally gutted to have worked so hard and be confronted with so many negative attitudes.  Okay, there will be teething problems - there always are when launching this type of thing.  But these glitches can be ironed out and the only way to discover them is to go live and let people report back. 

Thanks GS - I'd like to support that view of things!   

Wiggy   :)

Second :)

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Seoras on Friday 21 December 12 09:45 GMT (UK)
I suppose I am a bit on the fence really, some things I like better with my only real gripe being the photo board. I did like just being able to scroll down and both see and be amazed by the wonderful work of the restorers. This could of course be the Taurean in me, we don't like change. However I am sure there are logical reasons for the changes, which not being a technophile will be totally over my head.

What I do know is that when I joined RootsChat a little over two years ago I knew next to nothing about my family. This year I was able to send my sister a completed chart taking our maternal line back to all our 4 X great grandparents on that line with additional information taking some back further,in two cases back to the 1600s.I have a mine of information on a GG uncle who won a chest full of medals in the British army in the 1800s. I have found through emigration records relatives in New Zealand, Australia and the USA.I have tracked down and visited graves of GGG and GGGG grandparents in Scotland. Only last week a RootsChatter in America ( thank you Deb ) sent me a mine of information on my GG grandfather who died there.All of this thanks to being a member of RC.

I dread to think how much money I have spent on Scotland's People but I do know without RC it would have been at least double. I have been helped by information supplied by other members on here and been able to help myself by being pointed in the right direction by those same members. Best of all, by skills taught me by members on here I in turn have been able to help other people.

So I will be eternally grateful to this wonderful site, which let's not forget is absolutely FREE. Perhaps we should all give it a bit of time, then if we are still having problems or there are some functions we are a bit unhappy about, perhaps a compromise can be reached, perhaps there can be no compromise. But come on folks, RootsChat is the best site of it's type anywhere.

George.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Darksecretz on Friday 21 December 12 09:59 GMT (UK)
I haven't been on here for some time, but I see that most people are using the 'attachment'/'Paperclip' to add their photos, this, in itself, takes up vast amounts of server space. [and can cause major lag in page loading] might it be an idea for members to use an external hosting site such as Photobucket/Flickr etc to host the pictures and then c/p the IMG url onto this page? or would that not solve the small images?

just trying something here:

(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/Darksecretz_2006/DSCF1830.jpg)


aha! I see that works beautifully... maybe this is a solution? to use an external hosting site for your images, so you are not restricted by the sites settings? I know that most of us use PB on Family Tree Forum for our restores, something that Niksmum can vouch for :)
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 21 December 12 10:01 GMT (UK)
Nicely put G.S. and George...Most of the comments here I believe are a knee-jerk reaction to the loss of the familiar comfy place we all knew and loved...and understandably so..However...the site was looking old and tired and wasn't keeping pace with modern technology :-\ It was slow and frequently timed out when posting photos.

It's not perfect and there are clearly issues that need addressing...I'm not fond of the thumbnail presentation of photos either  :-\ but I'm sure that Trystan and Sarah will take onboard the comments made here and will make the necessary changes.

I'm sure there is still a lot of work being carried out behind the scenes and I think a little patience is needed until problems have been resolved ;)

Merry Christmas to all Rootschatters :D

Carol

Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: oldhippy on Friday 21 December 12 10:02 GMT (UK)
I never had problems with the old site when it came to loading. In fact this site would load very fast for me.

Are their still people on dial up?

Agree with the glitches with a new site. Disagree when it is obvious you need 20 20 vision to view all of this site.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: lil growler on Friday 21 December 12 10:05 GMT (UK)
Darksecretz

I'm on dial up and that loaded pretty fast for me ;D

lil
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Darksecretz on Friday 21 December 12 10:27 GMT (UK)
Darksecretz

I'm on dial up and that loaded pretty fast for me ;D

lil

cool, that pic was taken by me when we went to Scotland, I 'posted' it via Photobucket, [as most of the photos that I post online are stored in it] hopefully it is a workable suggestion for those like Niksmum that are having the image problems.

Merry Christmas to all..
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Maggie. on Friday 21 December 12 10:39 GMT (UK)
I've been forced to take a few weeks off from restoring due to family and work stuff but was looking forward to returning in the New Year so it came as something of a surprise yesterday to see the changes.  What a lot of work and time Trystan and Sarah plus their team must have put into the redesign and for that I say 'thank-you'.  On the whole I have no problems with the changes, except perhaps with some of the fonts that (to me) look strange.  As it happens I have a lousy cold so I was awake coughing and sneezing at 4am and as I have just been given an early Christmas present of an ipad tablet I decided to use it to view RootsChat in depth.  The site now runs quickly and smoothly, looks bang up to date and will probably carry RootsChat forward efficiently for many more years.  It looks absolutely great on the tablet, with no grey borders, and perhaps this was one of the major considerations when the team were thinking about how the redesign should operate, as so many people nowadays use tablets, phones and other gadgetry for their family researches.

The photo board is very different of course and at first I was alarmed to see all the little thumbnails, which detract from the overall appearance and lessen the impact of the board, but a single click quickly opens most of them, some seem to need two clicks but I can get used to this, so overall I have no problem with the changes.

Interesting that Darksecretz has posted using photobucket and it works so perhaps this offers a solution or is there a downside in lost picture resolution or something?  I've no idea and I'm too woolly headed today to investigate.  A plus of using this method is that the pictures would be viewable whist composing replies - always good to be able to see what you are talking about.

And finally, after this long-winded appraisal, may I wish eveyone a Very Happy Christmas and May All Your Restores be Good Ones in 2013.  :)  ;)  ;D

Maggie
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Darksecretz on Friday 21 December 12 11:03 GMT (UK)
hmmn my first pic when I have d'loded it works out at 70kb, but I am not quite sure what the size of it was when I uploaded it to the bucket..

this one [same pic was 1.3meg] when I uploaded it to Bucket.

(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/Darksecretz_2006/DSCF1830-1.jpg)

i'll have a look at the properties and report back..

right, that one now comes in [once I have d'loded it] at 137kb
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 21 December 12 11:08 GMT (UK)
Hope the cold is soon better Maggie :-\ Love your avatar :D
Carol
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: dave-the-rave on Friday 21 December 12 11:40 GMT (UK)
i know trystan and sarah set up the site for  which i am very gratefull for there work,
but most of all i would like to thank the restores and the members like jim pels and so many names to many to name,
for there hard work and time you all put into this site for beginners like my self,
which you all have made this site as to day you all get my praise and thank you all and bless you
and merry xmas kind regards dave
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Maggie. on Friday 21 December 12 11:47 GMT (UK)
Hope the cold is soon better Maggie :-\ Love your avatar :D
Carol

Thanks Carol  :-*

All credit for the avatar must go to Gadget, who very kindly did it for me several years ago.  I love it so much it has come out every year since.

Aw - Dave, what nice words.  Thank-you.
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: jc26red on Friday 21 December 12 12:01 GMT (UK)
Now see if this posts without me being totally locked out after posting! (had to clear my cookies just to get back in as there is no log out button  :-\ )

While I agree that Trystan and Sarah have put in a lot of hard work making the changes, which I do very much appreciate.  This board works differently.  Irene spoke out, and it would appear a large number of us, restorers that is,  agree with what she is saying.  I couldn't keep silent and let Irene take the flack alone for speaking out.

The restorers are the people who know how this board works best.  I can see new RC members seeing the postage stamp size images and think they have to reduce their photos to this size before posting!  We already have a high number of requests where the image hasn't been scanned well and its not easy trying to explain how to scan at a high quality to anyone who isn't familiar with scanner settings.  Its always been a constant eduction on this board, we know and don't expect new posters to be experts, but these changes are not going to help the situation.

Darksecretz has suggested using an external image hosting site like photobucket.  While this does work, as soon as you remove a photo from your host page, it will disappear from RC. The outcome is obvious over on FTF, where photos are removed almost immediately. Hence I don't post over there anymore and that is the place I first started restoring  :'(   
Can you imagine how many images a prolific restorer like Irene will have on her hosting page if she leaves them on there... I think there is a storage limit before charges kick in too.

To those that are saying RC is free, it is.... but don't forget its success is down to the free services of all those who offer their time and experience for lookups, advice, companionship and restorations etc., So please do not ignore the voices of the much valued contributors to RC. 
The comments being made are suggestions and hopefully Trystan will digest the comments to see if there is a workable solution/compromise. I for one am not trying to be negative, if we don't speak up how are the owners going to know there are rumblings going on.

Jenny
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: silvery on Friday 21 December 12 12:07 GMT (UK)
I love looking through the restores, and it would be a shame to lose those already posted I agree.   

(JC - the logout button is on the very top left, quite small, with the others.)
Title: Re: Whats happened
Post by: Darksecretz on Friday 21 December 12 12:17 GMT (UK)

Darksecretz has suggested using an external image hosting site like photobucket.  While this does work, as soon as you remove a photo from your host page, it will disappear from RC. The outcome is obvious over on FTF, where photos are removed almost immediately. Hence I don't post over there anymore and that is the place I first started restoring  :'(   
Can you imagine how many images a prolific restorer like Irene will have on her hosting page if she leaves them on there... I think there is a storage limit before charges kick in too.

Jenny

Hi Jenny... in reply to your mention about FTFs photo restoration forum, 'some' do remove their restores from p/b once the Original Poster has 'snagged' their restored photo, but not all, I personally do not remove ANY restored photograph that I do from Photobucket. 
yes there is a limit on PB when you have a free account, but I have over 900 images in my account and have not had any problems.. ( I have been searching PB to see just what the permitted range is for a free account, but I can't find it now.. typical :) )

sorry that you haven't been on FTF and now don't use it, as another free FH site we do try our hardest to keep on the ball... and I am sure that the site owners here know what it is like when you have to make changes to keep up with the times. (yes there are grumbles, but, in time you do get used to it and then when you revert back to other sites they do look dated and clunky)

I don't have much of a problem with the site 'per say' but, then again, I do adjust pretty quickly.

Julie
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Friday 21 December 12 12:29 GMT (UK)
This makes sense to me:
"The restorers are the people who know how this board works best.  I can see new RC members seeing the postage stamp size images and think they have to reduce their photos to this size before posting!  We already have a high number of requests where the image hasn't been scanned well and its not easy trying to explain how to scan at a high quality to anyone who isn't familiar with scanner settings.  Its always been a constant eduction on this board, we know and don't expect new posters to be experts, but these changes are not going to help the situation." Quote from jc26red
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Friday 21 December 12 12:43 GMT (UK)
Please dont think I dont like change...I love what Tristan has done to the rest of the site, but you are making me sound like an old fuddy duddy. I can assure you I am not.
The Photo board was always different and we were allowed more kb so that the photos could be "seen" properly. I have done over 10,000 restores since I started here, (and hopefully made a lot of people happy), and have gone through quite a lot of changes, but I am not happy at all with the way this is now working. Such a shame as I have had fun

Irene
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: jc26red on Friday 21 December 12 12:53 GMT (UK)
agreed Irene....

Darksecretz, its the "before" photos that get removed over on FTF, so everytime I visited, I couldn't have a go myself. No point in restoring a photo that has already been restored by yourself or others.  Anyway, this issue is about RC not other forums.

Unless you are familiar with the workings of image hosting sites like PB and changing your privacy settings, people could end up with their precious photos being found and  shared in a google search.
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 12:59 GMT (UK)
Can somebody please attach a photo to see if it comes up wider now?

It should now work that the new thumbnail is the normal width, and anything wider is "thumbnailed" to the width of the posting.

These changes don't apply to the previous postings unfortunately.

Trystan
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 21 December 12 13:04 GMT (UK)
Here goes
Carol
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 13:08 GMT (UK)
Well that didn't quite work as I thought :)
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: LizzieW on Friday 21 December 12 13:10 GMT (UK)
It has now, did you tweak it.
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 13:12 GMT (UK)
Yes, it's now tweaked.  :)

That's better isn't it?
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 21 December 12 13:20 GMT (UK)
Much better :o...thanks for listening to us Trystan :D
Can you date it whilst you're there :P
Carol
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 13:21 GMT (UK)
Hey, no problem at all. Glad to be of some use.
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 13:24 GMT (UK)
Can you date it whilst you're there :P

1912
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: jc26red on Friday 21 December 12 13:46 GMT (UK)
Thank you for coming to the rescue Tristan and a big thank you for listening  :D 

Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: oldhippy on Friday 21 December 12 13:50 GMT (UK)
If photos are now going to be shown in that size that will be ok with me.

Thank you Trystan.
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 13:53 GMT (UK)
Great stuff.

Off now to fix a few more things..
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Maggie. on Friday 21 December 12 15:07 GMT (UK)
Thanks Trystan - that's brilliant.  :)  :)
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: japeflakes on Friday 21 December 12 15:10 GMT (UK)
Looks much better. BIG thank you:
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Friday 21 December 12 15:34 GMT (UK)
Thank you Thank you Thank you  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Thats the best Christmas gift ever   ::) ::) ::) ;)


At last, a man who listens :D

Irene ,     
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: sarah on Friday 21 December 12 19:16 GMT (UK)
Quote
At last, a man who listens
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hope you are feeling better soon Maggie :)
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Yasmina4 on Friday 21 December 12 20:00 GMT (UK)
 :) So pleased photos back to original size.  I do so enjoy this part of Rootschat.

I have been lent a bundle of family photos today and a few I would very much like to have sharpened up.

In the past I was asked to rescan at a special size.  This was "all Greek" to me.

In preparation before I post the photos........

I understand that there will be a Technical section on Rootschat.  Could someone please post idiot proof instructions on scanning at..............was it so many psi's please?

(so excited as one of the photos is of my aunt being baptised as an adult' in the 1920s' in a river).

Sandra
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Lady Di on Friday 21 December 12 20:06 GMT (UK)
Must wholeheartedly agree with all the comments previously posted and I would have been very sad to see the photo/res board left with the unusable thumbnail size pics.

Just as well I've been locked out of RC since just after the update or I'd have said a few choice words like many others.  :-X

SO PLEASED that we now have slightly larger pic size displayed.

Merry Christmas everyone

Di
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: chinakay on Friday 21 December 12 21:08 GMT (UK)
Could someone please post idiot proof instructions on scanning at..............was it so many psi's please?


If you look at the top of the board in the "stickies" there are tutorials on everything. Always have been, but we get so used to seeing them that we forget they're there :)

The second one on "how to post' has a link to a link to a tutorial by Cazza on how to scan.

Cheers,
China
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Friday 21 December 12 21:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much Trystan for being able to allow us the bigger size,  :D

I thought we'd be stuck with the thumbnails because of the sight being slowed by them.

Thanks to Irene & others for stating the restorers needs, restoring is hard on the eyes at the best of images, but we get such satisfaction in seeing the end result for those who treasure these rare photos of their ancestors.

Thanks also Trystan for keeping Rootschat going all these years & still being free,

Happy Christmas to you & all on Rootschat,  ;D

Yvonne
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 21:25 GMT (UK)
Yvonne,

Thank you for your lovely comments. There were so many issues that I was working through after the upgrade - so it was good to get a fix on this as soon as I could. It's barely been a day since the update. The thumbnail was never supposed to be smaller that the screen width, so I was at a bit of a whit's end trying to figure it out.

It's worth it though, to see a comment like yours.

Trystan
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Friday 21 December 12 21:35 GMT (UK)
You're very welcome Trystan,  ;D

We all appreciate the work you & the team have put in on the forum especially the update so close to Christmas taking so much of your time (& sleep)  ;)

Thanks again, & all the best for 2013,

Yvonne
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trystan on Friday 21 December 12 21:41 GMT (UK)
The timing was partly because I hit into some major issues, and then I delayed the upgrade further to *now* thinking that it's a time of year that families get together.

I'm hoping that if somebody has problems figuring out how to log on or use the site that there will be some bright spark in whoever's family to help them out with it. Every family has got one!

Trystan
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Friday 21 December 12 21:47 GMT (UK)
Every family has got one!

Trystan


Not in mine, have to rely on my fading spark,  :P

Yvonne
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Yasmina4 on Friday 21 December 12 23:37 GMT (UK)
Could someone please post idiot proof instructions on scanning at..............was it so many psi's please?


If you look at the top of the board in the "stickies" there are tutorials on everything. Always have been, but we get so used to seeing them that we forget they're there :)

Thank you Sandra

The second one on "how to post' has a link to a link to a tutorial by Cazza on how to scan.

Cheers,
China
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Saturday 22 December 12 08:52 GMT (UK)
Every family has got one!

Trystan


Not in mine, have to rely on my fading spark,  :P

Yvonne


Ditto here Yvonne  :D Only me and the cats now ... and they don't even have thumbs  ;D :o :( :) :-X


Much thanks to Trystan our hero  :-* and congratulations on sorting us out so promptly ... impressed  :)


R
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: ymfoster on Saturday 22 December 12 09:26 GMT (UK)


Not in mine, have to rely on my fading spark,  :P

Yvonne


Ditto here Yvonne  :D Only me and the cats now ... and they don't even have thumbs  ;D :o :( :) :-X

R


They can walk the keyboard though  ;D

Yvonne
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Rachels on Saturday 22 December 12 13:07 GMT (UK)
They can walk the keyboard though  ;D

Yvonne

Good point, although they rarely contribute anything useful  :D
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: LizzieW on Saturday 22 December 12 13:13 GMT (UK)
Quote
Good point, although they rarely contribute anything useful 
  Do cats ever?  ::)
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: trellisick on Saturday 22 December 12 21:21 GMT (UK)
 :o  Just to add my pennies worth, I think the old saying, (IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!)
should have been used when considering the changes, I am in no way deriding all the hard work put into the new version, in fact it can only be applauded, but unfortunatly so many restorers love the old style of photo restoring and were not asked for input, there is now a lot of unhappy restorers about,
including myself, :'(
  Anyway here's hoping each and every one of you have a very happy Christmas
                                                                                       and a happy and prosperous new year.
                                                                                                             Trellisick.  :D
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Greensleeves on Saturday 22 December 12 21:59 GMT (UK)
Errrr..... I thought Trystan had changed things so that the restorers were happy with the way the photos appeared.   I don't care how they appear - I like RC so much that I am prepared to jump through any number of hoops just so long as it continues and is functioning smoothly from a technical point of view.   And to be fair, how on earth could every user be consulted?  It is bad enough trying to come to a consensus with a committee  so the thought of thousands of us putting in our penny's worth doesn't bear thinking about!
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Wiggy on Sunday 23 December 12 00:10 GMT (UK)
Errrr..... I thought Trystan had changed things so that the restorers were happy with the way the photos appeared.   I don't care how they appear - I like RC so much that I am prepared to jump through any number of hoops just so long as it continues and is functioning smoothly from a technical point of view.   And to be fair, how on earth could every user be consulted?  It is bad enough trying to come to a consensus with a committee  so the thought of thousands of us putting in our penny's worth doesn't bear thinking about!

Ain't that the truth!!!   ;D ;D       
Title: Re: New forum - Whats happened
Post by: Niksmum on Sunday 23 December 12 00:19 GMT (UK)
I am locking this now as Trystan has very kindly solved the problem   

Irene