Image preparation

While it is possible (and easy) to re-size images from within WordPress, it is always best to size then appropriately prior to uploading them. There are two parts to this process:

• Setting the resolution to 96dpi (depending on the image’s source it could be up to 300 dpi, which would result in a very large file that would be slow to download)
• Setting the physical dimensions (width x height) in pixels. There can be a bit of trial and error with this one depending on the available width of the content area of the page or post.  I suggest you start by setting the width to 250px. In most image resizing applications the height will adjust automatically to suit.
• If you don’t have an image re-sizing application have a look at Fotosizer. This is a great little application that lets you resize multiple images at a time.

Image Upload / Insertion

• Open the page or post you would like to add the image to.
• Click at the start of the paragraph you would like to associate the image with.
  • You will see that you can either align the image to the left, with the text flowing around it on the right, or vice versa.
• Just above the row of editor icons there is a lable “Upload/Insert” – click the square icon immediately to the right of this lable. Notice that if you hover your mouse over it, it says “Insert an image”
• The popup window defaults to the screen required to upload an image from your computer. This is the normal situation. Click the “Select Files” button, browse to the folder on your computer that has the required image, and upload it.
• A thumbnail of the image will be displayed, along with fields to complete as follows:
  • Enter a meaningful title
  • Set the Link URL to “None” unless you would like the image to be clickable, in which case you can enter the target address
  • Set alignment to “Left” or “Right” as required.
  • If you have sized the image appropriately prior to upload you can leave the size to the default “Full size”
  • Click “Insert into post”
• The image will now be displayed in your post. Often you may like to create some whitespace around the image so that the text does not appear to be crowding it. If that is the case do this:
  • Click on the image, then click the edit icon.
• In the pop up window click on the Advanced Settings Tab
  • Next to the “Image Properties” line set Vertical Space to 10 and Horizontal Space to 10. You can experiment with these values.
  • Note that you can also add a border if required. Try entering a width of 2.

That’s it!

If you have come this far you have done well. It seems like a lot of little steps when described in detail like this, but it will soon be second nature. Happy blogging

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