Recommend Site to Showcase knife pics?

Balislinger

Balislinger

Joined
Nov 11, 2003
Messages
6,787
Hi guys, I'm asking this in the custom forum because I respect the opinions of the more serious collectors who hang out in here. I'm wondering what you think the best place is to build a permanent photo gallery of knives in my collection. I've been using pbase.com, but it's expensive for hosting alot of images. I've seen some guys around here using Fototime. In short, can you tell me why you use what you use, if you like it, and recommend some options to me? Thanks
 
I've used Fototime for years. It does cost a little bit, but it works well and has been quite reliable and easy to use in every respect. I haven't tried a bunch of different hosts so I can't give you any kind of comparison, but I've been happy enough with this one that I haven't felt any need to explore other options.

Roger
 
A buddy who is heavy duty custom collector uses Picasa and it seems to work pretty well for him.
 
Like, Roger, I've used Fototime for many years. It's inexpensive, simple to set up and the "tags" work very well with Google.

Win
 
I have been using both Fototime and Photo Bucket for quite sometime as I prefer each for different aspects of photo hosting. I belief both are free unless you go with their expanded or deluxe versions.

I like Fototime for displaying my collection as I like it's features allowing you to build a very professional "website" look. I also like it's site management tools which allow me to track visits, play music for viewers and exposure to user friendly search (google) engines. It's almost like having a nice website to showcase your collection without the expense and hassle.

I find Photo Bucket easier and more efficient for uploading, managing and storing large quantities of photo.

It would certainly be easier if I could get everything I needed from one.
 
Last edited:
If you are looking for a host to display individual photos and galleries, there are a number of sites that work well. I use Fototime, and have for 8 years. All my links work and they will remain in business as long as their base pays. No free image hosting and NO free lunch. ;)

But.... If you want to show an album or gallery in an artistic showcase, I will defer you to jalbum.net where you have MUCH better choices. LOTS of different display skins. It's a bit more complicated, but isn't anything worthwhile? :)

I chose the FotoPlayer skin (not Fototime) in my website gallery, and it's above and beyond what my Fototime gallery offers. But I use them both for two different reasons. (click my banner to see my gallery for a preview.)

Have fun!

Coop
 
Wow Jim, thank you a ton for sharing that web site with us.. Awesome. Good luck Balislinger, and show us the results after you finish your project... Best Regards, Rich
 
Pretty cool Coop. I was just going to ask if any of these online gallery sites let you build a gallery using their site but then use your own url. Seems like jalbum allows that? Are there any others people know of that can connect to a proprietary domain?

It would also be neat to cost compare between pbase, fototime, picasa, photo bucket and jalbum. If any tech geeks among us want to figure out costs per bandwidth for each please post the results!
 
Balislinger said:
Hi guys, I'm asking this in the custom forum because I respect the opinions of the more serious collectors who hang out in here. I'm wondering what you think the best place is to build a permanent photo gallery of knives in my collection. I've been using pbase.com, but it's expensive for hosting alot of images. I've seen some guys around here using Fototime. In short, can you tell me why you use what you use, if you like it, and recommend some options to me? Thanks
Click to expand...
I use FLICKR
Mostly because it let me use my Yahoo password to sign up:o
(Too many dang passwords in this world...)
The 1st 100 pics are free
After that it's 25 bucks a year for PRO membership

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuck_ward_photography/
 
Make your own site.

3 bucks for a domain names 20 bucks for the server.

Unlimited control.
 
I'm with Kevin, as I use photobucket to upload photos for sending direct links and posting in forums and I use Fototime to display my collection together. I have never tried the others but I'm sure they work well too.
 
Balislinger said:
Pretty cool Coop. I was just going to ask if any of these online gallery sites let you build a gallery using their site but then use your own url. Seems like jalbum allows that? Are there any others people know of that can connect to a proprietary domain?

It would also be neat to cost compare between pbase, fototime, picasa, photo bucket and jalbum. If any tech geeks among us want to figure out costs per bandwidth for each please post the results!
Click to expand...
That's what's especially cool about the album skins from jalbum. They can be embedded onto a page on your existing site. There are about 50 different display screen skins to choose.

And, for anyone else, you may simply use the jalbum site to host, as well. (But, you already have a site.)

Cost compare? No matter what they are, the cost is irrelevant compared to stability. I pay, what, $24 for a whole year to display thousands of photos without fail or ads? Free doesn't make sense.

Jon, why would you use Photobucket to link, and not Fototime? What is the advantage? (I have found Photobucket will automatically change the size and color profile of an uploaded photo. Yuck.)

This is a topic best served in the Photography Forum. Expect a move. :)

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Jon, why would you use Photobucket to link, and not Fototime? What is the advantage? (I have found Photobucket will automatically change the size and color profile of an uploaded photo. Yuck.)
Click to expand...

I had much the same question.

Roger
 
Jon Brand wrote:
I'm with Kevin, as I use photobucket to upload photos for sending direct links and posting in forums and I use Fototime to display my collection together. I have never tried the others but I'm sure they work well too.
Click to expand...

I also use both. Like Jon I use PhotoBucket for uploading photos and providing links to forums. I use Fototime to display my collection.

My reasons are that I originally used PhotoBucket for posting pictures. It is free and easy to use. I started using Fototime to display my collection because I liked it's set-up and options. It also can be free, but I chose the inexpensive custom option.

Jim Treacy
 
Hey Coop, so you're saying you can register a proprietary domain with jalbum and they'll host all your pics through their skins ad-free for $24 a year?
 
petah said:
Make your own site.

3 bucks for a domain names 20 bucks for the server.

Unlimited control.
Click to expand...

I have plenty of sites, but uploading lots of pics easily, creating gallery-format pages, and all the functionality of a gallery site isn't there unless you build it. I've never found an easy plug-n-play solution for creating a gallery on a site I own, complete with automatic thumbnail resizing and simple direct to page uploading. Sounds like jalbum may be one way to do it. If you know of other ways, please share. I have lots of domains already hosted I could use if there was such a solution
 
SharpByCoop said:
Jon, why would you use Photobucket to link, and not Fototime? What is the advantage? (I have found Photobucket will automatically change the size and color profile of an uploaded photo. Yuck.)
Coop
Click to expand...

I will answer why I use Photobucket for uploading/linking as I assume your question was in part brought about by my initial post.
I have a lot of knife photos saved (for a non-photographer anyway) and at times will get large quantities transfered to me. For example, Point Seven will send me 60-70 show images at a time for posting on the CKCA show review and individual knife photographer sub-forums. I have less issue/errors when uploading to Photobucket than Fototime. I haven't noticed any reduction in photo integrity, but then I obviously don't have your keen eye for detail. There's also other subtle differences in Photobucket's albums/photo storage format which make management for large quantities of photos work better for me for the way I use them.

On the other hand for about $25-$30 per year, Fototime has generated about 24,000 visits to my collection photo-site resulting in good exposure for custom knives.

I'm a stickler for efficiency, so rest assured, that if one photo hosting site served my needs I most definitely wouldn't use two.
 
Last edited:
Balislinger said:
I have plenty of sites, but uploading lots of pics easily, creating gallery-format pages, and all the functionality of a gallery site isn't there unless you build it. I've never found an easy plug-n-play solution for creating a gallery on a site I own, complete with automatic thumbnail resizing and simple direct to page uploading. Sounds like jalbum may be one way to do it. If you know of other ways, please share. I have lots of domains already hosted I could use if there was such a solution
Click to expand...
^^^ You just nailed it. That's the benefit of the jalbum system. They do the work for you, and make the process streamlined.

They also have a very active forum for the myriad of questions that can arise. Plus subforums for the specific skins. Win/Win/Win.

Kevin & Jon: Got it. I am unfamiliar with Photobucket to know all its benefits. I'm glad you have a good system.

Coop
 
Balislinger said:
Hey Coop, so you're saying you can register a proprietary domain with jalbum and they'll host all your pics through their skins ad-free for $24 a year?
Click to expand...
Ummmm. Not sure about the proprietary name. It may be something like: jalbum/balislinger.com or similar. They also sell server space.

I would integrate an album into your existing site(s), and just create a new Gallery page. That's how I did it.

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Ummmm. Not sure about the proprietary name. It may be something like: jalbum/balislinger.com or similar. They also sell server space.

I would integrate an album into your existing site(s), and just create a new Gallery page. That's how I did it.

Coop
Click to expand...


+1 That's how I would do it if i need huge gallery space with ease of uploading etc... Coop's site is excellent example.


I don't have a huge gallery so I do it the long hard way. Lots of flash, lots of long hours in front of a computer.



EDIT: I'm also cheap and stubborn.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top