Instructions
Page 1          Page 2

Additional Gallery Features 

     Additional features are included in the gallery to make visits an interactive experience. Visitors can view images in a slideshow format, rate individual images, using a system of 0 to 5 stars, post comments for individual images (including a set of emoticons - smilies), and send e-postcards of images on the site to friends and family. 

Figure 12.

     To access additional features, click on the thumbnail of the image you wish to view. Once the image is opened up to full size, icons will appear in a toolbar above the image. Below the image, a filmstrip of thumbnails shows the next images in the current category, additional information about the current image (if selected), and areas to rate and post comments about the selected image. 

     The toolbar above the image contains several icons allowing you to navigate the images. From left to right, the tools are as follows:

File Folder Icon - Click this icon to return to the thumbnail gallery of the current category.

Information Icon - This blue circle with an 'i' inside is the information icon. Click this icon, and additional information about the image appears below the picture, such as size and dimension of the file, file owner, direct URL to the image, number of views, ratings and comments, and also a link to add the image to your 'My Favorites' file.

Clapboard Icon - Click the clapboard icon to view a slideshow of the current category. Images appear for five seconds before continuing on to the next photo. Slideshow can be stopped by clicking the link below the image while the show is in progress.

Envelope Icon - Use this tool button to send the current image as an e-postcard to any recipient with an active e-mail address.

Left and Right Arrows - Use these arrows to navigate the previous and following images in the current category. Below the image, you will find a filmstrip containing thumbnails of the next five images in the current album's queue. Click on any image to open to full size.

Ratings and Comments 

     Below the filmstrip is the rating and comment section, which apply to the current image in view. To rate an image, click the desired star ranking icon; images can be rated from 0 to 5 stars. Below the rating section is the comment section; type in any comment you wish to make about the above image. Emoticons (smilies) can be inserted into comments; click the appropriate emoticon to add it to your comment. Previous comments about the current image are shown below the comment box, with newest comments on top. Note: Comments are screened for appropriateness. While constructive criticism is welcome, inappropriate comments will be deleted by the Administrators if they are found to be potentially offensive, or if complaints are received about particular comments . Please be considerate of your fellow artist's work and do not post comments that may be construed as mean or spiteful.

Postcards 

     An e-mail postcard feature allows you to send a digital postcard of any of the posted works. The feature uses a server-side e-mail protocol, so it is not necessary to open your e-mail client to send a postcard. To send a postcard, first choose an image you wish to send. From that image's page, click the 'envelope' icon. The icon is shown in Figure 13, highlighted in white. Once the icon is clicked, a window will open containing a form to fill, Figure 14.

Figure 13, showing postcard icon (in white) in navigation bar.

Figure 14.  Postcard form

Complete the form information, paying particularly close attention to the recipient e-mail address. Postcards will not be delivered to incorrect e-mail addresses. A personal message can be added to the postcard, as well as BBCode, to modify the look of text and to include additional links to other web sites or additional e-mail addresses you wish to send to the recipient. A sample postcard, as it appears to the recipient, is shown in Figure 15, below.

Figure 15.  Sample postcard.

     Now that you are familiar with the operation of the gallery, we invite you to take some time to create an account and upload images of your work. While certain areas of the gallery are reserved only for images of enamel works, we encourage users to place pictures of any type of work in their personal albums, such as jewelry and metalwork, painting, ceramics, photography, or snapshots of family, friends, workshops, exhibition openings; whatever you desire to post and share with others. Feel free to use your gallery for personal or professional use. We look forward to seeing your photos online soon! The Glass on Metal Online Enamel Gallery is located at http://www.glass-on-metal.com/gallery/.