Can I use/upload my own images when I write an article or a blog entry?

The simple answer is: Yes, you can!

Basic Rules:

Use a JPEG Image with

a 72 pixel/inch resolution,
measuring not more than 250 x 200 pixels, and
compressed down to file size of not more than 20 KB;
upload it through the text editor;
place it in the text.

Using images in Web content, however, is a bit more complex than it first seems. Because of the bandwidth issues and because image files contain so much information, Web graphics are by necessity compressed. Different graphic file formats employ varying compression schemes, and some are designed to work better than others for certain types of graphics. Let's start with a few general considerations:

Format

Modern Web browsers can natively only process 3 graphic file formats: (a) GIF (.gif), (2) JPEG (.jpg,.jpeg), and (3) PNG (.png). All other media content,like Flash, requires additional browser plug-ins, and it it not a trivial task to implement such media in Web page. We only allow our users to upload images in the above mentioned formats. Which of them? It depends on the nature of the image. The general rule is: Use the JPG format whenever you have a photo and GIF or PNG when you have illustrative graphics.

Size

On the Web size matters. There are two parameters that need to be looked at: (a) image dimensions and (b) file size. Most computer monitors show a resolution of 72 dpi (dots/pixels per inch) which is also the standard for the Web and therefore Web graphics. All Web design and all Web graphics are measured in pixels and should have a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. On our site we allow only images dimensioned up to 500 x 500 pixels; preferably less (something like 250 x 200). The file size of an image in GIF, JPG, or PNG is not just a result of its resolution and dimensions but also its compression rate. An image with the same resolution and dimensions can differ is file size tremendously depending on the compression. If you want use an image for the Web it needs to be optimized (=compressed) first. Usually this is done by graphic and Web designers using elaborate software like Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks but there are also a number of free utility programs that do the trick. For the Windows operating system we recommend the free Faststone Image Viewer to do the job. Make sure the file size is compressed down to about 12 to 20 KB per image.

Uploading & Placement

Once you are done optimizing your photo in the way described above you want to upload and place it in the context of your (a) article or (b) blog entry. The techniques for both are differ slightly from each other. Let's go through both to make sure your image comes out right.

(a) To place an image while writing/uploading a regular article you first click on the image icon in the top editor bar:

A new window open then where you click on the upload button:

Then another windows open up that allows you to choose an image from your computer (through the 'Browse' field):

Once your image has uploaded the previous window disappears and the following screen becomes visible:

The most important option here is the 'Text Flow' drop-down menu. Choose how you want the text flow around your image.

(b) To place an image while writing/uploading a blog entry you first go to 'My Dashboard' and click on the 'Write Article' button, then use the side-panel to upload and place your image: