Images can literally make or break a website. A few well placed images can make an otherwise simple website attractive, while a visual overload often makes browsing the site difficult.
It also pays to think of your users. An image heavy site will take longer to load, a real consideration for those on dialup, who are still a significant number.
There are many ways to insert images in DNN, but these are the three main approaches.
The Text/HTML Module
Like many books, the Text/HTML module allows users to add images directly to their text. While this is a useful ability, there are a few cautions that can avoid headaches.
To add an image to your text:
- Insert a text module.
- Enter your text before inserting the picture.
- Click on your text, approximately where you would like the image inserted.
- Click the "Insert Image From Gallery" button.
- Choose an image already on your website, or click the "browse" button to choose an image from your computer (click "upload" once the file is selected, and your file will be added to the website folder).
- Choose the dimensions and alignment of your image in the boxes to the right.
- Click the "insert" button.
Your image will now appear with your text. Click "update" to save the changes and return to your page.
The Image Module
The "Image" module is a simple module that allows you to add a single image to a page. If your image is not accompanied by text, or is to be displayed separately on the page from its text, this module is ideal.
- Select the "Image" module on the control panel.
- Type in a title, choose your location, and click "Add".
- Hold the mouse over the arrow to the left of the title, and select "Edit image options" from the menu that appears.
- Choose or upload your image, as above.
- Choose a size for your image.
- Click "Update".
The Gallery Module
The gallery module allows you to maintain an album of images.
- Insert the "Image gallery" module as above.
- Click on "Album Definitions"
- Add a name and choose settings for your album. Use the "auto resize" function to automatically shrink oversized images when they are added to your website. This minimizes the physical size of your website, and full size photos are usually unecessary.
- Click "Update" to save these settings. They can be changed later by editing your album definition.
- Click "Add Images" and follow the instructions to add images to your album.
NB. Images added to the Gallery module will not be listed with your other website images. They are, however, present on your website, and can be accessed directly using the file manager (see later lessons).