I've read all the info on this, but the problem is I don't know what is meant by "upload the image."  For example, I searched Amazon for a cover image for a book on my shelf.  I saved the image in jpeg format.  Then I got the isbn of the book and headed to the upload cover images page.  Now's the problem.  What do I do there?  How do I get the image from my computer?  If someone could help me out on this, I would really appreciate it.  I would love to be able to give images to all my books and others.  Thank you!

Hi Megan,

I just did this last night, but I don't know if I did it right since the cover hasn't yet been approved.  When you have your jpg on your computer, go to your bookshelf page and go to the bottom.  At the very bottom is a link "Upload Book Covers".  Click that and it takes you to the "Upload Cover Images" page.  Here, in the first box, type in your ISBN of the book.  In the Cover Image: field, click the "browse" button on the right.  That will open a dialog box for you to look for your jpg.  Find the jpg in your directory on your computer, click on the jpg file, then choose "open".  This will put a path in that field.  Once that path is there, click the "Upload Images" button at the bottom of the page.  This will upload your image to the site.  It is my understanding all images must be approved before they will show in your inventory.  I'm not sure what comes after that, since mine hasn't been approved yet:-)

I hope this helps.  PM me if you need more help.

Denise W

Maybe you can find the information in this thread.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=60867

I read through that thread already and didn't find the answers I was looking for.

I tried that.  It says something like My Documents/My Pictures/ Picture.  Is that what it's supposed to say?

Unfortunately, I did not include details on HOW to upload, sorry. I'll correct that later.

To upload, means to transfer from YOUR computer to PBS's computer. First you have to know where you downloaded the picture onto your hard drive. I'll assume you probably right-clicked the image and clicked SAVE PICTURE AS... the a box opened and you clicked save.

Problem is, when that box was open, you probably didn't pay any attention to what the SAVE IN  folder name was. It MIGHT have been My Documents>>My Pictures, but I can't say for positive. You can verify this by going to any picture right now, right-clicking to save as... and LOOK to see where the file is being save at. It will be the last place you saved something from the Internet. If it was the book image, you should be able to see it in the box. The top slot of the window will tell you the name of the directory (ie: My Pictures) and if you click the "/\" up arrow, you will get the name of the directory that that folder is in.

Now, before you consider uploading the image to PBS, you need to be aware that images need to be cropped so that only the book image itself shows, and most of Amazon's image have a border (typically a lot on the sides). This has to be cropped/cut off. If you send me a PM I will send you the name & web address of a siimple program for doing this, and instructions on how to use it.

If you know how to crop, a tip I can give you is that the closer your image comes to being at least 500px tall, the more likely you are of having the "View larger image" on the detail page for your book. If your image is not large enough, they cannot make it larger to make that image. I personally never upload smaller than 400 if I can at all find anything larger. Also, I believe that if you go the full 500px tall, the widest your image can be is 320px. If it is wider, it will be downsized, slightly.

I'm happy to answer more questions, feel free to post them here so that others can add things that I might miss.

Megan:

After you've entered the correct ISBN on the Upload Bookcovers screen, click "browse" and you'll find the saved cover image under your Pictures. Double click to "open" (select) that file. That file should now be showing (linked to) along with your ISBN, with the upload-field screen saying Covers to Upload (or somesuch): 1

John

Okay, I just want to clarify this-

At the Upload Cover Images page, after I open the picture, is it supposed to give the listing of where on my computer the picture is saved?  If I saved it under My Pictures, should it say that?  I think I might almost get it.  Thanks everyone for your help!

Will someone please answer my last question?

Yes. If when you click the Browse button, the window does not open to My Pictures, and My Pictues is where you saved the image to, you will have to navigate to My Pictures by using the Drop down that says LOOK IN to the left of it.

1. Click that drop down, and
2. slide up to MY DOCUMENTS,
3. click it, then in the larger window, you will see MY PICTURES.
4. Double click that, and it will open to show the files in that folder.
5. If you saved your image to the MY PICTURES folder, you should now see it.
6. Double click it, and the window will close and the address of the file.
7. then click the upload button

Hope that helps.

Okay, I think I finally got it.  I tried uploading one, and I'll see what happens.  Thanks so much for all your patience.  I'm not usually this much of an idiot with a computer!

Not a problem, Megan, every system is different and it just is a matter of learning the details for this one ;)

Let me know if your cover does not show in a day or two, as they've been clearing the queue ever day or so lately.

You did check it to make sure it was cropped, yes? I know that nearly all Amazon images need to be cropped. For anyone that is is interested here are the basics for an image to be approved:

1. Have the extra space around the image (usually white on the sides) cropped off. 
2. Be straight
3. Be clear
4. Be large enough to read the title
5. Be free from any emblems from other sites, such as eBay or Amazon.
6. Not have a blanking white spot from the flash of a camera that blanks part of the image.

Images can be up to 5MB in size, and recommended dimensions are 500px tall by 290-320px wide.

ETA: Image queue was cleared again today at noon. So if anyone is waiting on images, they should show by tonight. If not, then you will need to re-upload them.

OK, one more question-

Can you upload a cover image for a book that doesn't have an ISBN?

Yes, if you can find an image online or if you can scan it to your computer. 

You can even edit the details now for books without ISBNs. It used to be that they could not be editied, now they can.