Is CD around?

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Or any other smiley experts?

My question is this - is there any way to load an animated gif directly from a computer to the forums/groups here?  OK, so we all used to  link from Photobucket, but that route is closed (unless you fancy handing over a shedload of dosh, which, strangely, I do not!).  So, can it be done or must animated images be hosted elsewhere (Imgur, say) first?

All help  appreciated provided it is not overly technical as I am a bit caffeine-deficient at this time of day.  Ta muchly.  (I would add a smiley there if I could, but I can’t, so I won’t.  Alan never did get round to getting us those super-duper ones he promised before decamping to warmer climes!)

[right-then-petal]

[**bustysinclaire**]

Hi caution,
I know I'm not much help but I'm sure you can just copy and paste. Xx you can use the links at the top of each reply box and copy the url into it xx

[**bustysinclaire**]

Ha, petals got it lol xx

[right-then-petal]

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Hi Petal!  Hi Busty!

Right, lemme see if I can crack it.  Just press "photos", you say?

>>>>>>>

[right-then-petal]

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Woohoo!  That was simple.   It used to be a real faff with HTML codes, etc.  Excellent!

Now, one more question.  When I put the image in the post, it is covered with a pencil-like icon, which disappears when I press to submit is.  Is this normal, as I cannot see the gif underneath?

[right-then-petal]

Yes Thats Normal, Once it say done just post it

[cee-dee]

Hiya, just arrived.

Copy & Paste works depending where you've saved it.

Petal's the gif specialist.

Surely ingur or somewhere's just as easy?

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Morning, CD!  Nice to see ya!

So, what I am trying to do here is empty my Photobucket, cos they are launching a new site shortly and I have a sneaking suspicion they might delete old free accounts like mine.  I don't have a PC and Chromebooks are not really designed for storage, so I am downloading them a few at a time, but then they need a new home.  I could use Imgur, but in their T&Cs it says you must own the copyright for the image.  Well, these smileys were pretty much all collected in my days on the boards here (Q&A was humming with 'em at one point), so they are not "mine" except in the sense that I have collected them.  Do you think it would be OK to put them on Imgur, and is that a "good" hosting site (or as good as any)?  I found a UK based one (vgy.me), but you cannot organise into albums there, so it could all get a bit muddled as I have about a thousand!

[**bustysinclaire**]

Think you've cracked it caution xx

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Well, I'm certainly further forward than I was half an hr ago!   The beauty of these forums is there's usually someone in the know. 

[cee-dee]

Hiya, I don't suppose it matters much so long as you're not making money out of it and anyway, most smilies have been copied and re-copied so many times that it's difficult to say who owns copyright? Also, most were offered on a sort of "here you are, help yourself, use it where you will so long as you host it yoursef" basis anyway.

You can have albums on imgur.

Ebay has changed things a bit. If you've hosted a pic on the likes of imgur, to post it here, I just C & P the direct link, paste it here and bingo the pic shows up OK. No HTML needed.

Here's a pic in imgur. It belongs to someone else on here:-

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Thanks, CD.  Yep, the history of most smileys is lost in the mists of time, and, as you say, they were put out there specifically for sharing.  I think I will assume it's OK.  The worst that could happen is the account gets closed.

Intrigued to know who that is masquerading as Santa there? 

[cee-dee]

Ha ha, to put minds at rest, it's not me. You'll find that pic on another thread too......

[mustard-tree]

Who is masquerading as Santa

Paul Hollywood?

[cee-dee]

No, it's an RT poster.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Bit of a scary santa.  

[cee-dee]

I thought I'd have a look at my downloads folder and I've still got the ones I've got on photobucket in there so I just put that one on imgur.