Squidoo Photo & Video Modules

The Polaroid Module works well for adding images to your lens that highlight your topic more. You can use the module to make a point through the caption you can add. You can inject humor. Or you can just use it as a colorful, related break in between your text. It looks just like a Polaroid image with a light gray border around the edge.

It's really simple to use once you've added the module to your page. You can check out my Squidoo Writing Modules lens to learn how to do this if you're not sure.

All you do is click the orange "edit" button to enter your editor. Then:

1. Add a caption (keep it short).
2. Upload an image from your computer. It has to be in jpg or gif format.

You can see a Polaroid Module below.

Photo Credit: Taken from the Commons at Wikimedia; originally from John Kratz on Flickr.

I love the Photo Gallery as an attractive way to highlight images for your lens.

The images are displayed horizontally (a thumbnail type of format) with one of the images featured above them, much larger.

You can choose to rotate the photos on your lens (the images are each featured for a few seconds in a cycle). Or, you can choose that they don't rotate (your visitors can click on each one to see them in larger form). I prefer not to rotate my images. It seems that the lens jumps around a lot as the photos move through their cycle.

It's really simple to use once you've added the module to your page. You can check out my Squidoo Writing Modules lens to learn how to do this if you're not sure.

All you do is click the orange "edit" button to enter your editor. Then follow these steps:

1. Title your gallery.

2. Enter a subtitle.

3. Choose whether you want your photos to rotate or not and choose the number of seconds each photo is featured if you choose to rotate them (5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 seconds).

4. Enter a url for an image (e.g. if you have photos uploaded to Photobucket) or browse to select photos from your computer. You can choose up to 10. For appearance, I like to select either 5 or 10. Otherwise the pics seem out of balance (yes, I'm anal).

5. Click to upload.

6. If you've uploaded less than 10, you can click to add more, or click to close the window.

7. Add a description for each image, if you choose. The description will show when each image is featured, either by a visitor clicking on it, or by it rotating through its cycle.

8. Again, you'll have an option to add more photos if you've selected less than 10.

9. You can sort your images to re-order them if necessary. This is good if you've chosen not to rotate your photos because, by placing an image first, it will appear as your featured photo.

10. You can delete photos if you need to.

11. Click save when you're done.

You can see two Photo Gallery modules below. The first one does not rotate. Click on each image to see them larger. The second one rotates. I included it here so you could see how it looks, and so you can see how it makes the lens jump around.

Picture Credit: kilz111 on Photobucket.

The Flickr Photos Module can be used to showcase multiple photos on your topic, or it could even be used to illustrate something chronologically. My pomegranate facts lens uses the module for this purpose when I write about how a pomegranate grows.

It's really simple to use once you've added the module to your page. You can check out my Squidoo Writing Modules lens to learn how to do this if you're not sure.

Then all you do is click the orange "edit" button to enter your editor and follow these steps:

1. Add a title.

2. Add a subtitle (optional).

3. Add a description for your module (optional).

4. Choose the method you'll use to select your photos. You can let Flickr pick, you can pick yourself, or you can choose a photoset on Flickr.

The best method to use is choosing the images yourself, one by one (unless you have photosets uploaded to Flickr and want to use one of your own).

Here's how to choose your own images from Flickr:

1. Go to www.flickr.com and set up an account if you don't already have one.

2. You'll see a search box in the top right-hand corner of your screen. Type in your search term (e.g. cameras).

3. Click "search" (you can also choose which photos you want to choose from by clicking the arrow beside the word "search").

4. Now you'll see expanded search options at the top of your screen. On the right, click "advanced search."

5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page that comes up.

6. Select the box "Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content."

7. Also select the box "Find content to use commercially."

8. Select the box "Find content to modify . . ." if you want to add effects or change the image in any way.

9. Click "search."

10. Search through the images until you find something you like.

11. Click on it.

12. Scroll down a bit until you see the "Additional Information" section on the right hand side of your page.

13. Check the requirements for attribution & use. Make sure it's not a copyrighted image.

14. Click on "share this" in the top right-hand corner of your screen.

15. Click "Grab the Link."

16. Click on the link that appears to copy it.

17. Right click and copy.

18. Go back to your Squidoo page (it's best to have multiple windows open on your computer) and paste it into the box in your module.

19. Do this for as many images as you want (for a nice appearance, multiples of 6 are best).

20. Click to "add items" - - this is important or you'll lose all the photos you just spent time selecting!

20. Edit the descriptions. You can leave them blank if you want.

21. Re-order if you want to.

22. Save!

You can see a Flickr Module below using photos I chose by searching "cameras" and "video cameras."

Photo Credit: poolie on Flickr.

The YouTube Videos Module lets you add videos to your lens that help explain your topic, take readers into more depth, highlight a certain element, or even feature you teaching about your topic.

Videos are great because people love visuals and they love getting information quickly. Videos usually explain things quicker than text . . . and they're easier for some people than lots of text. They're also great because they can be used to add music or humor.

It's really simple to use once you've added the module to your page. You can check out my Squidoo Writing Modules lens to learn how to do this if you're not sure.

All you do is click the orange "edit" button to enter your editor & follow the steps:

1. Add a title.

2. Add a subtitle (optional).

3. Add a description (optional).

4. Work with the 2 tabs you'll see:

a) Display Options:

Select all or some of the following:

- title
- YouTube description
- video details
- rating

b) Select Videos:

You can choose from 3 different ways to select videos:

i) Let YouTube pick
ii) You pick
iii) Pick by YouTube username (your own or someone else's)

Don't let YouTube pick. You might end up with some unwanted videos on your lens!

It's best if you pick. Here's how:

- Choose if you want to show the full-size video (1 per module) or the thumbnails (9 per module).
- Click "Help me find a video."
- In the new window, enter your search term (e.g. camera tips).
- Click "Find It."
- Scroll through the options.
- Click "Add This Video" when you find what you like. If you've chosen to display the full-sized video, once you select one, the window will close. If you've chosen thumbnails, you can continue.
- Click "More" to go to the next page of options.
- Click "All Done" when you're finished.

5. Save.

Important: Preview your videos to make sure you're adding items appropriate for your lens rating (e.g. G Rated).

You can see 2 YouTube Videos Modules below. The first shows a full-sized video. The second shows thumbnails.

Photo Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Sonyhdrfx1.jpg.

The Slideshare Module is so cool!

You can add slideshows created by others, or you can use your own by making a PowerPoint presentation and uploading it to Slideshare.

It's really simple to use once you've added the module to your page. You can check out my Squidoo Writing Modules lens to learn how to do this if you're not sure.

All you do is click the orange "edit" button to enter your editor & follow these steps:

1. Add a title for your module.

2. Add a subtitle (optional).

3. Add a description if you want to.

4. Choose a slideshow(s) to add (you can add up to 5) by entering keywords or a Slideshare username.

5. Save.

You can see a Slideshare Module below.