Hello   So, are you new to Tales of Pirates or just computer technical things in general, and wonder how to take a picture of your game?  Do not worry because the answer is simple and easy to do.  Plus, its fast so you can tke a screenshot of an action event.  Before I begin, we'll start with the Table of Contents:

Number One: Finding the 'Print Screen' Key
Number Two: Taking your Picture
Number Three: Viewing Your ToP Screenie Library
Number Four: Editing Your Screenie
Number Five: Uploading to a Website
Number Six: Putting Your Picture Onto a Post/Thread
Conclusion



Number One: Finding the 'Print Screen' Key
The key to take the actual picture is the 'Print Scrn' (or Print Screen) key, I'll explain how it will work later.  On most keyboards the key is in the top row of keys, in the row that has Esc, F1, F2, etc.  On my computer it is the key located to the direct right of the F12 key.  Here's a picture if you still can't find the key:




Number Two: Taking your Picture
So, once you have the perfect time to snap a shot of something, such as an action event like a battle, a stall, possibly even a bot, just press the Print Screen key.  No need to hold it down.  By pressing this key, you are taking literally a snapshot, or Screenie, as I like to call them, of what is being displayed on your computer monitor.  Everything will be captured with the press of this tiny key, and a BMP image will be automaticaly saved on your computer, on the folder where you instaled TOP (usualy: C:Program FilesTales of Pirates Onlinescreenshots)!


Number Three: Viewing Your ToP Screenie Library
Thanks to GotRice6792 for this info!
It is possible to view your ToP Screenie library in one place, and it is also very convenient! It is the folder called "secreenshots", in the foulder where you have instaled the game (usualy: C:Program FilesTales of Pirates Onlinescreenshots). Once there, you'll see folders with different numbers, like so:



These stand for the cronological order you took them, and upon double clicking them, you'll see your screenshot! Quite useful, and nifty, yes?


Number Four: Editing Your Screenie
Now that you have taken your screenshot, you can edit it if you want to.]. Open up a picture program of your choice; I use Microsoft Paint as it loads fast, is easy to use and can do some simple editing as well. Once your program is open, click on "File > Open...", browse for the screenshot you want (remember it will be on the "Tales of Pirates Online/screenshot" foulder) and open it.



You now can edit your picture as you wish!  Here are some basic editing tools for Microsoft Paint that I use alot:



So, you can either use my little diagram above to help you touch up your picture, or you can use a more complex photo modifying program - the choice is yours. You don't need to edit your screenshots, of course, but notice that Screenies that have been cropped, have added text, ect are more appealing to a guest's eye


Number Five: Uploading to a Website
Once you have saved your screenshot and you are happy with it, you need to now find a Photo Web Host that you can save your picture to, to use it on the internet and ToP's boards.  My favourite is Photobucket; you can find it at www.photobucket.com - it is easy to sign up for, safe and 100% free to use.  For Photobucket, simply sign up, go to your album and start uploading pictures; all you do is find where you saved the picture on your computer and Presto!  Once you have uploaded your picture, you'll see 4 lines of text below it.  Select the 2nd line (Direct Link), which is your photo's Web Address on the internet, and copy it. (Photobucket will automatically copy it for you upon clicking the text in the box, but if you need to manually do it, hold down "Control" and "C".)




Number Six: Putting Your Picture Onto a Post
Thanks to dwolfy for the Attachment info and pics!
There are two ways of putting an image on a post: using the image adress if you have hosted it on a website (like photobucket), or using the function "Attachment" of the forums.

Note: To put a picture in a Reply thread, you cannot use the text box at the bottom of the thread.  Instead, you need to find the "Reply" button under the last post; it will take you to a text box that looks the same as the one when creating a thread.  Only this text box has the button you need to insert a picture.


Using the image adress: After copying the direct link to your Screenie, you must now create a thread on the ToP boards, or reply to the one that you want to put your photo on. Next locate the little image of a Tree in the "Message" row above your text box, here it is:



Upon clicking it, a popup will appear on your screen that looks like so:



Just copy your image URL into the text box and click OK.  Here's what the image URL will look like:



No worries, this string of HTML will show up as your Screenie when viewing your post!  And, presto, you're done.  Not too hard, eh?


Using the function "Attachment": If you choose to use this way of puting an image on your post, you don't need to upload it to a website. At the end of the page where you re typing your new post/topic, right above the buttom "ost New Reply/Thread", you can see this:



After selecting the images you what to attach, click on "ost new Reply/Thread". Doing this, the images will show on the bottom of your post.

If you want to place your images on a different position on your post, after posting click on the edit buttom. Under the buttom "Edit", you will see a window showing the information of your attachments:



To make your image show right where you want, just type and your image will appear there.

If at anytime you want to delete an attachment, just check in the box beside the attachment's name, than click on the buttom "Edit", and POOF! - your attachment will be gone


Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading my guide, and I hope you learned something.  If anyone on the boards in the future creates a thread asking this repetetive question, I hope you'll remember my guide and direct them over here. If you have anything to add, any mistakes to point out, or any comments you wish to share, please feel free to reply!  Thanks for reading, best of luck with your Screenies, and have fun.

P.S. Give a shout to me if you see me in-game!  I'm Ayria in Mermaid, 4ir in Aegean and Sola in Red.