Utilizing NextGEN Galleries for your OSUL Blogs

To add sophistication and style to images in your blog, consider utilizing the NextGEN galleries. We purchased NextGEN Galleries to provide broader range of options for galleries and consequently, their display to your audience.

Setting up Galleries

To set up a new gallery, click on Add Gallery/Images from the Gallery drop-down menu on top or left sidebar:

After images are uploaded, open the gallery and complete the gallery and image setting: Description, Alt. text, tags …

WebAIM (Web accessibility in mind) has great tips on how to use Alt. text: http://webaim.org/techniques/alttext/

If you select manage galleries from the menu, you may view a list of existing galleries.

Setting up Albums

From Manage Albums you may create a new album:

NextGEN has great instructions to help you along; you just need to drag galleries/albums to add them to this album:

Inserting Your Gallery

You started your page or post and want to add a gallery to share images with your audience, just click on the NextGEN icon to add your gallery

The NextGEN Gallery window opens, at this point select each drop-down menu to to select and modify your gallery options:

Select a gallery display type:
Select which gallery should be displayed:
You may have to consider enabling AJAX for pagination:
Finally, review images in your gallery and exclude any that should not appear:

Remember:

Always use Alternative text for your images to assist those with accessibility issues who are using screen readers with enjoying your blog.
- If you need help with alternative text, WebAIM is a great resource: http://webaim.org/techniques/alttext/
Galleries hold your images while Albums hold galleries and other albums.
You can always use a single gallery to hold all your images, but by excluding various sets of images provide a customize view.
Always preview your gallery before publishing to make sure the display is correct, you may have to enable AJAX if your gallery has pagination.