How to post images of ...

[swiggidy]

Capture image:
Cntrl+PrtScr - captures you're entire monitor, good for showing setup, multiple windows, etc.

Alt+PrtScr - captures just the current window, should probably be your default

Save image:
Simple:
Open paint
Paste (ctrl+v)

good for drawing on your picture

If you want to resize or do simple operations use IrfanView (you can't draw in this program). Very useful when making avatars. You can install this without administrator privileges:
http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm (1MB)

If you want a full fledged editing program use GIMP (or simply cropping/resizing):
http://gimp.org/downloads/ (14MB)

Host image:
http://imageshack.us/
http://photobucket.com/

In imageshack, after you click "host it" you are presented with several options:
Thumbnail for websites - don't use on FTR
Thumbnail for forums (1) - good for large pictures (bigger than ~650 pixels)
Thumbnail for forums (2) - Not FTR formatting, don't use

If you're using the options below the picture uncheck "Include details"
Hotlink for forums (1) - good for smaller pictures (smaller than ~650 pixels)
Hotlink for forums (2) - Not FTR formatting, don't use
Hotlink for websites - don't use on FTR
Show image to friends - Similar to "direct link" below, better if you want to support imageshack
Direct link to image - good when you're posting something NSFW or potentially NSFW, make sure to put "{NSFW}" around the link

[swiggidy]

I don't think we have this anywhere (at least I hope). I'll expand on using photobucket and some other stuff in a day or so (I'll actually do this I swear). I'll also talk about saving formats, using .jpg is never bad.

I thought GIMP was a bigger installation. I've never used it so can't comment on the simplicity. I'll also give it a try and maybe stop trying to pimp IrfanView which has been my default.

[givememyleg]

There, now every time someone says "how do i post image omg help?!?!?!" we can just be lazy and link them here!

[Jack Sawyer]

you can also use http://xs.to to host