Uploading book covers doesn't work

I've tried uploading a cover for a book, but the image editor that pops up shows only a "no colour/background" pattern. Clicking to save the cover yields just a black image. In fact, the same thing happens when I try to upload a screenshot for this post to show what I'm talking about. Is this a bug, or just a problem with my computer?

It definitely sounds like it's a "your computer" problem, but it's hard to say what it might be. Can you give me some info about what browser you're using and if you have any addons that might be causing an issue, like security software, ad blockers, etc.?

I'm using Firefox. I do have security software, but it has never interfered with my use of LibraryThing before; my ad blocker is paused. This is the book for which I am trying to upload a cover: https://www.librarything.com/work/36489147/book/315364704. All I can see is a black rectangle, so *something* got uploaded.

>3 rdpellerin: Are you sure the image does not have some kind of transparency or something similar? I'd try opening it in something basic like Paint and saving, which should prompt you then something like 'you will lose transparency'. If so, save and upload that

I just tried to upload the same image using Chrome as the browser and it worked, so it's not an issue with the image. I think a recent update to the site has resulted in a compatibility issue with Firefox. As recently as a couple of months ago, I had no problem uploading covers using Firefox. Now, it doesn't matter what image I try to upload; the same thing happens: image editor that pops up shows only a "no colour/background" pattern, and none of the functions work. Only a completely black image ends up getting uploaded.

>5 rdpellerin: I just tried to upload the same image using Chrome as the browser and it worked, so it's not an issue with the image.

This is oversimplified. Yes, at least part of the problem is probably FireFox, which seems to drive the LT staff crazy. :-) But I've uploaded many images with FireFox, one as recently as yesterday. And images do have a lot of different settings that are not evident to someone who just looks at the image. So it is probably worth trying something like what >4 SandraArdnas: suggested: Open it in some image editing program (if you don't have anything else, Paint on a Windows PC or Preview on a Mac), doing a Save As, and see what results.

It might be worth saving in a different format, e.g. PNG rather than JPEG or vice versa.

>5 rdpellerin: It's Firefox that has changed, not LT. Unfortunately they recently shipped major "privacy features" for Firefox that are, in my opinion, terrible for normal users.

Did you try disabling your security software and try to upload with firefox?
Also, did you try disabling the new privacy features in Firefox and try to upload?

Firefox settings:
Click the little shield icon in the URL bar at the top of the browser and turn off "Enhanced Tracking Protection" if you are missing covers and that should fix it. (note that this WILL disable some security features within Firefox also, so you must decide if this is worth it for you).

You can also go into Privacy Settings and add an exception for LibraryThing to see if that will fix it without disabling the setting completely.

I'll give your suggestions a try. I do like Firefox for its security features, but this isn't the first time that they've interfered with important site functions. I'll probably end up using Chrome when I want to upload covers.

Many thanks for all of your help!

Just an FYI, from a long-time Firefox user on Linux. I uploaded a new cover image today for the first time in a few years, I think, by pasting an url from the Internet for The Expanse: Dragon Tooth. I got a full-width, about-4-lines-height dialog that appeared to have nothing in it except some rounded bumps at the bottom. I hit Tab in case the dialog wasn't scrollable but had buttons available (those rounded bumps) and sure enough, they were buttons and they scrolled into view as the tabbing gave each focus. I kept tabbing and thus scrolling the dialog in the small window it was in until the buttons "Cancel" and "Save" showed up, and selected Save. My image was successfully added to the book.

TL;DR: hit Tab until you can select Save and your image will appear unmolested on the book.

>9 daves0: Thanks for the description. That will help.

Hmmm....just experienced the same problem, using Firefox. Will have to see if I can follow the instructions in >7 conceptDawg: and make it work.