Uploading image into a mysql library?

Uploading image into a mysql library?

Hi,

as you will see from my user account, I am a noob, so please be patient with me here. This is conected to my table question I just asked. I have a mysql database with php5 to address it. I am urently working on a form to create/update entries in this database which aside from text lines include image files.

Would you recommend uploading the image file directly into the mysql database or just storing the relative link to the image file there and storing the file itself in some designated folder on the server?

Also, not from lack of solutions but from being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options I seem to have, which libraries/modules would you use to do the following:
- upload a file by the user
- have an automatic thumbnail copy of the file created on upoad and stored along with the full size image file

Thanks a lot!