Share one domain's database and directories with 2 other domains on same box

[cybernetmike]

We have a database on domain1.com and all the images are stored in domain1.com. The other 2 sites look to that database and pull the images from domain1.com – they have tons of images. I need domains 2 and 3 to acess the database and the image folder on domain1.com but whatever we have done previously using Plesk doesn’t apply here.
here's what we have tried

1) Php /includes directory need to share from domain1.com to domains 2 and 3

I have added open_basedir options in httpd customization screens of domain2 in DirectAdmin and
have also added line below to .htaccess

php_value include_path '.:/usr/local/lib/php:/home/domain2:/home/domain1/domains/domain1.com/public_html/includes/'

I have also tried below in htaccess:

php_value include_path '.:/usr/local/lib/php:/home/domain2:/home/herrick'




2) images from images folder stamp_img need to be shared from domain1.com to domains 2 and 3

http://www.domain1.com/stamp_img/thumbs/azrb3H289.jpg

needs to be seen on

http://www.domain2.com/stamp_img/thumbs/azrb3H289.jpg

I have added symbolic links in SSH and can see the directories in FTP but it says forbidden to view
I have also added the following to .htaccess

Options +FollowSymLinks

php_value magic_quotes_gpc Off

In PLESK both of the above are accomplished using symbolic link creation and a vhost.conf file.

help greatly appreciated

 

[nobaloney]

Are both domains in the same user account, with the same user ownership?

Jeff