Is it possible to make your own Avatars?

[Luckyme21]

any help would be great!:grin5:

[gcomstock]

If you have some software that allows you to create images within the 60x60 pixels maximum size...then yes. Some folks have resized pictures of their dogs, etc.

There's a lot of creative folks, using photoshop or other graphics software, that can do amazing stuff (not me), add animations etc. Most of us just swipe cool stuff we find on the web, LOL.

Here's a forum where some of those folks swap tips, and display their handywork....

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/avatar

[Luckyme21]

Thank you i appreciate it!:smile3:

[meydey]

Lucky,

It is pretty easy to make an avatar. Use any paint program to create a gif file that is 60 x 60 pixels and under 10000 bytes in size. You can take an existing picture and resize it to 60x60 pretty easy. Just make sure that the subject of the pic is big enough to see after you resize. If you want to animate, get a program like Jasc Animation Studio 3 (Included with Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7, you can download a 30-day demo at the Jasc website). With that it is real easy to create the animation. The hardest part I have found is staying under the 10Kbyte size limit.

Let me know if you any other questions.

[gcomstock]

Now, once you learn to make an avatar...maybe you can teach me to reduce this little Shakira snippet to the maximum KB limit. It meets the pixel limits...but I guess because the extra shimmying, not the bandwidth. Sorry to scare the kids (or drag Shake Man out of his seldom-posting mode) but there have been days I've wanted to use this as an avatar...instead of the dusty old whisk broom!

[meydey]

That's a tough one George. It comes in at 43K. Reducing colors dosn't look very good. I'll try and remove some frames and see how small I can get it. Let's petition Brent to raise the size limit for avatars! 25k should be better.

Here's one I wanted to use:http://home.att.net/~meydey/smilies/lightning.gif

[kmwinter]

Hey Meydey,
Just wanted to thank you for the info. I just used this thread to attempt a minor animation on a new avatar (my friend says I remind her of mandy from the cartoon). So here goes, let's see if it worked!

[kmwinter]

I don't know, I think it looks pretty annoying. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

[venus_de_milo]

I think it's pretty cute, kmwinter. Had to call my DD in to identify the cartoon, though. ;)

[clarabell]

[QUOTE=meydey]Lucky,

It is pretty easy to make an avatar. Use any paint program to create a gif file that is 60 x 60 pixels and under 10000 bytes in size. You can take an existing picture and resize it to 60x60 pretty easy. Just make sure that the subject of the pic is big enough to see after you resize.
How to I rdeuce the size?I scanned a wallet sized photo saved it to My Pictures then I opened Paint program and actually it did work (on another site but its a tad too big) I can't seem to get it smaller.Then I actually trimmed of edges of real photo and rescanned ,but it did'nt make a difference.Help I 'm so computer challenged

[prezli]

Dh reduced and created mine, he had to remove a few frames and reduce the number of colors.

[caseycupcake]

I don't know, I think it looks pretty annoying. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Maybe. A lot of atitude, that's for sure. Maybe once you get that big win, you'll find an avatar with a sunnier disposition?

It's a keeper for now. happy sweeping.

[salemnana]

:smile9: Wow, Prezli....that avatar is really cool!

[divaqueenie]

Thanks for all the insite! You have helped me create this new avatar! I LOVE the Mona Lisa and I LOVE weird renditions of her. This is what I came up with. Please let me know what you all think.

[kmwinter]

Love it divaqueenie! Great Job!

[clarabell]

how do I change a jpg to a gif?

[meydey]

The best way I have found is to use a any picture program (I use Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8) to open the jpg file. Then click on "Save As" and change to file type to gif.
http://home.att.net/~meydey/screen.jpg