The avatar thread.

[Teenager]

This is where you put your avatars. Questions, etc.

I do have a question though. How do ya'll find avatars with move-like features? In other words, how do you get the ones that actually move?

[DoctorDoom]

Those are animated GIFs. Do a lot of Google image-searching, and focus on the GIF files that are found. BMPs, JPGs/JPEGs, PNGs, et al aren't animated.

You can also search sites such as GIFAnimations.com (http://www.gifanimations.com/) for useful ones.

If you're adept at puter geekery, you can make your own. E.g.:

GIF89a-based Animation for the WWW (http://members.aol.com/royalef/gifanim.htm)

It requires software to do it, but there are quite a few programs. Suzie is our resident guru.

[Trevelyan]

Put your avatar? Well, mine is right there on the left, and it is Brian from the show "Family Guy."

[Melz]

I keep wanting to change avatars into pics i receive, but they are always too large. I don't know how to photo whatever..so I just keep trying to save one good picture I like to my avatar.

by the way, if you tell me how to shrink it's size, I will mess that up, per usual ...

[MSGT]

you can check these out too http://www.freewebstuff.be/avatars/

[Pure American]

I keep wanting to change avatars into pics i receive, but they are always too large. I don't know how to photo whatever..so I just keep trying to save one good picture I like to my avatar.

by the way, if you tell me how to shrink it's size, I will mess that up, per usual ...

Are you kidding? Download a program called "Paint.net". Go to "edit" and hit the "select all" option. Then go to Image tab and select "Resize". Simple and easy, thats why I like it. Paint.net is free by the way, no spyware embedded or anything.

</derail>

[BEST45CAL]

Go to Google. Click on the IMAGES tab. Type in: gif. Hit enter.

[DoctorDoom]

I strongly recommend IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com/). It's powerful, it can create a lot of effects, it can handle almost every graphic format, and it's free. It's resizing abilities are considerably better than programs that merely add or subtract pixels.

Are you kidding? Download a program called "Paint.net".The website is here. (http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/) Be aware that it requires Microsoft NET software, hence the NET in the name. It must be installed on the machine for the program to work.

According to the download page (http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/download.htm), the program (Version 2.1 is the latest stable version) is 5.14 megs if MS NET software is already installed, or 26.4 MB if it isn't. If you're on dialup, watch a movie while it's downloading.

[Longhorn_Platinum]

:moo: I just changed avatars as a favor to another FreeCer who thought that milkandcereal guy looked really creepy. I "made" this new one. I don't have any special software, just Windows® XP.

1. I right-clicked on an image I found on the internet (through a Google image search), then selected "Save picture as...".

2. With the image saved to my computer, I opened the file, then right-clicked on it, then selected "Edit".

3. On the edit window, I drew a rectangular outline around everything but the part I wanted to save, & "cut" it all away. Then, I drew a rectangular outline around the part I wanted, & "Save[d it] as" another file. Be careful to save it as a gif, not a bitmap.

4. I opened the new file, right-clicked the trimmed image, & checked the properties, to find out its dimensions. Next, I backed out of properties, then right-clicked the image to return to "Edit". Then, I went to the upper tool bar to IMAGE, then went to the selection "skew", to downsize it to where the FC software would accept the new image. Be sure to "Save" the changes.

[DoctorDoom]

Edit opens MS Paint, which is quite useful for a basic image processing. It does not have a direct resizing function, but Image > Stretch/Skew does the job.

Entering the same number in Horizontal and Vertical has the same result as resizing in other programs. If the effect is unsatisfactory, Edit > Undo will go back up to three changes.

[Suzie]

http://www.animationfactory.com/

If anyone wants an image from there I have a membership. I can save it for you with out the big SAMPLE text over it.