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WELCOME TO MAYA'S STEP BY STEP VISUAL GUIDE ON HOW TO GET AN AVATAR

So many people seem to make questions for this, so I thought I would make this. No one else seems to, and just telling them doesn't seem to be good enough, because there are TONS of questions asked daily about this. So, for you people who can't seem to get the hang of it, here is a Step-by-Step Visual on how to get an Avatar! And when I say Step-By-Step, I do mean so.

I would also like to mention WHY everything is in bold. It was put that way so you can tell the difference between a picture, and actual writing. Thank you. ;D


Okay, so we will begin with your site avatar, and work from there. But remember, you don't have to have these! Its your choice. ;D


SITE AVATAR

First, it would be wise to choose an avatar that you would like to use. But remember, it needs to be 50x50 pixels as it states on the bottom of the page!

[I would like to add that it doesn't nessicarily have to be 50x50, because the site resizes it for you. BUT, it is WISE to use a 50x50. You can also get a 100x100, or such. But, I want to remind thoes who want VISABLE words to make sure its 50x50, and that you can READ it. Thank you.]



See? I told you. Now, a good place to look would probably be Fan Image section. You can get there by clicking on 'Desktop'.



You can also get to it by clicking the tab in the Fan Works section.



So, now that you are in the Fan Image section, most people will let you use their Icons and such. As long as credit is given to them. ;D So, thus you SHOULD see a little something like this:



If you can see that, then you are IN THE RIGHT PLACE. Now, there ARE more pages of these. So, to view more, go to the bottom of all the entrance pictures. And click on the next number, or 'next'. Which ever you fancy.



Ah, I would also like to mention on HOW to get into the galleries. Because the entrance pictures with the creators name on it is NOT the only fan image they have! They have more!! (Amazing, eh?) In order to get to the rest of the images, simply click on the entrance picutre.



See, just click it! Now, once you click it, you should see something like this:



Now, this is NOT the sizes of the images. To view the images, CLICK ON THEM. Just like you did to get into the gallery. Then, you can see the actual size. Alot of people dont put the size of their images below it (As myself), but you can generally tell what is 50x50!



If you don't like the avatar you picked, slimply click 'Return to Artist's gallery', or click 'Previous', or 'Next'.



When back in the gallery, you may notice that when you click on the numbers, it does NOT go to the next page. It will probably looks something like this:



So, INSTED, click 'Next Drawings' or 'Previous Drawings' (if you wish to go back).




Well, did you find what you were looking for?... No? Well, looks like your in the right place. Because Fan Images aren't the only place to find them! You can also find them in the forums!

You can get to the forums by clicking on the 'Forum' button on the side navigator.



When you click on that, it should open the forums in a new window. You should see something like this:



Once your in the forums, scroll down til you get to the section called 'Fan'.



Why, golly miss molly, its the fan section on the forums!... Of course! Where else would you find 'fan' images. But, only one of the three happens to have these. Can you guess which one?



By George, I think you've got it! Yes, the Fan More section!! So, lets go into the fan more section, by clicking on its name! It should highlight into a LITTLE darker blue.



So, once your in there, there should be many topics. So many to choose from. It will probably look something like this:



Now, most of the ones that have fan images in them, are going to say something with Fan Images or Graphics (Or even Grahpix) in the title. So no worries.

Here is an example:



So, click on that. Check it out. See whats it it. Well, here IS what is in it.



LIKE OH EM GEE! Check this out my little noobs!



Its amazing what one person can say! Yes, that was taken from the example's page. She DOES allow you to use her images, as long as you give credit! See, some people don't post these just to taunt you with their tallent, some actually let you USE them.

And my goodness! The fun never ends! You can also REQUEST an avvy if you can not find one you like!



But remember, the important thing about requests is to make sure that you do NOT bug the person over and over again about your request! It could end up to the point where you don't get your request!!



See what I mean? Pestering makes them mad, and I know you may be waiting for on, but that doesn't mean to tick off your people. Mm'kay? 'Cause then it takes even LONGER to get your avvy! ;D

So, if you do not want any of the avvy's from the Fan Image section, and you don't want any that people have posted in the Fan More section, and you don't want to request one...

Well, then you have two options left. Either you go without an avvy OR you make one yourself!! A smashing idea, huh? Well, if you don't have any programs to use, let me point you in the right direction!

Click here to get Gimp! Its a great program, that does work! Its a cheaper virsion of Photoshop you might say, but I have used it, and did like it!

Now, although I recomend The Gimp, there is something even better! Click here to visit the website for PhotoFiltre! Many of us here use this, and it is a VERY likable program! You get used to it very quickly (or at least I did).

Now, I have one more program you can try, although it isn't nearly as good as the other two. This one is more like a better virsion of paint, except this is how I USED to get my transparent backrounds, because it worked so much better than PhotoFiltre. But now I just have this. But click here to view paint.NET.

Okay, so now that you have an editing program to use yourself, you can mess around with that and make your own!.. Unless you are one of the people who want others to make it for them! Thats awesome too! Because as much as we get mad with all the requests, and pushing, and shoving, we LOVE to know that people actually like our work!

So, now you have an 50x50 avatar, correct? Well, now its time to put it up! ^^

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This line marks where the 'upload' process begins, for those who need to use it from the forms, which is farther down.]

So, if you got the avatar from someone on the forums, generally they have links that wont die on you!.. But, if you right click on a Fan Image to get the link, you don't know if they are going to delet the image or not!.. Common sense, right?

See, you can Right Click -> Properties, and that should show the link.



BUT!.. If they delet the image from their gallery, the link will no longer be valid. So, the best idea would be to go to an image host, and upload it there!

You can use Imageshack (http://imageshack.us), Photobucket (http://photobucket.com), or other places too. But today, I will be showing you how to use Imageshack!

When you get to Imageshack, it should look something like this:



Does it? Good, then you are at the right place! So, now you need to either upload a FILE, or copy the URL of the picture you want to make sure doesn't disappear when someone decides to delet it!



If you are going to upload an image using its URL, you need to switch over to 'url' mode on Imageshack.



Are you having problems copying it and pasting it? Your Right click not working so well? WELL, I have the solution! Because, there is more than one way to copy and paste! ;D



So, now you have your URL. But first, I need to help out those who have it saved to their computers!!

First, you need to click the browse button! He is just begging for it!



I told you! So once you have clicked that, a little pop up type thing should pop up, and ask you to pick a file, like so!



Pick your file, Then, click 'Host It!'And then, your on your way to getting your avvy ready!



Depending on your internet speed, depends on how fast it uploads! For me, it generally takes only a few moments with such small files. But larger files WILL take a little longer. ;D



Now, your avvy is ready! But, you still need to pick the right link for it! Because once you upload it, you will notice all these links!



No worries! Maya is here to help you on this part. ;D With an avvy you don't want to use their thumbnails. But your going to want to use the direct link! It is the very last link there!!



Wala! What next? Well of course, you need to COPY AND PASTE!!! Our favorite part! Now, when you click on it, it will all highlight its self automatically. (As you can see in the picture above). So, then you can either Right Click -> Save As or the nifty Ctrl trick. If you can't remember how to do it, please look above! ;D

So, now we have our link, correct? Time to head back to our profile!



So, click on 'Edit Your Profile'! And then we can get your avvy up!



Okay, now scroll down to the bottom of your profile, where it says 'URL avatar'.



Good, glad we are on the same page now. Now, see the box where it wants the URL?



Yes, that. You are going to PASTE it into that little box!! And it should looks like this:



Yey!!! YOU DID IT!.. You are ALMOST done. We just have a little bit left to go on the whole site avvy. ^^

Now, click 'Update my profile'.



You should see something like this, after the page finishes loading (without the lovely handwriting):



And now, you have yourself your VERY own avatar! Don't you just feel special?.. Well you should, because now this knowledge can be passed along, and hopeful less people will post questions or topics about site avvies.




FORUMS AVATAR

Yes! Now that you have yourself your very own site Avvy, now you need one for your forums profile, huh? WELL, I am about to help you with this. So, lets get started.

Below is a little bit more about what you need to know about your Forum Avatar. You notice that they can only be 150x150 pixels, and 24KB. So, your going to have to be careful when picking out your avvy.



If you wish to use your site avvy, go ahead! You can resize it, or leave it as it is! No one says you have to have TWO avvys, but have one for both. But most people like to use different ones. ;D

Well, insted of rambling on about what to do to get a avvy, because I pretty much covered that before! So, if you just skipped down here, you are doing to have to go back up, and read it over. ;D Because it is the same basic concept.

You may notice that you have an Avatar Controle Pannel! How cool is that? This is where you will need to be in your profile!



Okay, so lets say you have the avvy you want. Well, we have four choices this time.

Either A, you can upload it directly from your computer.



B, use a link like we did for your site avvy.



C, Link from an off-site Avvy.



Or D, choose from the gallery.



If you decide to choose from the gallery, click on 'Show gallery'.



Once you click on that, it should take you to the gallery of Balto avvys. It should look like this:



Well, now that you are there, look through the avvys and find one you like. If you don't like any of those, you will have to try the OTHER mithods previously mentioned when getting your Site avvy. But, if you DO find one you like, see the little circle's beneath each avvy?



Yes, that. Well, underneath the one you want... click on it.



And then scroll down to the bottom. There should be two buttons. Do you see them?



Now, click on 'Select Avatar' to make it your profile icon.



And if you changed your mind, thats okay too. Click 'Cancel avatar'.



I am sorry for those who wish to use option C, but I am not one to ask. Best idea would be to PM Steet and ask him.

But otherwise, you should all have SOMETHING done now. Right? Good. Now, we are almost done! You NOW need to find the two buttons at the bottom of your profile. They should look like this:



Now, I do not want you to click the Reset button! BAD MISTAKE MY LITTLE NOOBS!.. It will reset your whole forums profile. ;D Don't click it UNLESS you want to clear everything off of your profile, Mm'kay? Good.

But now, to make this all offical, click 'Submit'!



Tada! It should bring you to a page like this:



Well, I hope you are as happy as I am to have myself a Avatar!



So thus conccludes my Step-By-Step Visual on how to get an Avatar! For the Site, and Forums! And I told you it was Ste-by-Stepy, didn't I?

If you have any further trouble, please ask. ;D I am here to help!

END OF MAYA'S STEP BY STEP VISUAL GUIDE ON HOW TO GET AN AVATAR

YAY! I still don't get how to MAKE an avatar though. Oh well. XD Now, to post this link in the 50 thousand topics on how to get an avatar. XD

Nice tutorial
I'll stick this up for you .

Thank you very much. ^^

I thought it would help with the people who dont know how to do such things. XD

--Mayaa

It does.And this Thread deserves to be Sticked.Since it's a "tutorial".And pretty complex

Awesome tutorial Maya! You used fantastic images, and this will help alot of people ^.^

Yes, hence why I made it. XD!... Because a lot of people need help with this, and they ask so many questions about it. <.<;;

Though someone already made a visual guide to get an avatar on the site ( viewtopic.php?t=11778 ), the tutorial on getting avatars on the forums is nice.
However, this is not true:

Site avatars don't need to be 50x50 because it automaticly resizes it to the right size...

I know there is one, Martin. But it is not a complex and done out for those people who are not as smart as YOU. <.<

And I know you dont HAVE to have it 50x50, but for those who want WORD on it that are VISABLE it would be wise to use a 50x50, like it states at the bottom. >.>

--Maya

I see...
I also take it that you're mad at me...I was just pointing those things out to try to help the new members understand it and stuff...Let's not hold a pointless grudge...

Thats a lot what u wrote! I still couldnt understand it that much! It confuses me.

How is it confusing? It tells you exactly what to do, and how to do it. What do you need help with?

What's so hard to understand about posting an avatar?,it all makes perfect sense to me.