Avatars?

#1 May 25th, 2004, 12:43 PM

I notice that some members have avatars (little image icons) included along with their posts. How do you establish avatars here at The Evolution Forum? I've tried the options "edit avatar" feature and all I get is a page saying I have no avatar specified and a single check box (checked) that says "do not use avatar".

Am I boogered up somehow? Or have avatars not been enabled in the new format? I seem to remember this being a problem for me in the old format too.
Why do some people have avatars? Enquiring minds want to know.

ottomun6 · #2 May 25th, 2004, 02:55 PM

You have to buy Flexodus a new house and three cars! That always seems to get things working!

Actually, I'm having the same problem. I'm just glad it wasn't just me.

brent · #3 May 25th, 2004, 07:33 PM

I don't see what the big deal is in avatars. I also don't know where to find/make any good ones.

#4 May 25th, 2004, 08:25 PM

It's not a big deal. I just have one I like and would have liked to use it here. The feature seems to be available, I thought I could use it since others have.

Avatars are simply small low resolution images. One can use a photo or a drawing or a symbol. Usually they are restricted to very small file size so it helps to have a good program to squeeze an image down to the requisite size and maintain image quality. I use Photoshop but any good image processing program should be able to make a small jpg or gif image.

They're just another form of signature.

ottomun6 · #5 May 25th, 2004, 08:37 PM

Brent, I won't really say its a big deal. Its just a nice touch, like the signature we have at the bottom of our postings. So for instance, you could put up a pic with a cartoon character, a muscle or something you find amusing. The possiblilities are unlimited. So, .... BE A WILD MAN! have an avtar!

Hmm, I didn't realize LG posted almost the same response. But I guess that shows we are on the same page in getting the point across.

Notbigenuff · #6 May 25th, 2004, 08:55 PM

Now I want an Avatar too! But, can't seem to get the feature to work either.

C'est la vie...or is it C'est le vie...(flunked French

)

The Magus · #7 May 26th, 2004, 04:45 AM

("la vie", I think....it's feminine. I have to know this 'cause work is paying for expensive french lessons...)

#8 May 26th, 2004, 05:57 AM

Here's what my avatar looks like. Pretty much like me in my prime.

ottomun6 · #9 May 26th, 2004, 11:02 AM

Hubba- hubba! that is one hottie avatar! LG

If it does become functional, I have already done a morphed one myself.

brent · #10 May 26th, 2004, 11:16 AM

Huge muscle boys bouncing their man-breasts! Sign me up!

Corwin · #11 May 26th, 2004, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottomun6

Hubba- hubba! that is one hottie avatar! LG

If it does become functional, I have already done a morphed one myself.

Dude, from what I understand, that ain't much of a morph

Scott
"go steelers!" ?

fleXodus · #12 May 26th, 2004, 10:15 PM

FIXED!

I had to dig a bit, but I got the Custom Avatars enabled for all registered users. Simply go here to change/upload your avatar!

And while I'm at it, I also enabled the Profile Picture feature, which is displayed whenever someone pulls up your Member Profile page. Go here to upload your profile picture!

charliepanayi · #13 May 27th, 2004, 12:36 AM

Think I've got an avatar now, though not a great one - I like having them though.

ottomun6 · #14 May 27th, 2004, 02:14 PM

Charliepanayi, I think it looks great.

[COLOR=Magenta]Flexodus!! if you were here I'd give you a bear hug!![/COLOR] Thanks for the fixup!

I had a feeling you were out there looking for a solution!

brent · #15 May 27th, 2004, 03:43 PM

I guess I'll have to make an avatar now, but I thought they were supposed to be animated?

#16 May 27th, 2004, 04:50 PM

Cool! I get to use my avatar where it actually is appropriate.

#17 May 27th, 2004, 05:28 PM

I don't know if Flexodus has limits on avatar dimensions and data size but a good guide line is no bigger than 90x90 pixels, no larger than 6KB. Some sites prefer GIF format rather than JPG format.

Differences and advantages:

GIF format is limited to 256 colors and makes small data size images. GIF images are sharp (non-smudgy) and work really well for tiny images that have a relatively large area of single color background. (like my avatar)_

JPG images can use more colors but more colors require more memory. JPG is compressable but compressing an image too much makes it muddy or smudgy. Detail in an image limits how much it can be compressed.

It's a toss up. Which format is better depends on the image and how clear it has to be. General rule of thumb, keep it simple, not a lot of detail.

If anybody needs help making avatars just ask. I can probably point you in the right direction and you don't need Photoshop. You can probably do a good job with Microsoft Paint (free with all Windows systems).

Alternatively, if you want a bit more control there are other good image conversion programs available on the web for free. One I've used for years is "xnview" http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pierre.g/xnview/enxnview.html It used to be simple but has now grown up and is quite sophisticated, but still does simple things well.

Animation would be nice but animations easily get to be 50 KB of data even for an 8 or 10 frame GIF sequence.