How do I customize an avatar?

[The Seeker]

Can anyone tell me how I display an avatar for myself that I have made. It's a semi-crappy looking knockoff of the Rogue Squadron crest, with a 12 point star with an X-wing on each point, and the New Republic crest in the center of the star. It took me a while to make with Paint, so I want to try it out.

 

So, can anyone help me?

[matt--]

Click User CP at the top of the page. From there, go to Edit Options. It's the last option on the page.

[The Seeker]

I know, I have been there, but everytime I try to upload the image from paint, it never goes through. Do I need to do something else, or what.

[matt--]

Does it get you an error message?

 

Maybe only moderators can upload.

Try uploading it to some webspace.

[The Seeker]

No, no error message. It says "thank you for updating your profile JediKnight_114" but then the avatar is still not up.

 

And that whole webpage thing. I don't have one.

[Boba Rhett]

What size is your picture? It must be 20kb or below and 70x70 or below. What format is it?

[matt--]

Here is a list of many free web space providers:

web space

[digl]

Originally posted by JediKnight_114

I know, I have been there, but everytime I try to upload the image from paint, it never goes through. Do I need to do something else, or what.

 

What do you mean try to upload the image from paint?

If you made your avatar with paint you must convert it to gif and then upload it

[Sounds Risky]

Maybe the URL he's putting in is a path on his computer, like C:/Windows/Desktop/avatar.bmp

 

Maybe.

[The Seeker]

I just save the image in Paint. When I come here, I try the 'upload image from your computer' I click 'browse' look in documents, select the paint file, press ok. then it says thank you for updating your profile, but nothing happens.

 

However, I got a free site up at geocities.com, uploaded the image there, got the exact page address, and tried to put it here through there, but it tells me that there is no URL at the place I listed, even though I copied and pasted the exact address. So, maybe I'll just give up. I don't know.

[digl]

Note: the maximum size of your custom image is 70 by 70 pixels or 20000 bytes (whichever is smaller).

Is that right with your file?

[The Seeker]

Okay, I got it down to 70x70 pixels, and I think I found the problem. It's a .bmp file, not a .gif or .jpg file. So, one more stupid question, and I think I'll have it.

 

How do I convert a .bmp to a .gif?

 

Thanks

[StormHammer]

If you are using MS Paint (which comes with Windows)...then simply open your file, then...

 

1. Click on the FILE menu

2. Click on SAVE AS...

3. When the dialogue box opens, look at the bottom. You should see...Save as Type... Click on it...

4. Scroll down to JPEG or GIF format and click

5. Click the SAVE button

 

It's really as simple as that. Try saving as both formats to see which gives you the smaller file size, and upload that version.

[The Seeker]

Okay, here's my four choices in the 'save as type' menu:

 

24-Bit Bitmap [*.bmp; *.dib] (chosen)

 

Monochrome Bitmap [*.bmp; *.dib]

 

16 Color Bitmap [*.bmp; *.dib]

 

256 Color Bitmap [*.bmp; *.dib]

 

Which one of those would it be?

[StormHammer]

Darn...which version of Windows are you using? I'm on Win98 SE. Do you have an earlier version?

 

Tell you what, email your image to me...(my address is in my profile), and I'll reformat it for ya, and send it back.

[digl]

Originally posted by digl

 

What do you mean try to upload the image from paint?

If you made your avatar with paint you must convert it to gif and then upload it

 

you had missed that JediKnight_114

[Vagabond]

I'm looking forward to seeing your custom avatar, JediKnight_114. It took me a day or two to get mine just right. I scoured the internet for a good looking image of an Ithorian, and then I painstakingly blotted out the background and made it transparent. Then I resized it to 70x70 and saved it in GIF format. I think mine's purdy

[The Seeker]

Well, don't get your hopes too high Vag. It's my first attempt, and the crest isn't what I had hoped. Because if the small size, I hade to take out the x-wings, so now it's just a dark blue twelve point star with the rebel crest in the center. It still looks cool I think, but we'll see.

 

I have Windows 98 on my computer Stormhammer. I'll email the pic to you, k?

 

Thanks.

 

[edit] Stormhammer, your email isn't working because: "Sorry. The email function has been disabled by the administrator."

 

So, you can get the image here http://geocities.com/Jediknight_114/Crest.bmp If the link doesn't work, copy and paste it in your browser.

 

and send it to me at JediKnight_114@hotmail.com

[digl]

here is the link to your gif avatar

http://www.geocities.com/digl/crest.gif

[The Seeker]

Thanks everyone, it's now up. As I said, it was my first attempt, so keep jokes to a minimum please.

 

Thanks Digl for hosting it for me. If I make another one, would you be willing to do it again?

 

And StormHammer, thanks anyway, but as you can see, Digl got it set up for me.

 

Again, thanks to all who helped a relative computer newbie. (that is relative to you guys. Relative to my parents, I'm a genious.)

[digl]

It was nothing, I was bored in the night with nothing to do and saw your link to the bmp

 

Sure I could host you a new one

[The Seeker]

Cool, I'll let you know when I make a new one.

[The Seeker]

Alright, can you host this one for my sister, LadyJedi12: http://geocities.com/Jediknight_114/Jade.bmp

[StormHammer]

Sorry I missed your post Jediknight_114...I guess sleep took over, but then it was around 3:30 a.m. when I last posted.

 

Sorry about the email thing, too. I'll have to check on that situation.

 

Thanks digl.

[The Seeker]

Awwww, stormhammer, no need to lose sleep on my account. Thanks for all your help in getting the situation resolved. So, about that .gif thing. I have the second edition of Win 98, so do you know of anything I can do, preferably for cheap to get that capability on my computer.