I need to learn how to do this myself.

[desertgrandma]

I"ve asked several times in the last year and a half for someone else to help change my avatar.

Always.......I've gotten prompt, cheerful, friendly help.

Now......its time for me to do it myself. SO.

What program do I need to download? (free would be nice)

Is there a step by step directions somewhere?

I'm keeping Bill.......but sometimes he needs a new outfit.

Like my current one? NO ONE is gonna get at Bill this way!

Thanks in advance.

[omk3]

Karma for you, desertgrandma, for always being happy to learn new things!

I use photoshop for most of my image tampering (and drawing and painting) but it is definitely NOT free.

Gimp is a free and really nice alternative, but it might be overkill and have a somewhat steep learning curve for someone who just wants to dress up their avatar...

Truth is, it is much simpler for me to make a new avatar for you than explain what to do, but maybe it's because I'm not really good at explaining (or so my frustrated technophobic dad usually tells me).

I'm sure there must be simpler programs out there, and someone else may have good suggestions for you.

In the meantime, I'll be happy to fill any specific orders you may have or answer any specific questions that arise from playing around with any graphics software you choose.

[Elfwreck]

GIMP is free, and powerful, and, as omk3 said, has a steep learning curve. (I've been working with Photoshop for almost a decade, and I still get lost on very basic things in GIMP just because it's different.) You can get it at http://www.gimp.org/ and there are help files & discussion forums; it's just... complicated.

There are no-doubt other free image-editing software programs that are simpler. But if you have to learn it from scratch anyway, you might as well start with one that has all the features you'll eventually want.

[animedude01]

I think it depends on what you want. There are lots of them already out there on the net, you just have to find them. If there's an image you want to use, there are plenty of programs, both free, shareware and paid, that will let you adjust the sizes. Even the paint program in Windows can do the really basic stuff.

If you want to create one from scratch, it gets more complicate, but can also be more fulfilling if you want to put some time into it. The built in Windows programs (assuming you actually use Windows) is the most basic, with others getting progressively more complex. Gimp is roughly equivalent to Photoshop, but also has a steep learning curve.

For drawing, you may want to look at Inkscape, which is equivalent to Corel Draw or Illustrator. It also has a learning curve, but you should be able to do really fun stuff with it if you put in the time.

Hope this helps.

[daffy4u]

I use a very old program called Paint Shop Pro 5 (I also have 3). I tired Photoshop but it was too complicated for me and my needs. As mentioned, there are lots of free programs, just pick one and play.

[BenG]

I use paint.net when I'm doing something simple and I don't want the hassle of opening a major graphics program.

http://www.getpaint.net/