How to create your own custom avatar

nekokami · 09-14-2009, 04:45 PM

So you've seen those fancy images sported by Zelda_Pinwheel, Ravenne, Dreams, etc. and you're wondering, "where can I get a unique avatar like that? How come all I have to choose from are these boring cartoon characters?"

Wonder no more. Whether you have artistic skills or are completely without pixel talents, there are tools to help you create that perfect avatar.

Many, many sites can help you if you're interested in creating a cartoon face for your avatar, whether you want it to look like you or completely different. Some will even generate an avatar automatically for you, based on text you enter (e.g. your email address), so you'll have a sort of coded image.

Examples of avatars I've created using these services, for your viewing pleasure, and the websites they came from:

From http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml

From http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/main.html

From http://www.mrpicassohead.com/

From http://www.reasonablyclever.com/blockhead/index.htm

From http://www.miieditor.com/

From http://digibody.com/avatar-maker/index.php

From http://www.doppelme.com/

From http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/index.htm

From http://turnyournameintoaface.com/

From http://friedcellcollective.net/monsterid/

From http://www.faceyourmanga.com/homepage.php?lang=eng

There are many more avatar generation tools out there, including some that use photos as input. Feel free to post more links in this thread!

phenomshel · 09-15-2009, 02:37 AM

I just shrank (or is that shrunk - or is shrunk only for heads...but I digress) a bigger image for my current avatar.

Ned · 09-15-2009, 03:03 AM

interesting thank you.
I'd no idea all those facilities were available - I just Photoshop my avatars.

dreams · 09-15-2009, 03:16 AM

OK, Neko, that was tricky... (putting a poll up)

I felt guilty after reading your post (see link below) because I was one of those that read your wonderful post up above, played with some of your suggested avatar creation links, and moved on out without posting a thank you for the information..

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...postcount=7954

So,

, for the links.

I play with creating my own with a combination of photos, clip art, paint, etc. Lately, I used some paintings I like and some I want to buy (well, really hoping someone in the family will get the hint and buy it for me.

)

GeneS · 09-15-2009, 07:46 AM

Photoshop (or similar image manipulation programs) make creation of avatars relatively easy.

montsnmags · 09-15-2009, 07:58 AM

My two favourite avatars were each made by two of my favourite people here at MR - one was made by Taylor514ce, and the other one was...hmm, I can't remember. Hey, Neko, do you remember?

Also, my current avatar is not one of the above. From its content, it will come as a complete shock to everyone that I actually made it (but the urge to change is strong, and so this part of the post may be made redundant without notice).

Also again, I'm going to give those sites above a go. Thanks, Neko.

Cheers,
Marc

pshrynk · 09-15-2009, 10:57 AM

Is there a site that changes my avatar with every post?

kazbates · 09-15-2009, 12:45 PM

I'm having trouble making a choice. I guess you would say I make my own custom avatars, but actually, I have Shannon make them for me!

If she ever stops, I will definitely need the links, Neko! Thanks.

badgoodDeb · 09-15-2009, 02:46 PM

And I get mine from the Xena web sites all over. But if I ever switch away from Xena, I will *certainly* need help in creating an avatar, and will check out these places. Thanks!

Elfwreck · 09-15-2009, 02:50 PM

www.sp-studio.de/: South Park avatar maker.

nekokami · 09-15-2009, 06:57 PM

There are a couple of South Park avatar makers out there, I guess. Here's another: http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/avatar/

I am also accumulating a list of sites that let you input a photo (or other image) and manipulate it, e.g.:

http://www.imagechef.com/
http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Sort of photoshop-lite, I guess, in that you start with an image of your own first. And of course many people just snag an image they like from the web somewhere. (In a sense, that's what I did, though I do own the item I'm using an image of.)

Pshrynk, there are modules that can be added to phpBB (our forum software) that cycle through a set of avatars each time a member posts, but adding a feature like that to the site might be somewhat controversial. I do have an outstanding offer to our Glorious Queen to make her a utility to do that, but I haven't had time or spare brain cells to work on it.

pshrynk · 09-15-2009, 07:55 PM

So, I had a portrait done this past summer...

montsnmags · 09-15-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

So, I had a portrait done this past summer...

Is that an old Beaulieu Super 8 in one hand and a pint of vodka in the other, or are you just happy to see me?

Cheers,
Marc

pshrynk · 09-16-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Is that an old Beaulieu Super 8 in one hand and a pint of vodka in the other, or are you just happy to see me?

Cheers,
Marc

It's one of the new Harv and Vera Avatars line up. First out is the ever popular Dr Montsnmags!

Sweetpea · 09-16-2009, 08:45 AM

They look like nice tools, but I prefer making my own

I find it's always fun to add some pictures together and create something new that way. I should really update my avatar one of these days...

View Poll Results: Do you find avatar-creation tools helpful?
Yes! More, more more!	28	39.44%
No thanks, I like making my own completely custom avatars	24	33.80%
No thanks, I like just using the stock avatars or clip art	6	8.45%
The blue one, next to the fish	13	18.31%
Voters: 71. You may not vote on this poll

09-14-2009, 04:45 PM	#1
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	How to create your own custom avatar So you've seen those fancy images sported by Zelda_Pinwheel, Ravenne, Dreams, etc. and you're wondering, "where can I get a unique avatar like that? How come all I have to choose from are these boring cartoon characters?" Wonder no more. Whether you have artistic skills or are completely without pixel talents, there are tools to help you create that perfect avatar. Many, many sites can help you if you're interested in creating a cartoon face for your avatar, whether you want it to look like you or completely different. Some will even generate an avatar automatically for you, based on text you enter (e.g. your email address), so you'll have a sort of coded image. Examples of avatars I've created using these services, for your viewing pleasure, and the websites they came from: From http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml From http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/main.html From http://www.mrpicassohead.com/ From http://www.reasonablyclever.com/blockhead/index.htm From http://www.miieditor.com/ From http://digibody.com/avatar-maker/index.php From http://www.doppelme.com/ From http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/index.htm From http://turnyournameintoaface.com/ From http://friedcellcollective.net/monsterid/ From http://www.faceyourmanga.com/homepage.php?lang=eng There are many more avatar generation tools out there, including some that use photos as input. Feel free to post more links in this thread!

09-15-2009, 03:16 AM	#4
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	OK, Neko, that was tricky... (putting a poll up) I felt guilty after reading your post (see link below) because I was one of those that read your wonderful post up above, played with some of your suggested avatar creation links, and moved on out without posting a thank you for the information.. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...postcount=7954 So, , for the links. I play with creating my own with a combination of photos, clip art, paint, etc. Lately, I used some paintings I like and some I want to buy (well, really hoping someone in the family will get the hint and buy it for me.) Last edited by dreams; 09-15-2009 at 03:18 AM. Reason: added link

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09-15-2009, 02:37 AM	#2
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	I just shrank (or is that shrunk - or is shrunk only for heads...but I digress) a bigger image for my current avatar.

09-15-2009, 03:03 AM	#3
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 390 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	interesting thank you. I'd no idea all those facilities were available - I just Photoshop my avatars.

09-15-2009, 07:46 AM	#5
GeneS eBook Enthusiast Posts: 120 Karma: 726 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-350, Astak PocketPro, iPhone, Asus eee Pad Transformer	Photoshop (or similar image manipulation programs) make creation of avatars relatively easy.

09-15-2009, 07:58 AM	#6
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	My two favourite avatars were each made by two of my favourite people here at MR - one was made by Taylor514ce, and the other one was...hmm, I can't remember. Hey, Neko, do you remember? Also, my current avatar is not one of the above. From its content, it will come as a complete shock to everyone that I actually made it (but the urge to change is strong, and so this part of the post may be made redundant without notice). Also again, I'm going to give those sites above a go. Thanks, Neko. Cheers, Marc

09-15-2009, 10:57 AM	#7
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Is there a site that changes my avatar with every post?

09-15-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
kazbates Wizard Posts: 2,627 Karma: 406616 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Device: SurfacePro, SurfaceBook 2	I'm having trouble making a choice. I guess you would say I make my own custom avatars, but actually, I have Shannon make them for me! If she ever stops, I will definitely need the links, Neko! Thanks.

09-15-2009, 02:46 PM	#9
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	And I get mine from the Xena web sites all over. But if I ever switch away from Xena, I will certainly need help in creating an avatar, and will check out these places. Thanks!

09-15-2009, 02:50 PM	#10
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	www.sp-studio.de/: South Park avatar maker.

09-15-2009, 06:57 PM	#11
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	There are a couple of South Park avatar makers out there, I guess. Here's another: http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/avatar/ I am also accumulating a list of sites that let you input a photo (or other image) and manipulate it, e.g.: http://www.imagechef.com/ http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/ Sort of photoshop-lite, I guess, in that you start with an image of your own first. And of course many people just snag an image they like from the web somewhere. (In a sense, that's what I did, though I do own the item I'm using an image of.) Pshrynk, there are modules that can be added to phpBB (our forum software) that cycle through a set of avatars each time a member posts, but adding a feature like that to the site might be somewhat controversial. I do have an outstanding offer to our Glorious Queen to make her a utility to do that, but I haven't had time or spare brain cells to work on it.

09-15-2009, 07:55 PM	#12
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	So, I had a portrait done this past summer...

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09-16-2009, 08:45 AM	#15
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	They look like nice tools, but I prefer making my own I find it's always fun to add some pictures together and create something new that way. I should really update my avatar one of these days...