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..

http://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! __________________ ~neko “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Click here for Ministry of Unutterable Silliness loot -- featuring Rock Lobster Souvenirs! Is an iPad an InfoPad ? What about the Entourage Edge? Hm...

09-15-2009, 02:37 AM	#2
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,686 Karma: 5470144 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: Nook ST with GlowLight and iPhone 4	I just shrank (or is that shrunk - or is shrunk only for heads...but I digress) a bigger image for my current avatar. __________________ Shel

09-15-2009, 03:16 AM	#4
dreams Anticipation Posts: 21,522 Karma: 50518786 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.. http://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.) __________________ MobileRead Wiki . MobileRead's Patricia Clark Memorial Library free (mostly PD) ebooks MobileRead's Posting Guidelines . Author Guidelines 2012 list - 2013 list Last edited by dreams; 09-15-2009 at 03:18 AM. Reason: added link

09-15-2009, 07:46 AM	#5
GeneS eBook Enthusiast Posts: 115 Karma: 726 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: US Device: PRS-350, Astak PocketPro, iPhone 4, Asus eee Pad Transformer	Photoshop (or similar image manipulation programs) make creation of avatars relatively easy. __________________ _Gene_ So many books ... so little time ...

09-15-2009, 03:03 AM	#3
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 115 Karma: 33 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kindle Paperwhite	interesting thank you. I'd no idea all those facilities were available - I just Photoshop my avatars.

09-15-2009, 07:58 AM	#6
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,133 Karma: 4245657 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle	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: 11,721 Karma: 5533402 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? __________________ Embrace your inner weird.

09-15-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
kazbates Wizard Posts: 2,627 Karma: 400000 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Device: EBW-1150, Sony PRS-700BC, Sony PRS-600BC, Sony PRS650BC	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. __________________ Kaz

09-15-2009, 02:46 PM	#9
badgoodDeb Wizard Posts: 4,098 Karma: 9501039 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago outskirts Device: Palm-many, Kindle1, K3, iPad, iPhone 4	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! __________________ -----------Found him! Wanna join the chat?

09-15-2009, 02:50 PM	#10
Elfwreck Wizard Posts: 4,990 Karma: 21320468 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Clié; PRS-505; EZR Pocket Pro	www.sp-studio.de/: South Park avatar maker. __________________ When I'm not here, I'm somewhere else. Mind the rainbows.

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. __________________ ~neko “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Click here for Ministry of Unutterable Silliness loot -- featuring Rock Lobster Souvenirs! Is an iPad an InfoPad ? What about the Entourage Edge? Hm...

09-15-2009, 07:55 PM	#12
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,721 Karma: 5533402 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... __________________ Embrace your inner weird.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
create custom format column	blaubach	Calibre	12	09-17-2010 03:22 PM
How to create custom context menu item?	gizban	Calibre	2	08-22-2010 06:22 PM
Need avatar help	Brainphart	Feedback	10	02-14-2009 10:39 AM
Avatar	kcarscadden	Lounge	30	02-13-2009 05:07 AM
Unutterably Silly i need a new avatar	UncleDuke	Lounge	14	08-04-2008 07:54 AM


Advertisement Enthusiast