Let a thousand avatars bloom

[Paul]

   After reading aly's message in another thread. I thought we could try to have a dedicated thread for avatar creation.

   If you are able, post the link to your pet photo or upload your pet photo into this thread. Then we will see what avatar's our resident photo experts can create for you.

   The max size for an avatar is now 60 x 60.

      Paul

[Karen]

I would be happy to help anyone with avatar creation - or, for that matter, with resizing images for your signature file, too. Just post the image or a link, or you could email me the picture you want, send it to [email protected] and I'll resize it and send it back so we can get rid of some of those broken image icons that abound at the moment!

[RachelJ]

Can you crop? My one photo program increases the size of my photo when I crop. Another doesn't do that but leaves a black area for what was cropped out. The third one leaves a white box. If I send you one with the black box, can you crop the black box out??? I used to be able to do anything I wanted with PHotoPoint but they up and disappeared:mad: :mad:

[tatsxxx11]

Rachel, I tried to sign up again with Photopoint and couldn't find them either! I have 4 photoediting programs, and not ONE works for me re: resizing for avatars. My MS Picture It Express can resize using the precise pixel size, will not "save" it in the jpg. format!! All the others, Adobe, Corel Print House and MS Imaging resize only specifing the total byte size or dimensions in bytes!!! I have a headache!!!:D

[Freckles]

I've been using Adobe PhotoDeluxe for years but didn't realize they could "Prepare a photo for online display". With the new, improved PetTalk, Avatars, etc. in mind, I went to PhotoDeluxe help and searched for "Online display". That's where all my questions were answered; reducing file size, resizing, pixels, resolution, etc. Hopefully this information will help you find the answers in your software.

My pet peeve is having to scroll across to read text and see entire pictures, so I've been using 400 as maximum pixel width. I might experiment with 500, but 640 is too much.

I started posting pics just this month, I'm definately not a pro, but my experience might help others.

I couldn't get Webshots to work correctly, so I switched to Photogra. Not a big deal since I only had two pics to switch.

Good luck

[Karen]

Originally posted by RachelJ
Can you crop? My one photo program increases the size of my photo when I crop. Another doesn't do that but leaves a black area for what was cropped out. The third one leaves a white box. If I send you one with the black box, can you crop the black box out??? I used to be able to do anything I wanted with PHotoPoint but they up and disappeared:mad: :mad:


I can crop, rotate, adjust brightness or contast, can sharpen and unsharp mask, can flip so a left-facing pet becomes a right-facing pet, can fix red-eye - you name it, I - with Photoshop - can do it! Send 'em to me!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I'll bite. Here's (if I do it right) a photo of Edwina from my webshots for a avatar.

http://http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v0/4/50/82/27345082qLHrheHSlC_ph.jpg

Do with it as you see fit.

[RachelJ]

I would like to publically thank Mz Karen for helping me create my very special avatar. I just love it, and Hannah thinks it is so COOL.

[Karen]

You're welcome, Rachel. As long as Tucker doesn't see it and get upset. I'm glad Hannah likes the purple, I debated, but thought pink might be to prissy for her!

Now, Edina's Secretary might want to use this one: http://catoftheday.com/archive/2001/May/02p.jpg in the spring, but for now, the image you tried to post (I got to it by pretending I was going to "Edit" your post - you have an extra http:// in the front of your link) is below.

For those curious, Edwina had been Cat of the Day, so I simply used the Search button on the Pet of the Day homepage, made sure "image previews" was checked, and searched for her. The "preview images" that appear in the search results window are all 60x60, so are already the right size.

Anyway, here she is: http://www.PetoftheDay.com/online/Edwina.gif in avatar size.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Oh wow! Thank you so much! I debated between those two photos.

Is it there now?

[Karen]

You can use either one, just right-click the mouse, and say "Save Picture As " onto your hard drive.

Depending on what hardware, and what operating system you are using, it might say "Save image as" or something else similar.

If you're on a Mac, like I am, just click and hold down on the image, and it'll give you a "Save this image as" option.

Once it is on your hard drive, you can go to "user cp" then "edit options" and down to the avatar feature, hit browse, show it where the avatar is on YOUR computer, then you're all set! :)

[Edwina's Secretary]

Tried it on my home computer -- which IS a Mac. I am not Mac compatible.
:mad: It did not give me the option "save image as" "copy image" etc. but not save as. I do not like this machine and will try again on PC.

[Karen]

Edwina's Secretary - you have to click on the image - but don't let go. Instead of pushing the mouse button and letting go, it's only "half a click" - put the cursor over the image, push the mousebutton down and hold it down for a second, and the menu will appear.

[RachelJ]

Originally posted by Karen
You're welcome, Rachel. As long as Tucker doesn't see it and get upset. I'm glad Hannah likes the purple, I debated, but thought pink might be to prissy for her!



Oh, you are absolutely correct, The Princess of Pillows, Queen of the Couch, feels that the royal purple is much more appropriate.

Tucker is an easy going little fellow who needs little more in life than lots of cuddles, but one of these days I'll work on a signature picture which will include him

[Edwina's Secretary]

I want to see if I did it right.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I did it :D :cool: Thanks Karen for your help. I will probably change it to the hat picture which I love (it was her hat for my wedding) when Spring comes.

On my Mac...I did hold down the mouse and get a menu. It just didn't offer what I needed. I fight so with that Mac and get sooo frustrated. Unfortunately I was the one who insisted we get a Mac at home based on a co-worker's recommendation-- which my husband has NOT let me forget. We both use PCs at work and find it difficult to transition. Ohhhhhh the fight we had just getting it going!

Thanks again...

Sara

[AmberLee]

Edwina as avatar is ADORABLE!

[lizbud]

Karen,

Hi. Is this offer to re-size sig pics still good? If you have the time,
I'd love to crop Smokey's pic in my sig to fit along side Buddy's.
It would take up a lot less space & probably look better too.
Just tell me if any info is needed besides these pics themselves.

Thanks for any help or advise you can offer. Liz.
p.s. After the server move the old sig pics dissapeared.

[lizbud]

THank you to Wolf_Q, for fixing my new sig pics.:D :D :D

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Here's a few pictures for someone (please!) that could make me an avater!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p9c83765808421149efbe99ab4414e3cf/fc857b28.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/pff238b3346a0b65108f5396f1bdddf9f/fc878fd2.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p65383364cf01754e684780597ccebcdd/fc857b1d.jpg

I would love it is someone could shrink these pictures, and then make me one of those awesome moving avaters! Thank you!:) ;)

(I hope this isn't to much to ask of you all!):) ;)

[slick]

That's great news! Thank you so much Karen and Paul. Can you have more than one picture in the avatar? I did manage to successfully create one but I have two cats and could only get 1 picture. And just so I clearly understand: the avatar is the picture that appears just below your name on the left hand side, as opposed to what appears in the signature, right??

Here are the links to my sweet babies:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pee4450827d9a67f8689f1e7953f94e2e/fc80267b.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/p953b1492f7152ba3909851a17e426789/fc804de9.jpg

Thanks for all your hard work on this wonderful site!!:D :D

If you need to email me the pics back you can send them to [email protected] or if hotmail will not accept them you can send them to [email protected]. Thanks.

[Cataholic]

Karen and Paul.....

Please help me make an avatar with Minnie in it!!!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p411b541823e3acd68f67fa47893d772c/fcc81c79.jpg


That is the best picture I have of her, and I feel unfair not putting her in with the rest of the states!!

BUT, I must give my public message of appreciation for bari_d for making my first signature posts!! She did it so graciously, and I am forever indebted to her...


Also, could you sneak one for Lillycat? I would like her boys to be on her thing as well.....

Nevvie
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/pa1dc8388626b873fd42a6015754cb1ce/fcc3fd39.jpg.thumb.jpg

Indra
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p4231885bb5cc026ed0b35df3e1979871/fcc5f064.jpg

Washy
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p79a076cfe8a672d01482a2015de0a854/fcc5e7e1.jpg.thumb.jpg


Thanks alot!

[sammi]

Karen and Paul, Please make something - anything out of these 2 pictures of Buddy and Abby!! I would love to have then on my postings. Thank You! ( Have I told you how wonderful you guys are lately???!!!) LOL

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17036&highlight=buddy+and+abby

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Karen
I can crop, rotate, adjust brightness or contast, can sharpen and unsharp mask, can flip so a left-facing pet becomes a right-facing pet, can fix red-eye - you name it, I - with Photoshop - can do it! Send 'em to me!
:D Show off!!! I can't do anything, even get a picture on the net. :D

[Cataholic]

Tap, tap, tap...goes the fingers waiting for the avatar...he he he...I am kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[iceyshiver21]

Originally posted by Karen
I can crop, rotate, adjust brightness or contast, can sharpen and unsharp mask, can flip so a left-facing pet becomes a right-facing pet, can fix red-eye - you name it, I - with Photoshop - can do it! Send 'em to me!

HAHA!! :p All I have for photo's is Paint, ya know that program that comes one most computors.

[lynnestankard]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
:D Show off!!! I can't do anything, even get a picture on the net. :D

I'm with you MOFF!!

When I saw the title I thought 'Oh that does sound familiar' Then as I started to read through - DING! - I remembered it was on old thread - funny. Put it down to old age!

Lynne

[Paul]

   Yes, an avatar is the small image below your name. We will make them in a few hours.

      Paul

[Karen]

Originally posted by Cataholic
Tap, tap, tap...goes the fingers waiting for the avatar...he he he...I am kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Check your email ...

[Paul]

   From Karen:

http://petoftheday.com/online/avatars/abbybuddy.jpg   http://petoftheday.com/online/avatars/Lillicat.gif   http://petoftheday.com/online/avatars/Minnie.jpg   http://petoftheday.com/online/avatars/Sadie.gif   http://petoftheday.com/online/avatars/slick.gif

[Cookiebaker]

Wow, Karen you are so talanted!! Those are beautiful! :)

[PayItForward]

I can make the pictures small enough, but how to you make them switch between two or more photos ?

I would love to know how to do that.

[slick]

OHHHHH my goodness.....there's my little babies.....wait til I tell them.........

Do I go into the properties and copy????

[petadmin]

   I just added it. Karen will post instructions for the others.

      Paul

[slleipnir]

Neat idea :D I'll help anyone out if I can :]

[Karen]

Originally posted by PayItForward
I can make the pictures small enough, but how to you make them switch between two or more photos ?

I would love to know how to do that.

I use a program called ImageReady, it comes with Photoshop.

Paul has added everyone's avatars that I created tonight, but just in case he hadn't ...

If you see an image you want to use as an avatar - or if I post one for you, right-click on the image (or for Mac users, click and hold down) and save the image onto your computer. Then, to make it your avatar, into "User cp" and hit "edit options." Sroll down to the bottom where it says "Avatar" and hit the "change avatar" button, then show it where on your hard drive the image is! All done!

[Paul]

   To make the images animate you use the .gif format since it supports animation. A lot of image editors will let you add extra frames to a gif file. Although, some do not. There are simple free programs that will build gif animations at places like http://download.com Which program are you using now?

      Paul

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Thank you so much Karen and Paul! I love it!:) ;)

p.s.: Could you possibley maybe please do it without the smiley? Otherwise, I love it! (I hope this doesn't sound rude!)

[Karen]

Sure, and then I'll email it to you for you to post yourself, okay?

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Ummmm, I don't think I know how to get it from an E-mail, to a post!:(

[Karen]

I'll post it as an attachment, which you can save to your hard drive, okay?

[sammi]

Thank you again! My furbabies love it! Thanks, Buddy,Abby and Sammi

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by Freckles
I've been using Adobe PhotoDeluxe for years but didn't realize they could "Prepare a photo for online display".

Good luck

I use photodeluxe too, but I'm still not sure how to paint very well lol...do you know how to make the paint solid instead of transparent? It drives me nuts!

[Cataholic]

Karen and Paul,
Thank you so much for making these for Lillycat and I! I finally feel good, with Minnie on board! You two went out of your way, as did Jen Luckenbach, in getting these up there!!!! Thanks a million.
Johanna

[Logan]

Originally posted by *LabLoverKEB*
Ummmm, I don't think I know how to get it from an E-mail, to a post!:(

Whatever you did, Sarah, it looks great!! Love seeing that beautiful Labbie face!!! :)

My avatar is old, made by one of our Pet Talk friends who isn't hear anymore. :( And I can't get in touch with her. One day, mine will need to be updated to include Milly and Murphy. :)

[lbaker]

..................................................

I can crop, rotate, adjust brightness or contast,
can sharpen and unsharp mask, can flip so a
left-facing pet becomes a right-facing pet, can fix red-eye - you name it, I - with Photoshop - can do it! Send 'em to me!
.................................................
well sure, but can she "do windows":rolleyes:

[lovemyshiba]

Oh what a fabulous idea--I have played around a few times, but can't seem to get it right.
I'll post a few pics, and if someone could make me an avatar, that would be so awesome.
Here's one of Abbey:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid43/p6fe0d96cdcacbdaa0b9d84b3c37a67e1/fce65a68.jpg
and Kito with a big smile on his face
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid38/p676461fe35d5477d3ecc47c2391fab19/fd15a31c.jpg
Kito again:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pf47d66d5e85171f04d30e3b98fa65fec/fc7c10a9.jpg
and one of them together

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid38/p14e21075071e4bfd4d73fffedcb39e74/fd0e22e7.jpg

If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it---thanks a lot!!!!

[slleipnir]

I'll give it a try! I'll post it in a min :]

[slleipnir]

Not as good as Karens, but anyway, hope you like it :D

[popcornbird]

What do you use to make those?

[slleipnir]

Me? Animation shop 3..comes with PSP lol

[lovemyshiba]

Originally posted by slleipnir
Not as good as Karens, but anyway, hope you like it :D

I do like it, but I can't get it on there--chalk it up to my computer illeteracy--I'll keep trying!!!:D

[lovemyshiba]

It keeps saying it isn't a valid jpeg or whatever--hmmmm.......

[slleipnir]

Hmm, did you save it then upload it on the PT thing?

[slick]

Karen: I just posted a reply and noticed my avatar!!! Thank you soooooo much. My furbabies are stars now....maybe I should get their paw prints in the walk of fame...ha ha

Thanks again for a great site!!:D

[lovemyshiba]

Originally posted by slleipnir
Hmm, did you save it then upload it on the PT thing?

yeah, I did--it is saving to my computer as a bitmap (whatever that means), and when I try to upload it to PetTalk, I'm getting that it is not a valid jpeg or gif file--but I know your attachment says .gif on it:confused: :confused: