How to Create An Animated (Moving) Avatar

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

Okay so I made my first avatar and I finally got the hang of it... the only this is, I feel like there isn't enough different types of graphics and frames to make cute things... am I missing something?

Good job on your avatar! The program mainly is for creating a moving avatar, it's "Editor" section is limited. Most Paint programs and {hotoshop programs have great editor sections where you can choose from numerous frames, and create special backgrounds, but they lack the feature of grouping the pictures into one file size that creates the moving pictures. Don't forget as you learn to do more in Photoscape you can do more with the framing, it's possible to combine frames and choose narrow or wider frames, also the border feature, gives a different look.

There are also many online sites that allow you to frame your pictures including PhotoBucket and Blingee, you can then open up these framed photos or gifs with the Photoscape program and create a moving gif file of the appropriate size for uploading.

If your looking to get fancy there are also number programs you can buy, I use Paint Shop Pro, and I love that program because it has the animation feature, but I'm told Photoshop is a great for editing photos, and framing, but I'm not sure it does animation.

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Good job on your avatar! The program mainly is for creating a moving avatar, it's "Editor" section is limited. Most Paint programs and {hotoshop programs have great editor sections where you can choose from numerous frames, and create special backgrounds, but they lack the feature of grouping the pictures into one file size that creates the moving pictures. Don't forget as you learn to do more in Photoscape you can do more with the framing, it's possible to combine frames and choose narrow or wider frames, also the border feature, gives a different look.

There are also many online sites that allow you to frame your pictures including PhotoBucket and Blingee, you can then open up these framed photos or gifs with the Photoscape program and create a moving gif file of the appropriate size for uploading.

If your looking to get fancy there are also number programs you can buy, I use Paint Shop Pro, and I love that program because it has the animation feature, but I'm told Photoshop is a great for editing photos, and framing, but I'm not sure it does animation.

Thank you soooo much! I never thought of editing the picture in another program, then importing into an avatar...

[Hopes Affection]

Say Ashley, not that I know that much about it... But, if you're a YT 1000 Club Member, can you enlarge your photos?

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Hopes Affection

Say Ashley, not that I know that much about it... But, if you're a YT 1000 Club Member, can you enlarge your photos?

Only if your a donating member. I want to donate, I just haven't had the money too yet... and probably won't for awhile.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

Only if your a donating member. I want to donate, I just haven't had the money too yet... and probably won't for awhile.

Did you make that avatar? I love it! When you make the avatars make them in the larger 125 x125 size, and then save a copy to make in the 75 x75 size for uploading. That way when your a donating member you'll have a larger avatar ready. You can always make it smaller but you cannot enlarge a picture or gif without losing major quality.

[Hopes Affection]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

Only if your a donating member. I want to donate, I just haven't had the money too yet... and probably won't for awhile.

I see. You just have an impressive title so was wondering. I'm thinking of donating sometime soon myself. So I'll take all of Joey's Mommy's ideas too, if I can remember them all!

[Lindsay1973]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Many people want to know how to create their own moving avatars. The moving avatar is called an animated gif. It's a series of pictures that have been grouped together in one file with a certain amount of time allotted to each picture.


Some graphic programs come with animation programs, but for those of you who don't have such a program, Photoscape offers a free program that's easy to use. Photoscape : Free Photo Editing Software Download. Just download the program, and go to the AniGif part. Set the size for you avatar where it says, "Set Canvas Size", most people use a square the size of 125x125 pixels. If you make a rectangle, the largest size can't be over 125 pixels. This is the size for a donating member; non-donating members have to use a smaller file size, which can be no bigger than 75x75 pixels.

You also have to set the frame time. Most people set this at around "200" per picture, this is measured in tenths of a second. More time will make the pictures change slower; less time they will change faster. The overall file size can't be over 48.8 KB and this means probably no more than 5-6 pictures, but this varies, but the amount of time spent on each picture does not change the file size. For non-donating member overall size can not exceed 20 KB this usually translates to about 4 pictures.

You then just drag a picture into the program, and it will group them together and make the animated gif. If you want to add frames or other special effects you must first go to the "Editor" part of the program and put frames, add lettering, and/ or crop the pictures. After this is done you would save the pictures and drag these new pics to the AniGif part. It's really fun, once you get use to it.

Once you are finished, just upload the animated gif to YorkieTalk. Go to the user "CP" located on the top left of the page. Go to "Edit Avatar," and instructions will tell you the maximum file size for you avatar. For donating members the maximum size of your custom image is 125 by 125 pixels or 53.7 KB (whichever is smaller). For non-donating members the size limits are 75x75 pixels and 20 KB (whichever is smaller).

For those of you who already have custom made avatars and wish to update them by adding a picture or holiday theme, just use the same program and open your animated gif with that. It will show your gif as a series of pictures and you can add or subtract pictures as needed. Save the gif and upload it to YorkieTalk.


I did want to mention to those of you who are interested, you can also create those cute animated gifs that people post on the profile pages with this program. Just take photo you like and you can add lettering, sparkles, and other special effects. To create sparkles for example, go to the "Editor" part of the program. Go to "Object" than point to the little mountain scene and select "Effect" you can there choose from several different sparkles. Add these to the picture and save. Then go to AniGif part of the program and choose both the original and sparkle picture, set the frame time for 10, and choose a size. Some of these sparkles gifs have a series of three pictures, each slightly different.

I just wanted to thank you Photoscape is FUN and I have already put on my second new avatar and used it in various other ways

[abaddon248]

my avatar is too big file size wise? how can i make it smaller?

[abaddon248]

nevermidn i got it

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by abaddon248

nevermidn i got it

Another one figured it out before I coudl help. Looks great!

[Ashley V]

Okay now I have a SILLY question.

I see some people that have a slide with just text on it and a really cool background, then pictures of their dogs or whatever... How do you get the backgrounds?

I know I have backgrounds in mine but I did it a strange way. I took a picture of Chip and I went into PrintShop and did some scrambling thing, then did the same for Smokey.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

Okay now I have a SILLY question.

I see some people that have a slide with just text on it and a really cool background, then pictures of their dogs or whatever... How do you get the backgrounds?

I know I have backgrounds in mine but I did it a strange way. I took a picture of Chip and I went into PrintShop and did some scrambling thing, then did the same for Smokey.

I tell about backgrounds in post 29 of this thread, that's really clever the way you did it. You can find any background paper you like, save it and open it with photoscape, under editor, and then you can add lettering or other special effects. Some people create their own background, but there are millions to download. You can also open up a ready-made gif with the program. For example, say you find a holiday gif, and want to use one of the pictures in it for your avatar, this is also possible.

Here's a site that has loads of background papers: MySpace Backgrounds - Free Animated MySpace Backgrounds, Codes & Background Images!

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I tell about backgrounds in post 29 of this thread, that's really clever the way you did it. You can find any background paper you like, save it and open it with photoscape, under editor, and then you can add lettering or other special effects. Some people create their own background, but there are millions to download. You can also open up a ready-made gif with the program. For example, say you find a holiday gif, and want to use one of the pictures in it for your avatar, this is also possible.

Here's a site that has loads of background papers: MySpace Backgrounds - Free Animated MySpace Backgrounds, Codes & Background Images!

Okay! Thanks!

[bentleys_momma]

my problem is that i cant get my pictures down to exactly 20. they are like 20.7 and 20.8 how do i do that because they keep getting smaller and smaller.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by bentleys_momma

my problem is that i cant get my pictures down to exactly 20. they are like 20.7 and 20.8 how do i do that because they keep getting smaller and smaller.

I'm not sure what you mean by 20. See the picture one to see where you set the avatar size. You have several options; you can set it to the size of the first picture, the biggest picture in the bunch, the smallest picture in the bunch, or an arbitrary number you choose. For donating members this should be 125x125 for a square avatar, non-donating members 75 x75 pixels. Rectangular pictures have to have the largest size no bigger than the size limits. If you choose "set the canvas size" a little box will come up and you set the dimensions you want. See picture two for this.

You can also set the size in the "editor part of the program, and save the smaller sizes and use them as is. See picture three. Click on this box and you should see another menu come up. See picture four. Set the width or height for the largest size you are allowed, and make sure the box is checked that says "preserve the aspect ratio" the other size will automatically fill in with the right number to keep the ratio the same. I suggest that people "crop" their pictures before they resize them. Cropping allows you to take out unimportant elements of the picture.