View Full Version : Avatar (Profile Pic) Challenge
fidgiegirl
11-2-11, 6:44pm
I do so much better at remembering who is who on the forums when people have an avatar picture (also known as that little square picture that pops up next to your name on the forums) even if it is not of themselves. It really really helps me to see Mrs. M with her steaming cup of tea, or catherine's circle, or Alan's or Greg44's smiling faces (many more, I know, but off the top of my head . . .)
I would challenge anyone who does not have an avatar pic to create one during November. I am willing to help through this thread.
Basic instructions:
1. Go to "Forum Actions" and choose "Edit Profile"
2. On the left, choose "Edit Avatar"
3. You will be able to link to an existing image online or upload an image from your own computer. I do remember that when I did mine I had to mess around to get the image down to 80x80 before I could upload . . . anyone else have this issue?
Good luck, I hope we see a lot more avatars around :) If not, we still love you, though :)
.... I do remember that when I did mine I had to mess around to get the image down to 80x80 before I could upload . . . anyone else have this issue?
As I recall, when I did mine the forum software automatically re-sized my photo for me.
Gardenarian
11-2-11, 7:00pm
What a good idea! You're so right about remembering people - our brains are mostly visual.
fidgiegirl
11-2-11, 7:18pm
Oh cdttmm, thank you! Lovely kitty!! I will always associate you with the kitty now :)
I love it, Fidgiegirl!!! So often I'll come across a picture or image that represents a member here and I'll think, "oh, wow, this is so representative of so and so"! "Would fit him/her perfectly"...
I like seeing people's avatars too. In fact I've gotten so used to it now I know almost everyone here (who has one) just by their pictures/images. I don't even have to look at the names anymore.
Well to get an avatar, I tried a couple of sites including the free MS clipart and kept getting the message "invalid file' when I posted the link. I must be doing something that is not acceptable somehow.
fidgiegirl
11-3-11, 8:09am
Razz, what's one of the sites you've tried?
Forum techies, are there certain acceptable file types for the avatars?
No techie here, but with any luck I can shed a little light on the matter.
Whenever I come across a picture or image I like and I want to save it for future consideration, I simply right click on it and select "save image as". When the "save image as" option is selected, an option box will pop-up on the screen and "file name" will be shown highlighted. It is at this time you can rename the picture/image you are saving to your liking, once done (renamed), click "save". Done.
Now, when you want to retrieve one of the pictures/images you saved and use it as your avatar, all you have to do is visit your own personal profile actions and select "settings" (top right corner of screen). A selection of options will be shown to the far left of your screen and the option you need to select is "edit avatar".
A screen titled "custom avatar" will display. Select "option 2" (super easy-peasy to work with) and click "browse". Browse, will automatically bring up all saved images and all you will be left to do is select the picture/image you desire, then click "save". All done. You now have a new avatar.
If I can do it, ANYONE can do it. :)
To add, pictures/files I save as "save image as" are routed to my "downloads" folder. (Don't know it that's a default sort of program that automatically selects a certain folder for such actions, but that where mine end up).
Did it work? This is a winter picture from last winter of our front yard. I guess I need to take a more updated picture.
fidgiegirl
11-3-11, 1:12pm
Thanks, Mrs-M! Hopefully that will help some.
peggy, it worked! Beautiful!
Razz, what's one of the sites you've tried?
Forum techies, are there certain acceptable file types for the avatars?
Virtually any image file such as jpg, jpeg, bmp, png, img should work. I should think that ico (icon) or pdf files would not.
treehugger
11-3-11, 1:35pm
I agree that it's nice to see avatars on posts. Even for those of us (like me) who prefer not to have a photo of themselves prominently displayed. For me, it's not a privacy thing, but rather, I just don't feel like seeing my face all the time.
For the record, that is me peeking out from behind a tiger barong (protective deity) mask at a Bali art exhibit. But usually, I go with pics of my dogs. They are waaaaaay more photogenic than I am. :)
Kara
Best I could do for now...if it worked.
Miss Cellane
11-3-11, 3:00pm
I tend to ignore a lot of what's on the screen except for the text of people's posts, but if it'll help . . . .
Well to get an avatar, I tried a couple of sites including the free MS clipart and kept getting the message "invalid file' when I posted the link. I must be doing something that is not acceptable somehow.
If you have windows-based programs on your computer, you can open Word and insert images.
Open a Word document.
From your document's on-top menu, click on: Insert
On that drop-down menu, hover over Picture and choose: Clip Art
It will open on the right-hand side of the page.
In the space, Search for type in any criteria you like and then click on the Go button.
Click on any of the images you like and they will be inserted into your document. Then you can just paste that image into Paint (another program that is a basic install on your computer), save and title it into a folder you name your avatars (or something) and then you can use them wherever you like. It helps to save them as a jpeg, as that is the most often acceptable format.
That is what I would do, but I make all of my stuff directly into Paint, so I am not sure is what I just shared is too complicated.
I agree that it's nice to see avatars on posts. Even for those of us (like me) who prefer not to have a photo of themselves prominently displayed. For me, it's not a privacy thing, but rather, I just don't feel like seeing my face all the time.
For the record, that is me peeking out from behind a tiger barong (protective deity) mask at a Bali art exhibit. But usually, I go with pics of my dogs. They are waaaaaay more photogenic than I am. :)
Kara
LOVE the mask!
I kept changing my avatar because I would get bored with seeing the same thing each time. But I found that it is not only easier for me to remember who each poster is - especially if they use an actual photo of themselves - but also to foind my own posts each time. So once I get back on my own computer I'll put up another avatar again.
As for how I did it - I would just right click on a photo I liked and copy it, then paste it onto my windows photo gallery. Then when I wanted to post a pic here I would just go to "edit avatar", then select "browse files", pick photos and click on the one I wanted to use. Easy.
Well I tried to add my avatar with a picture of a foxhound that looks like ours. Let's see if it worked.
ETA:- yay, it worked. Thanks , Mrs M!
treehugger
11-3-11, 6:12pm
Cute! I love foxhounds.
Kara
fidgiegirl
11-3-11, 6:24pm
You guys, thanks for taking the challenge so seriously! It's going to be nice to see all these new avatars! :)
I am getting so tired of mine...shopping for another! I ditto others, it is nice to see who everyone is.
Put up the old "Tank Girl" avatar (does look like me - not sure if that's good or bad :-) but will put up a "real" pic once I get one scanned to my computer.
And it would be nice if people put up some photos in their albums like we always wanted on the old boards but never had (except as a yahoo group thing seperate fromt he boards).
I'm lovin' it! This is great! Awesome pics everybody!
Spartana, the avatar you had a month or so ago of you storming the beach was the best! I thought that one suited you to a t!
Razz. You're welcome.
fidgiegirl
11-4-11, 6:11pm
Oh! Spartana! I never knew we even had such a feature. I see that it is under the "Community" tab. I will have to go add some!
Spartana, the avatar you had a month or so ago of you storming the beach was the best! I thought that one suited you to a t!
I don't remember that one but will look thru my pics for it. Still in the process of figuring out how to use a ditgital camera, scanner and posting pics. Will figure it all out one day.
Oh! Spartana! I never knew we even had such a feature. I see that it is under the "Community" tab. I will have to go add some!
Also under your settings you can see you "albums" and edit & upload pics to that. It's the only way I know how to post pics on this site - I save them to my album and then post them in a thread. But if you have a photo site like snapfish you can put photos directly in a thread without putting them in your albums. I use to have photos in my albums but removed them because no one else did itr. Hopefully more people will do that now that this site seems to be up and running smoothly. Also, if you do post a pic in a thread post directly from your album and then delete it from the album, it also deletes it from the post.
Also, if you do post a pic in a thread post directly from your album and then delete it from the album, it also deletes it from the post.
That's because when you post it in a thread, it's not really there, you're just providing a pointer to the pic in your album. When you delete it from the album, the pointer points at nothing. Get the point? :laff:
That's because when you post it in a thread, it's not really there, you're just providing a pointer to the pic in your album. When you delete it from the album, the pointer points at nothing. Get the point? :laff:
Yeah I'm slow :-)! Learned the hard way (and still forget about it) when I would delete pics in my album only to discover they were gone from my posts too. Oh well c'est la vie!
Also, is there a way to enlarge other people's avatar pics as some (like your new one) are hard to see so small? Or maybe I just need glasses!
Yeah I'm slow :-)! Learned the hard way (and still forget about it) when I would delete pics in my album only to discover they were gone from my posts too. Oh well c'est la vie!
Also, is there a way to enlarge other people's avatar pics as some (like your new one) are hard to see so small? Or maybe I just need glasses!
No, not really.
Here it is, along with a companion pic. It's of my wife and I riding the Devils Staircase outside Boone NC back in August. One is coming and one is going.
http://lefttoright.net/images/devils staircase 1
http://lefttoright.net/images/devils staircase 2
Very cool Alan. You're making me jealous!
No, not really.
Here it is, along with a companion pic. It's of my wife and I riding the Devils Staircase outside Boone NC back in August. One is coming and one is going.
http://lefttoright.net/images/devils staircase 1
http://lefttoright.net/images/devils staircase 2
And where's the one of you in traction from your accident? :0!
which I'm sure you have recovered fully from.>8)
now, how do we post full sized pictures into threads from our computers again?
....now, how do we post full sized pictures into threads from our computers again?
To post a picture in a thread it needs to already exist somewhere accessible from the internet such as a flickr album or within a personal album you set up on this site.
They you just need to copy the url to the picture within beginning and ending 'img' tags in your post.
In my post, the pictures exist on my personal web server so I need only put my beginning tag then put in the address to the image, followed by the closing tag . In my case, the url to the top pic is http://lefttoright.net/images/devils%20staircase%201 Put the img tags on either side of that and it'll show up within the post.
You can use the 'Insert Image' link at the top of the reply box to do it automatically.
When you do this you are telling the reader's browser where to find the image so that it can be rendered on each reader's screen.
And where's the one of you in traction from your accident? :0!
which I'm sure you have recovered fully from.>8)
I did break a rib on that trip, but that was from a hiking accident when silly me slipped and fell on a mossy boulder. I'm happy to report that I'm good as new now, but there were about 6 uncomfortable weeks of recovery. Thanks for asking.
Alan. Super-fabulous pictures!!! This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8]) one's for you!
OK, I followed the directions in the first post. If this works and I haven't screwed it up, it'll be a picture of my horse Zar, dressed in his purple turnout sheet ( I try to tell him purple is a masculine color). Let's see....
Awesome, Pony mom! What a beautiful picturesque setting.
fidgiegirl
11-5-11, 8:22am
I did break a rib on that trip, but that was from a hiking accident when silly me slipped and fell on a mossy boulder. I'm happy to report that I'm good as new now, but there were about 6 uncomfortable weeks of recovery. Thanks for asking.
Oh geez, Alan! Glad you are ok now!
Lovely pics, all.
OK, I followed the directions in the first post. If this works and I haven't screwed it up, it'll be a picture of my horse Zar, dressed in his purple turnout sheet ( I try to tell him purple is a masculine color). Let's see....
Purple is a regal color (in by gone days) so he is very kingly and masculine!
Thanks Alan. I will set up a flickr account and try this. When you say the img tag, do you mean the actual letters img on either end of the url?
Is my new avatar recognizable? It is supposed to be the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen from the Hans Christian Andersen story.
And it would be nice if people put up some photos in their albums like we always wanted on the old boards but never had (except as a yahoo group thing seperate fromt he boards).
Yes, yes it would. So I just put a few in my album of my fabulous pets. :D
Thanks Alan. I will set up a flickr account and try this. When you say the img tag, do you mean the actual letters img on either end of the url?
Yes, this is an opening image tag:
This is a closing image tag:
Put those on either side of the url to your picture and the image will be displayed within your post.
Yes, this is an opening image tag:
This is a closing image tag:
Put those on either side of the url to your picture and the image will be displayed within your post.
OK, great! Thanks. You are a computer god!
Purple is a regal color (in by gone days) so he is very kingly and masculine!
Yes, I think so too. Of course, with the nickname Sweetpea, he doesn't feel very kingly most days. But he can be a bit of a studmuffin, especially around mares. He'll puff himself up and feel an inch or two taller. He's so stinkin' cute.
When I'm tired of his photo, I'll change it to one of my late dog, Gemma, in her flowery straw hat. My sister thought she needed a hat to wear in the country.
fidgiegirl
11-5-11, 9:11pm
mermaid, lovely!
peggy, once upon a time I posted instructions for how to post pics from Flickr. Very easy, but a bit different than what we've been discussing so far. Hopefully this will help:
1. When ready to grab the pic out of Flickr to put in the forum post, access my Flickr account on the computer and go to the picture.
2. Above the pic there is a little "Actions" and FB, Twitter icons area. Click the little arrow.
3. I select "Grab the HTML/BB Code"
4. I choose "BB code" and "small." (BB code is Bulletin Board code)
5. I copy the BB code directly into my post at SLN. The little image icon is not involved at all.
Thanks fidgiegirl. I'll have to try that.
I liked the way we were asked to describe our faces and figures, which were usually much different than our image of others. It was fun since it was so different than what we thought by reading their posts.
I liked the way we were asked to describe our faces and figures, which were usually much different than our image of others. It was fun since it was so different than what we thought by reading their posts.
Yeah that was fun - and I still envision you as a Nicole Kidman look alike. I don't know why but that's the image I have of you oin my head.
Thanks for the challenges and the great instructions, Fidgiegirl! I had tried to do the avatar when I first signed up but was unsuccessful and quickly gave up on it. I don't own a digital camera so my images are limited, but this will work for now. This is a pic of my roses in the summer.
Absolutely love everyone's avatars!
Mermaid. I spent some time looking at pictures of the famous Copenhagen statue (after you created your avatar), so beautiful, yet with the special effects added to yours it makes it extraordinary!
fidgiegirl
11-6-11, 7:38pm
Lovely, lovely roses, watergoddess. I am seeing other avatars popping up, even if people aren't checking in here. Gooooodyyyyyyy!!!!!!
treehugger
11-7-11, 12:44pm
Is my new avatar recognizable? It is supposed to be the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen from the Hans Christian Andersen story.
Nice! I feel very lucky to have seen that statue in person.
Kara
Thanks for the instructions! Finally got this done.
I think we should have a couple avatars...I wanted a very angry looking avatar just now as I was commenting on the Penn State mess...a happy face next my comment just didn't seem to go!
Bastelmutti
11-9-11, 6:28pm
Great suggestion!
<- My guy is Totoro from the Japanese movie My Neighbor Totoro. We're big Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli fans around here!
Very nice picture, Beckyliz.
Greg44. I know what you're saying. I've felt the same way a few times.
Bastelmutti. I've always wondered about you avatar, so it's great finding out about it's history.
Mighty Frugal
11-11-11, 12:37pm
Not sure if mine is working..having hard time-keeps sayin g'upload failed...grrr..I've tried gifs and jpgs and pdfs..even brought it into photoshop..
Mighty Frugal
11-11-11, 12:38pm
Hey, it worked!! Not sure what I did but it worked
I love it, Mighty Frugal!
Bartleby
11-11-11, 10:53pm
testing
fidgiegirl
11-13-11, 7:35pm
All, I'm so happy about how seriously people have taken the challenge! It's truly lovely to associate a username with an image. I feel I can differentiate among all our varied members so much better. I hope those who haven't yet had a chance will still give it a try.
Gardenarian
11-16-11, 7:48pm
I am really enjoying the new avatars - it makes me feel like I'm getting to know you all better.
It really is so much easier to remember the face than the name!
Spartana
11-17-11, 12:22pm
It would be nice if people would put an enlarged version of their avatar here in a post (like Alan did of his avatar) at least one time because some are hard to make out clearly in the smaller size. But once we see them larger, then we will always remember what they were when we look at them in the smaller size. Also don't forget to post pics (in post or on the albums here) - as us nosey people like to see what you've done, where you've been, where you're going, what you're doing, building, growing, making, etc... even if you don't want to put up personal photos of yourself.
fidgiegirl
11-30-11, 8:00am
People, this thread has kind of simmered down, but as it is the end of November thought I would just express my gratitude one more time for all the people who took the time to put up an avatar. It just really gives me a point of reference for who is who and it's great!!
Fidgiegirl. How about when members change-up their avatars? I've changed mine up a couple times now. I would venture to guess that, like anything else, members will warm to members new avatars, but I'm just presenting the scenario here to see what others have to say about it.
fidgiegirl
11-30-11, 8:46am
I don't personally think it's a problem in any way . . .
I changed my avatar a few times as I work out the kinks of doing it - as well as posting pics. Had a "real" pic of myself up for awhile - and really like that when other's do it like Fidgiegirl - but it was a "nice", well groomed, girly-girl pic of me (totally unlike the real me Ha Ha) so went with something that reflects my true scruffiness and personality instead and used the other pic ias my profile pic. I like it when people change out theirs on occasion or to suit the situation. Keeps things fresh and fun!
Now we should name which avatar is our favorite. I vote for cat womans. Cracks me up everytime I see it.
fidgiegirl
11-30-11, 6:37pm
LOL, Spartana. I can see why!! :)
It would be nice if people would put an enlarged version of their avatar here in a post (like Alan did of his avatar) at least one time because some are hard to make out clearly in the smaller size. But once we see them larger, then we will always remember what they were when we look at them in the smaller size. Also don't forget to post pics (in post or on the albums here) - as us nosey people like to see what you've done, where you've been, where you're going, what you're doing, building, growing, making, etc... even if you don't want to put up personal photos of yourself.
albums here? do we have albums here?
testing
Bartleby, where in Tokyo do you live? I lived there for 3 years at the turn of the century. We lived in Fussa, about 10 minutes from the train station. I still miss it. Japan really gets into you. Strangely enough I really miss that blend of car exhaust, fried whatever and oddly enough grape juice (sometimes) that always hung in the air. And yakisoba;)
Originally posted by Spartana.
I like it when people change out theirs on occasion or to suit the situation. Keeps things fresh and fun!That's it! The answer I needed. Every so often I'll come across a picture that makes me say to myself, "that's me", or, "that used to be me", and I'll save it with intentions on using it one day. (Here, specifically). I agree about the freshness aspect.
albums here? do we have albums here?
Yep! scroll up top and go click on "community" and then "albums". Then you can create an album if you want by uploading pics to it. Very easy. It is the only way I know how to post pics in threads here since I don't have a photo sharing site. I occasionally go thru and delete my album photos which also deletes them in the posts too. Doh!
LOL, Spartana. I can see why!! :)
Here's a blurry pic of the "real" me - not too well groomed at all!. I know this photo makes Mrs. M cringe (ha ha). My "Tank Girl" avatar fits better than my profile pic :-)!
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=583&d=1322764727
Love it, Spartana! Love the attitude as well as the dirt (it IS dirt, right?)
Looks like oily hand prints to me. You coasties and your close quarters. :|(
He He! No oily handprints - at least not from anyone that lived to tell about it :-)!. But it is oil from just installing 2 new diesel engines on our ship (notice the crane). I actually had coveralls and a shirt on before, so that pic is AFTER I cleaned up a bit!
Great picture, Spartana. Somewhere around here, I have a picture of me on a ladder wiring on a central office mainframe. Just so some distant future relative can see how an ancestral twig made her living.
Originally posted by Spartana.
I know this photo makes Mrs. M cringe (ha ha).LMAO! Great picture Spartana. "In the moment" pictures are always the best.
Great picture, Spartana. Somewhere around here, I have a picture of me on a ladder wiring on a central office mainframe. Just so some distant future relative can see how an ancestral twig made her living.
Ha Ha - I'd love to see that photo of you! Of course we'll probably look like knuckle-dragging hairy-armed ape-girls to our future ancesters being we are so unevolved :-)!. I think most of the things I did in my life gave my past ancesters strokes - especially my Mom ;-)! Of course it took me a day to realize Fidgirgirl was "LOLing" my reference to Catwomans avatar and not my own scruffy one. Oh well, maybe I need a snail avatar as I'm sooooooo sllllooowwww......
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.