Customizing the Profile Avatar: Part Three

Customizing the Profile Avatar

This is the third and final tutorial for customizing your profile avatar. Although this is probably one of the easier methods, it does have a lot more steps than the others simply because there are so many options when designing the avatar with the Avatar Maker. Right, you don't know what the Avatar Maker is yet, but you will by the time we are finished so let's get started...


Method 3: Customizing Your Profile Avatar Using the Avatar Maker


Step 1: Opening the Avatar Maker

Once again we are going to skip the initial steps to bring you to the Profile Editing page, so go ahead and refer back to method one if needed. When you're back to the Profile Editing page move to the fourth field and click on the Edit Avatar link to open the Avatar Maker. (see Figure 3.1)

Figure 3.1



Step 2: Creating Your Custom Avatar

Depending on your browser and its settings, when the Avatar Maker window opens you may see a grey screen that says 'Select for Adobe Flash'. Don't worry, the feature is no danger to your computer or its security, all the message represents is that the browser plugin for using Adobe Flash is not currently activated on your computer. Just click anywhere on the grey area and you should receive a pop-up message asking if you want to allow Adobe Flash to run - click on allow and the Avatar Maker will open. You may be redirected back to the main Profile Editing page, but now in the fourth box you should see an avatar image. This is the default. Click again on the Edit Avatar link to open the Avatar Maker window (see Figure 3.2)

Figure 3.2



Step 3: Saving Your Customized Avatar

At first run, a welcome screen will open. Just click anywhere on that screen to make it go away. You can now begin using the Avatar Maker. I'm not going to bother with writing a tutorial for using the Avatar Maker itself because I'm sure most people will handle this part with no problem. Just use all the options at the top to change the looks of your avatar and click the Save Avatar button when you are happy with your avatar (see Figure 3.3)

Figure 3.3



Step 4: Reviewing the avatar settings

Once you save in the Avatar Maker you should be returned to the main Profile Editing page. Just like before we are going to review the settings and then save the changes as a final step. First, check the first field to make sure your created avatar is displayed there. The avatar you created with the Avatar Maker is considered your default avatar, so next check to make sure the radio button that says 'Use only your Default Avatar' is selected, and if not, click in the circle to select it. Once you've done those two things, click the Save Avatar Changes button (see Figure 3.4)

Figure 3.4



You're all done creating your custom avatar. You are free to use whichever method you prefer and you can change your avatar as many times as you would like. As we've discussed previously, your avatar is displayed by default in both your main profile and the mini-profile. See Figure 3.5 for an example of where the custom avatar displays in the mini-profile in all posts.

Figure 3.5



So that's it for our tutorials on customizing your profile avatar. If you have questions regarding this method, you can post them to this thread.

In His blessings,
Brian McConnell
Forum Owner