Best programs for Avatars and Sigs

[SimplyShadow]

I would like to start creating my own sigs and avatars for use in forums.
Like for signature pictures, im sure everyone uses photoshop to make those.
But my question is:
What is the suggested size,  and How can you host this image appropriatley?
What is the name of the program that takes videos in gunbound?
Can you use a .gif animator to creat an icon, rather than a video?

Sorry if this annoys anyone, i would just like to know which program is the easiest and best to use for making such things. I know how to use photoshop and such, its self explanitory to me! I would probably just take digital art and put my name in cool letters over that anyways haha nothing original for me! ^^


haha like i used MS paint to make this a LOOONNG time ago Rofl.
>>Click Here<<

[rukmedes]

1. Avatars and Sigs have a Size Limit. You should always check every forum's rules to see what they are.
2. You can use a free host like imageshack and stuff, or you can pay for a host or get a friend to host pictures for you. I'm thinking of opening image hosting on one of my domains.
3. FRAPS records video from inside games, its a nifty not free tool.
4. Alot of people use Imageready for creating .gifs. If you have Photoshop, you'll have Imageready. Animagic GIF Studio was good in its day. You can also use programs like virtualdub to take screencaps/frames from avi and other video files to use in gifs.

[SimplyShadow]

Thnx man i  will definatly look into it and start making my own when i have the time!  

[Ybom]

However you forget the millions of free tools out there.[ol type='1'][li]A GPL'ed photoshop program, without a few photoshop features missing, is Gimp 2.* It's very good for separating out the color bands for noise reduction, has a scripting section, and has a few innovative tutorials on its site. I mean with it you can actually take a blurry ass photo and turn it into a very sharp one with about 30 mins work. I personally think it's easier to get used to than photoshop, and even with the GTK+ emulator, it still loads faster.[/li][li]I have to find the url, but if you want a barebones freeware gif animator, google for microsoft gif animator. It's one of those cool things you can still find on the net left over from Win3.11.[/li][li]A freeware and easy image manipluation program (with a couple of decent effect filters), which I use to quickly see what I got in a given directory, is Irfanview. I generally use it to convert images to a different format or resolution, because I generally like how it smart-blurs as it shrinks, almost antialias like.[/li][li]A very unique freeware program, used to generate 'fractal flame' images is Apohpysis. I suggest firing it up and messing with the modifier window. I mean how cool is a heart shaped fractal? Insanely cool it is.[/li][li]An anti-epatent program to design simple 3d models very easily and efficiently (and can be converted into the directx format of *.x with a bit of work) is Wings 3d. Fire it up and give it a whirl.[/li][li]A GPL program to design complex 3d models, with a very steep learning curve, is Blender 3d. The investment of time is very much worth it on this one, since in a smallish 4.5 mb package you get everything, plus a web driver and even a game engine.[/li][/ol]
All of these programs are under 5 mb each, if not under 1 mb. Quite amazing for such good quality programs, imo.

[SimplyShadow]

I see. I think it ouwld be easier for me to make an animated icon using gif animator. Thnx for the suggestions. i get cracked versions of everything anyways. WHO ACTUALLY PAYED FOR PHOTOSHOP?! LOL.

[Ybom]

I think most people would feel better if they actually didn't have to use a crack of a program. I think selling programs (other than games and some media packages like textures) is a turn off to many in the industry. I think more companies should do what MySQL does, and charge for the use of their program only if you're using it for profit.

However, I would still prefer to be part of a company that uses a GPL or a Creative Commons Liscense, since if there's a feature that I would like to have, I can actually modify the source of my program! That's the one thing I really give kudos to Mozilla for doing, above all other benefits, to my browser experience. If softnyx could pull something like this off for their GB without increasing risks of hacking, I think the whole community would be happy.

[TonksLT]

I would like to start creating my own sigs and avatars for use in forums.
Like for signature pictures, im sure everyone uses photoshop to make those.
But my question is:
What is the suggested size,  and How can you host this image appropriatley?
What is the name of the program that takes videos in gunbound?
Can you use a .gif animator to creat an icon, rather than a video?

Sorry if this annoys anyone, i would just like to know which program is the easiest and best to use for making such things. I know how to use photoshop and such, its self explanitory to me! I would probably just take digital art and put my name in cool letters over that anyways haha nothing original for me! ^^


haha like i used MS paint to make this a LOOONNG time ago Rofl.
>>Click Here<<

I don't. I just JASC Paint Shop Pro 8.

Size wise, I like to use around 400x150...300x100... something around there depending on what I want to do.

Use http://www.imageshack.us to host the image.

I use JASC Animation ship to make icons... (the rank thing in my sig)...  

[SimplyShadow]

Kewl. Yea i just made my sig, first time in photo shop meh. The background and character are not drawn by me of course, but i like to think i merged them well.