I have tried but cannot find a website that allows me to easily
download avatars (for Macintosh) to use when I go on a message board
or forum.  I am a member of several message boards/forums in which
many users have a graphic (avatar?) next to their user name or use an
avatar in theor messages.  It is difficult to find a site that is Mac
compatible, and do you know of any good ones that are easy to use for
a novice?  What prices/sites are reasonable or common?

---

Request for Question Clarification by tlspiegel-ga on 15 Jan 2005 12:34 PST

Hi rara11,

I'm posting this as a clarification - if this works for you please
post a clarification to let me know.


Here are the instructions for downloading any image (graphic) from the internet:
  
1. Open your Web browser

2. Go to the Web page that contains the image. 

3. If you are using a Macintosh, hold down the control key while
clicking on the picture, release the control key, and choose Save this
image as from the menu that appears. This can also be done by
positioning the mouse pointer over the picture, then clicking the
mouse button and holding it down for a few seconds.

4. Save the image.
If you are using a Macintosh, click the 'Desktop' button, make note of
the file name that appears in the 'Save image as:' text box, and click
the 'Save' button.

On both Windows and Macintosh computers, you can save an image by
dragging it to the Desktop. To drag the image, click on it, and while
keeping the mouse pressed down, move the image to the Desktop and
release it. If you want the image saved to a specific folder, open it,
resize both the browser and folder window so they both fit on the
screen, and drag the image to the desired location.

=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

---

Clarification of Question by rara11-ga on 15 Jan 2005 13:09 PST

Hi--Yes this answers my question but the first part is missing. What
sites are the best to go to to download an avatar?  For example, can I
do it using Google images and follow the instructions you gave me,
and/or do you know of any other places to find avatars for message
boards?  I am really inexperienced at doing anything except picking an
avatar posted on a forum site to use with your profile.  Thank you.

Hi rara11,

Thank you for your question.

Sure... you can go to Google Images, or to sites that have collections
of avatars for download.

You can also pick something from a site that you like - if there
aren't any copyright restrictions.

For ex., I just changed my avatar recently to Yoda from Star Wars, and
I found the image while browsing along some Star Wars websites.  I
liked the image and applied it to all the message boards/forums I go
to.

Now - let's back track a bit.  Most all forums allow you to have an
avatar *after* a certain amount of posts have been made by you in
their forum.

For ex., until you have reached 50 posts you're not permitted to use
one, or until after you've posted 10 posts, etc.  So you'll have to
follow each particular message board's rules.

If you have the desired number of postings, then go for it.

In addition, as a commenter stated, each forum software allows an
image to be only in certain dimensions and only certain file types. 
If you stick with .jpg and .gif you shouldn't have any problems.

As for the dimensions, each forum has their own specifics and after
you have attempted to upload the image from your computer to the Forum
- you'll either get a message that the image is too large or if it's
the right dimensions or smaller then it will be accepted.

After you've located an image you like (and I'll help you out there
with links to sites with images) go to the User Control Panel of the
forum and try to upload the image.

I will *not* be able to walk you through how to use each message
boards avatar upload directions... however, if you post for help on
the message boards - generally one of the moderators or members will
be happy to assist you.

Also, many Message Boards provide you with a selection of avatars.

I am now going to offer you sites where you can easily find images you like.  


HotAvatars.com
http://www.hotavatars.com/

To get a feel for how to do this, let's use this for an example.

Let's say you like Animals.  We'll start with the first set.
Click on the Animals link --> You'll see several rows of very small
images.  Butterflies, dogs, frogs, cats, etc.

Now left click on any of the pictures --> You'll be taken to a larger
picture.  Now follow the directions I gave you:

***
Hold down the control key while clicking on the picture, release the
control key, and choose Save this image as from the menu that appears.
This can also be done by positioning the mouse pointer over the
picture, then clicking the mouse button and holding it down for a few
seconds.

4. Save the image.
If you are using a Macintosh, click the 'Desktop' button, make note of
the file name that appears in the 'Save image as:' text box, and click
the 'Save' button.

On both Windows and Macintosh computers, you can save an image by
dragging it to the Desktop. To drag the image, click on it, and while
keeping the mouse pressed down, move the image to the Desktop and
release it. If you want the image saved to a specific folder, open it,
resize both the browser and folder window so they both fit on the
screen, and drag the image to the desired location.
***


(I also want to point out the numbered links at the bottom of the
page.  You'll see numbers from 1 - 33.  If you click on 33 on the
HotAvatars.com
site, you'll be taken to a page where you'll see a small image of a
raccoon second row, first one on the left.  If you click on that
raccoon you'll be taken to a larger image.

If you click on any of those numbers, you'll be directed to another
page of avatars.  Keep doing that until you find something you like.)

Use your back button to go back to locate more images. 

HotAvatars.com has many categories to choose from!

=========

BlackMax PC
http://www.blackmaxpc.com/avatarsmiles/avasmiles.htm

Scroll to: View the Free Avatars Gallery
Select the Gallery and click VIEW to see Female Avatars, Cartoon
Avatars, and Gothic in Gif, Animated and more

Click on what appeals to you in the menu bar and then Click View.
For ex., Click on Austin Powers, Click on View.  You'll see 5 images. 
Follow the directions I gave you.

========= 

As my colleague, pinkfreud suggested, this site has a lot of
categories to choose from:

AlienEntity - Free Avatars
http://www.entity.cc/free-avatars.php

Again, find a category that appeals to you.  Click on the name where
it will link you to another page of avatars.  Select something you
like and follow the directions.

For ex., at the bottom of the page you'll see Funny Avatars.  Click on
that and follow my directions.

=========

Saiyanarena.com
http://www.saiyanarena.com/en/freeavatars

=========

Avatars by chezanne
http://www.geocities.com/mychezanne/working/avatars.html

You'll see categories on the left.

=========

Deviantart.com
http://vandeneng.deviantart.com/journal/2630454/

Categories on left side of page.  Click on the word [link] to be
directed to the page.

=========

Disney Avatars - Kerri's Avatars
http://www.johnswdwpage.com/avatars.htm

Notice all the categories listed on the left side of the page!

=========


search:
Personal knowledge on how to save images


keywords:
MAC download avatars message boards forums
free avatars
avatars download sites

=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

Thank you for your answer. It was very thorough and also clear and
informative.  I will need to practice doing what you said but I feel
much more informed.

You can go to any site to find images to use as avatars.
Note however, that most forums/message boards require specific image
types, and/or size restraints.
You should check that the image you want to use as an avatar fits the
size limits (in pixels and filesize), and the file type. If the image
is too large or has the wrong file type, it might get rejected by the
forum.
This can, however, be fixed by taking the image in an image editing
software, and resizing/reformatting it to match the requirements of
the forum.
if you have any other questions/requests about this, feel free to ask.

Many avatars are available here:

http://www.entity.cc/free-avatars.php

Thanks very much!  This was very helpful. I will check into the
size/file types, etc. and I will probably look into imaging software.

Also thanks to pinkfreud for the website.

Hi rara11,

Thank you for the 5 star rating, comments and generous tip!  :)

Best regards,
tlspiegel