It makes me feel both naked and like a newblie

I’m know I’m not the only one.  The solution is simple — set up a Gravatar account!

About Gravatar

Gravatar is a service that provides globally unique avatars.

Most standard blogging platforms support Gravatar.  So when you go from site to site leaving comments your gravatar image automatically displays –provided the email address associated with your Gravatar’s account is used.

Here’s how simple it is:

1. Go to Gravatar and click on Get your Gravatar today!
2. Enter your email address and click Signup 
3. Go to your email account and click on the link in your gravatar confirmation email to activate your account.
4. Now follow the instructions to set your username and password.
5. Next upload your image by clicking on Add one by clicking here!
6. Choose where you’d like to get the image from – for best results ideal image size for upload is 80 x 80 pixels
7. Once uploaded click on Crop and Finish
8. Click on G Rated as many sites only support displaying avatars with a rating of G.

Presto!

Now whenever you leave a comment on a blog that supports gravatar (such as Edublogs.org, any Edublogs Campus site, WordPress.com, WordPress.org) your avatar image will automatically display next to your comment!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• If you are changing your avatar, it can take a few hours for caches to clear. Try clearing your browser’s cache by holding the Ctrl key and pressing F5, which will help.
• Check out Creating And Uploading Your Comment Avatar – for online tools you can use for creating your avatar image
  

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It’s an online representation of you that shows up in places such as where you leave comments or forum posts and is part of how others visualize who you are.

Most schools don’t allow students to use pictures of themselves on blogs or websites.  Instead of photos most students create avatars that representative of them.

Uploading your comment avatar to your blog is easy — I’ll show you how in a second.  But first let’s discuss online tools you can use to create your avatars!

For each tool I’ve included an example of the type of avatar they create and how to save the avatars (without creating an account and/or using an email address).

Important tips

Online avatar tools often create rectangular  images while normally avatars are square.

Use an image editing program (such as MS Paint, Picture Manager or iPhoto) to make your image square before uploading.

For best results resize your image to 97 pixels wide by 97 pixels high.

Here’s information to help you:

1. How to crop images using MS Paint
2. How to resize images using MS Paint
3. How to crop and resize using MS Picture Manager

Think carefully of how you want others to visualize you when choosing your avatar – it’s all about creating a positive digital identify!

Bless This Chick

Bless This Chick creates really cute female avatar (and I had lots of fun creating mine).

Once finished it’s best to select jpg image option 130 x 146 pixels and then email to yourself.

Build YourSelf Wild

Build Yourself  Wild can be used to create fairly conservative avatars (like my example below) or you can go totally wild by adding different animal parts to various areas of your avatar’s body.

To save your image:

1. Click on I’m Done
2. Now click on Print Your Wild Self
3. This will display the print version of your avatar in a new tab or window of your web browser
4. Right click on this print version and select ‘Save Image As’ or “Save Picture as’

Image size created is 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels wide.

Use programs like MS Paint or MS Picture Manager to crop your avatar into a square shape and then resize.

DoppelMe

DoppelMe is relatively easy to use.  Just click on each feature you want to add to your avatar and it is automatically added (or changed).

A few features are only accessible if you create a DoppelMe account and are logged in.  However you can still create cool avatars (and save them) without an account.

Image size created is 100 pixels wide by 200 pixels wide.

To use your avatar’s full body it’s best not to add a background so you can make your image square.

To save your completed avatar:

1. Right click on your avatar
2. Select ‘Save Image As’ or “Save Picture as’

Dream Avatar Creator

Dream Avatar Creator is also relatively easy to use.

Just click on each feature you want to add to your avatar and it is automatically added (or changed).

To save your completed avatar:

1. Right click on your avatar
2. Select ‘Save Image As’ or “Save Picture as’

Image size created is 120 pixels wide by 150 pixels wide.

Face your Manga

A good aspect of Face your Manga is that it creates square shaped avatars so you don’t need to crop or change your image shape.

Unfortunately some of the ads on this site aren’t necessary ideal – check suitability for your student first!

To save your completed avatar:

1. Click on the PrtScn button on your keyboard (this takes a screenshot of your entire desktop) or click on Alt + PrtScrn to take a screenshot of the web browser page
2. Open up MS Paint
3. Hold your Ctrl key and then press V key to paste your screenshot into MS Paint 
4. Now just select the avatar and crop (Image > Crop) — then Save your image

On a Mac:  use Apple (Command) Key + Shift + 4 to take a screenshot of your avatar only.

Hero Factory

The Hero Factory creates action hero avatars.

Be warned the bodies of  most females hero’s may be a bit too voluptuous (my avatar covered up ).

Once you’ve completed save your avatar using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

The Mini Mixer

The Mini Mixer creates a lego avatar – ideal for your lego loving students

Once you’ve completed save your avatar using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

Mr. PicassoHead

Mr. PicassoHead creates a more artistic like avatar – ideal for those wanting something a bit different.

Once you’ve completed save your avatar using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

Definitely fun — but I mightn’t be very artistic!

Simpsons Avatar

The Simpsons Avatar is definitely for those lovers of the Simpsons.

Just create your own Simpson avatar then save it using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

WeeMee

WeeMee is also relatively easy to use.

Just click on each feature you want to add to your avatar and it is automatically added (or changed). However terms of services are for over 13 years of age.

Once you’ve completed save your avatar using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

TizMe

TizMe is also excellent fun for creating avatars however terms of services state for over 13 years of age.

Once you’ve completed save your avatar using the PrtScn method – same as described above for Face your Manga.

Uploading your Avatar

Now you’ve created your avatar uploading it to your blog is as simple as:

1. Go to Users > Your Avatar or Profile > Your Avatar inside your blog dashboard
2. Click on Browse, locate your avatar on your computer and click Open
3. Now click Upload
   
4. Once uploaded select the part of the image you want to use as the avatar and then click Crop Image
   
5. Now whenever you leave comment on your blog or (another Edublogs.org blog) your avatar will display with your comment.

Please note:

1. If you have trouble cropping your avatar once uploaded – you need to upload again by click on Browse, locate your avatar and then click on the Alternative Upload button.
2. Your new avatar mightn’t appear immediately on new comments – try holding the Ctrl key and pressing F5 to clear your browser cache
3. For best results resize your image to 97 pixels wide by 97 pixels high before uploading.

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