Looking for Avatar Help? Check here!

July 9 2003, 10:41 PM

So you want an avatar? But don't know where to host it? Or how to make one so it doesn't violate the BBS rules?

Here are some handy Avatar hints compiled by me and BlazerBoy.
Remember that you must have 100 posts before you can use an avatar!

Software

As the size of your image is restricted, you'll probably need to crop the image you want to use as your avatar or even convert it to a smaller file type.

There is loads of popular image editing software out there, but if you're stuck and on a windows OS, here are two to try:

Irfranview this is a fantastic fast image viewer, but it lets you crop and convert images too. It's also freeware and an 821.5KB download size.

If you fancy something a bit more advanced that lets you create your own images, try Paint Shop Pro. You can download an evaluation version from the page I just linked to. It's quite large though - almost 60 megabytes.

Hosting Your Avatar

The BBS doesn't let you upload your avatar to our server, for to security reasons and bandwidth worries. So you need to find some web space to host it on.

Most popular free web providers like Geocities, Tripod, Lycos, Bravenet, Freeservers, and Boomspeed among others won't let you remotely link to images - in other words, they won't let an image from their web space show up on some other web page that isn't on their web space: like on our BBS as your avatar. Don't even bother trying to get your avatar hosted there.

Not all is lost though, you can still find places to host your BBS avatar with a minimum of fuss.

Your ISP Most ISP accounts come with an allocation of free web space. This is by far the best place to host your images. Check the details of your agreement with them, or their home page for details of how to use that.

Hypermart, Netfirms, or Virtual Avenue. Same type of thing at each one. Read the user agreement carefully: they may terminate your account without notice for various reasons, but all 3 let you hotlink your images.

Suggestions for more, without bandwidth limits, gratefully accepted.

Ask A Friend

Some nice BBS-ers have web space to spare and are willing to host avatars for people if they get in touch. Try emailling these people and they might be willing to help.
Email Harkley, or OmahaStar at webmaster@isnanchordesk.com or TimeofNine at timofnine@btinternet.com and ask nicely. If anyone out there is reading this and wants to be added to this volunteer list, get in touch with me or BB and we can add you. PMs are good.

If you've got an avatar question that isn't answered here, ask in this forum. It's what it's here for!

Of course, you have read the FAQ for its Avatar entries first, haven't you?

BlazerBoy · July 11 2003, 05:25 AM

Feel free to ask any questions or post any new hosting sites you may have discovered.

Koinek · July 11 2003, 07:06 AM

Another free host:

www.100grams.com

July 11 2003, 02:38 PM

Another host (jpgs only.)

www.imagestation.com

Also, I don't see Digikitten anywhere, so this is also another free host.

Anna1 · July 11 2003, 05:41 PM

I can put avatars here for hosting.

RevdKathy · July 12 2003, 07:34 AM

I can host avs, if anyone wants. Email them to me kathy@revdkathy.com .

July 13 2003, 01:07 PM

Hey, I just registered and currently hold a Cadet level (although you can tell that). I created an .gif avatar for myself, resized it to your specifications and found a suitable host (which works). I can see my avatar in my profile, but I cannot see it when I look at my posts. Can anyone else see my avatar? Or is there something I've done wrong?

Anna1 · July 13 2003, 01:55 PM

^You have to have 100 posts before it will appear. You can see it in your profile until then.

Cradok · July 13 2003, 09:35 PM

I can host avatars for whomever wants them too. Just PM me to arrange it.

Koinek · July 14 2003, 03:19 PM

BTW, if anyone needs an avatar made, just PM me.

the_real_adamj · July 14 2003, 03:30 PM

I also make avatars and host them, feel free to ask.

BlazerBoy · July 14 2003, 09:48 PM

A mighty thanks to all the big-hearted space givers. It is duly noted and appreciated.

Angry Angel · August 11 2003, 11:39 AM

cant wait to get one

Dathek · August 11 2003, 01:41 PM

Avatars can be hosted at:

Digikitten

VillagePhotos

- Hope that helps, both are free however Village Photos has a useage limit so If you host other images as well you could go over this and loss your images for a day...

Angry Angel · August 11 2003, 02:23 PM

Villagephotos worked for me was very simple

July 9 2003, 10:41 PM	#1
Guest	Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! So you want an avatar? But don't know where to host it? Or how to make one so it doesn't violate the BBS rules? Here are some handy Avatar hints compiled by me and BlazerBoy. Remember that you must have 100 posts before you can use an avatar! Software As the size of your image is restricted, you'll probably need to crop the image you want to use as your avatar or even convert it to a smaller file type. There is loads of popular image editing software out there, but if you're stuck and on a windows OS, here are two to try: Irfranview this is a fantastic fast image viewer, but it lets you crop and convert images too. It's also freeware and an 821.5KB download size. If you fancy something a bit more advanced that lets you create your own images, try Paint Shop Pro. You can download an evaluation version from the page I just linked to. It's quite large though - almost 60 megabytes. Hosting Your Avatar The BBS doesn't let you upload your avatar to our server, for to security reasons and bandwidth worries. So you need to find some web space to host it on. Most popular free web providers like Geocities, Tripod, Lycos, Bravenet, Freeservers, and Boomspeed among others won't let you remotely link to images - in other words, they won't let an image from their web space show up on some other web page that isn't on their web space: like on our BBS as your avatar. Don't even bother trying to get your avatar hosted there. Not all is lost though, you can still find places to host your BBS avatar with a minimum of fuss. Your ISP Most ISP accounts come with an allocation of free web space. This is by far the best place to host your images. Check the details of your agreement with them, or their home page for details of how to use that. Hypermart, Netfirms, or Virtual Avenue. Same type of thing at each one. Read the user agreement carefully: they may terminate your account without notice for various reasons, but all 3 let you hotlink your images. Suggestions for more, without bandwidth limits, gratefully accepted. Ask A Friend Some nice BBS-ers have web space to spare and are willing to host avatars for people if they get in touch. Try emailling these people and they might be willing to help. Email Harkley, or OmahaStar at webmaster@isnanchordesk.com or TimeofNine at timofnine@btinternet.com and ask nicely. If anyone out there is reading this and wants to be added to this volunteer list, get in touch with me or BB and we can add you. PMs are good. If you've got an avatar question that isn't answered here, ask in this forum. It's what it's here for! Of course, you have read the FAQ for its Avatar entries first, haven't you?

July 11 2003, 05:25 AM	#2
BlazerBoy Dangerously Sexy	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Feel free to ask any questions or post any new hosting sites you may have discovered. __________________ Niners aren't linear. We're everywhere. Hillary OR Obama in 2008!

July 11 2003, 07:06 AM	#3
Koinek Vice Admiral Location: Chicago, IL	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Another free host: www.100grams.com __________________ Originally Posted by Emh: "The Dutch don't count." Originally Posted by Ominous Squirrel: "Actually, we do: een, twee, drie, etc"

July 11 2003, 02:38 PM	#4
LivingDeadGuy Guest	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Another host (jpgs only.) www.imagestation.com Also, I don't see Digikitten anywhere, so this is also another free host.

July 11 2003, 05:41 PM	#5
Anna1 Admiral	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! I can put avatars here for hosting.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

July 12 2003, 07:34 AM	#6
RevdKathy Kid with a limp Location: Throwing snowballs at RevdKathy	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! I can host avs, if anyone wants. Email them to me kathy@revdkathy.com . __________________ "God bless us, every one"

July 13 2003, 01:07 PM	#7
Guest	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Hey, I just registered and currently hold a Cadet level (although you can tell that). I created an .gif avatar for myself, resized it to your specifications and found a suitable host (which works). I can see my avatar in my profile, but I cannot see it when I look at my posts. Can anyone else see my avatar? Or is there something I've done wrong?

July 13 2003, 01:55 PM	#8
Anna1 Admiral	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! ^You have to have 100 posts before it will appear. You can see it in your profile until then.

July 13 2003, 09:35 PM	#9
Cradok Fleet Captain Location: Ireland	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! I can host avatars for whomever wants them too. Just PM me to arrange it. __________________ "I can't deal with that now because I'm trying to deal with the homocidal nutcase trying to blow you* up, Springer!"*

July 14 2003, 03:19 PM	#10
Koinek Vice Admiral Location: Chicago, IL	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! BTW, if anyone needs an avatar made, just PM me. __________________ Originally Posted by Emh: "The Dutch don't count." Originally Posted by Ominous Squirrel: "Actually, we do: een, twee, drie, etc"

July 14 2003, 03:30 PM	#11
the_real_adamj Vice Admiral Location: Sydney, Oz	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! I also make avatars and host them, feel free to ask.

July 14 2003, 09:48 PM	#12
BlazerBoy Dangerously Sexy	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! A mighty thanks to all the big-hearted space givers. It is duly noted and appreciated. __________________ Niners aren't linear. We're everywhere. Hillary OR Obama in 2008!

August 11 2003, 11:39 AM	#13
Angry Angel Vice Admiral Location: Sverige	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! cant wait to get one __________________ Beyond a critical point in a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who do survive. -Pardot Kynes

August 11 2003, 01:41 PM	#14
Dathek Fleet Captain	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Avatars can be hosted at: Digikitten VillagePhotos - Hope that helps, both are free however Village Photos has a useage limit so If you host other images as well you could go over this and loss your images for a day... __________________ <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span> Nothing to see here folks. Just wanted to get in on the hype. </span><hr /></span>

August 11 2003, 02:23 PM	#15
Angry Angel Vice Admiral Location: Sverige	Re: Looking for Avatar Help? Check here! Villagephotos worked for me was very simple __________________ Beyond a critical point in a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who do survive. -Pardot Kynes