Forum question: Avatars

[DSS5]

What is the maximum pixel and file size for avatars, I couldn't find either one in settings.

I figured out from looking at other people's that a standard user's limit is 80x80. Now I wish to know what magic some users are using (like Thing 342 and vdeane) are using to have their non-square shaped avatars blend in with any post background.

[rickmastfan67]

Now I wish to know what magic some users are using (like Thing 342 and vdeane) are using to have their non-square shaped avatars blend in with any post background.

Their images have a transparent background to them.

[vtk]

[A]vatars that are uploaded to the AARoads server ... width: 150px, height: 80px.

For avatars that are hosted elsewhere and linked to the forums, the size limit [is] 65x65.

...

Users are more than welcome to upload their avatars to the AARoads server.  Please keep avatars within the size limit.

If you want an avatar where the background shows through in parts, you'll need to use an image format which supports transparency, and of course an image editor that knows how to work with transparency.

[vdeane]

Also, in my case, it's one of the built-in avatars.

[J N Winkler]

I use PNG.  I am not sure my avatar has any areas that are completely transparent, but it does have a fade effect which requires an image format that supports alpha-channel transparency, which PNG does.

[DSS5]

Thanks everyone! I found out by googling that Paint on Windows 8 can't save transparency, so I used an online image editor. I now have it looking pretty much the way I want it to.

[Alps]

Pretty sure the max width is above 80 now.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2178.msg49218#msg49218

150 width, 80 height

[vtk]

Wasn't that thread about avatar sizes a sticky before?

[rickmastfan67]

Wasn't that thread about avatar sizes a sticky before?

I thought so too.  I'll make a note to dig around later today and see if I can find it and re-sticky it.

[Truvelo]

I didn't realise PNG supports transparency. I have an early version of Photoshop Elements and there's no option for it. I've always used GIF Construction Set but that only supports GIF.

[rickmastfan67]

I didn't realise PNG supports transparency. I have an early version of Photoshop Elements and there's no option for it. I've always used GIF Construction Set but that only supports GIF.

Download GIMP then.  Your mind will be blown, but in a good way.

[vtk]

I didn't realise PNG supports transparency. I have an early version of Photoshop Elements and there's no option for it. I've always used GIF Construction Set but that only supports GIF.

PNG supports full RGBA color mode, with up to 16 bits per channel (though almost no software knows what do do with more than 8 bits per channel).  So you can have translucent pixels (which enables anti-aliasing against background) and aren't limited to a 256-color palette.

Years ago, there was limited use for PNG on the Internet.  It was supported by IE and most other browsers, but IE6 (most of the market at the time) didn't display RGBA-type PNG images correctly.  It did correctly display paletted PNGs with a transparent color, but since this offered no practical advantages over GIF, few people bothered.

The only reason GIF is still around is because there's so little software support for Animated PNG.

[hotdogPi]

I have a picture of Alanland Interstate -0.5 on my computer from the Shield Generator, but when I try to use it as an avatar, it says "either too large or not an avatar". Is there any way to fix this? (I can't show you the picture, because it's on my computer and not on the Internet.)

[DaBigE]

I have a picture of Alanland Interstate -0.5 on my computer from the Shield Generator, but when I try to use it as an avatar, it says "either too large or not an avatar". Is there any way to fix this? (I can't show you the picture, because it's on my computer and not on the Internet.)

Resize it so that both the horizontal and vertical dimensions are smaller than or equal to the maximums (150 and 80 pixels respectively), and save it in one of the typical image formats (jpeg, png, and tiff all work, IIRC).

[rickmastfan67]

Wasn't that thread about avatar sizes a sticky before?

I thought so too.  I'll make a note to dig around later today and see if I can find it and re-sticky it.

Just found it and made it a Sticky again.

[rickmastfan67]

I have a picture of Alanland Interstate -0.5 on my computer from the Shield Generator, but when I try to use it as an avatar, it says "either too large or not an avatar". Is there any way to fix this? (I can't show you the picture, because it's on my computer and not on the Internet.)

The image needs to be in the following formats:

PNG
GIF
JPG

And it needs to follow the size limitations outlined in this thread.

[D-Dey65]

I just tried to add this link as my avatar:
http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/-still-not-finished-in-boston-central-new-jersey-or-washington-dc/

It still hasn't worked. Evidently I still haven't shrunk the copy I've saved down enough.

[NE2]

Never will be finished.

[Zeffy]

Never will be finished.

Most likely.

I just tried to add this link as my avatar:
<snip>
It still hasn't worked. Evidently I still haven't shrunk the copy I've saved down enough.

I believe avatars must be a maximum of 150 x 80 pixels. That's what I can get away with when I'm sizing my avatars. You could always use an I-95 shield from this site, then put your title to 'Still not finished in Boston, Central NJ, or DC' (assuming it all fits), because at the size the avatars must be, that text may be hard to read.

[hbelkins]

OK, is there a reason the forum won't accept an 85 x 85 JPG that I am trying to upload as an avatar?

[hotdogPi]

OK, is there a reason the forum won't accept an 85 x 85 JPG that I am trying to upload as an avatar?

Maybe try 80 x 80?

[hbelkins]

Yeah, I was off by 5 pixels. Thought it was 85 for the height; it's actually 80. My bad.

BTW, that's a real picture of Grumpy Cat being held by my wife.

[NE2]

Hot wife.

[vtk]

Yeah, I was off by 5 pixels. Thought it was 85 for the height; it's actually 80. My bad.

BTW, that's a real picture of Grumpy Cat being held by my wife.

You seem to really like Grumpy Cat. Does the Weather Kitty app only do Grumpy Cat pics, or are othere themes available?

[hbelkins]

It comes with a general cat theme. There are several add-ons available, of which Grumpy is one. My wife got the Lil Bub theme. She got to hold and pet both of them last summer. She went to Minneapolis/St. Paul for a Depeche Mode concert at the Minnesota State Fair, and stayed for the cat video festival the next night. Grumpy and Bub were both there and were both at an appearance at the museum that sponsored the festival the next day.