OK, I am really jealous of all those cool picture strip sigs everyone has--but I can't figure how to do one. :( Can anyone help??

Do you know how to use Photoshop? I mean, I barely do, but enough that I was able to string five images together.

I don't have photoshop, but you might be surprised what you can do with the freeware that comes with your computer: I'd suggest working with Micro$oft Paint. Really. You can specify how large you want the thing to be, so after cutting & pasting some screenshots into a new file, all you really have to do is resize it at the end. I've never done it myself, but I've done a lot of stuff just like it, I don't see why that wouldn't work. --ekny

Working backward: to take a screenshot, hit <print screen> on your keyboard. That copies a screenshot to the (invisible) clipboard on your computer. Then open Paint. Open a new file. Paste (control-V) the picture into the new file & crop it however you want. Save it "as" a jpg. You can open MULTIPLE copies (very important!) of Paint so that you can basically add pieces to this original photo. I.e. go back to take another screenshot, copy it into a new file in the second version of Paint you have open, then after you've cropped it, paste *that* file into the first file. It's really very simple.

I use Photoshop, but I know Gimp is very much like Photoshop and PSP, but it's free. There are less things you can do with it, but... it's free. And from what I've heard, it's simpler, so that could be a good thing.

If you do choose to download Gimp, here is a few starter tutorials which look decent to me.

Anyways, good luck. :D

Yea, I used to use Paint Shop Pro, because it was very user friendly. I haven't really used the latest Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, although, I'll be using PSP 11 soon and animation shop, as well.
You can use Macromedia Flash, it does some nice things in terms in dealing with video & having more control over the KB size of the end product.
Either way, whatever you use, you'll find there are plenty of tutorials on the web to teach you tricks.

I was thinking about trying Gimp. Only in moments of true desperation do I use MSFT paint. It's extremely frustrating just to try and crop an image with that software.

Ahhh, nice new icon, Aleasha, animated Simone keyboard sleeping icon, kawaii.

I can't get stuff reinstalled on my pc fast enough.

Makes me wish, I really had my tools in the ready. Not just to give myself a decent av & sig, but a while ago, I used to have a lot of fun of doing fancy graphics by making avs & sigs for others.

Thanks for all the help you guys! I am going to try putting one together using microsoft paint. After I have the image--how do I get it in the sig area?

Upload it to an image hosting site, such as TinyPic, and copy and paste the

link into the signature area.

HA HA I did it!! Well with a little help from the g-friend! She actually helped me string the pics together using microsoft powerpoint and then I did the tinypic thing. It is not so fancy--but for my first one I am pretty proud!! Thanks everyone for your help!! :lol:

Well done Lisa :) Sig is looking good.

Not my sig, my avatar. I need help with changing it, 'cause I've noticed that someone new has got the same pic. Being a virgo, that won't do for me. Now I've gone into my control panel and I've selected the "edit avatar" option. From there on I've removed the old one and selected the new one from my PC and told it to "update my avatar". I then even get a message to say that my new avatar has been uploaded, but when I get a preview, the old one is back like a boomerang! Am I just too impatient or what's going on here?

No, it's some weird shit with the browser & how it interacts with the site. What you have to do is BOTH log out after each action AND shut down your browser (to clear cookies, cache, et al). THEN start it up again, log in, & do the next step. It's like a three step process, at least--esp if you've any need to tweak image size. But it'll work, I guarantee you. --e

Thx e, I'll give it a shot.

ETA: Sorry e, no luck. I followed all your instructions to the t, I even went as far as deleting all cookies and temp internet files where such things could be stored, but still no luck. Any other ideas?

Hi, have you shut down the browser--literally closed it like you're quitting for the night, then restarting it? Also, are you sure the picture is small enough? because the system will totally bounce anything that's even 1 pixel over the size limit in either direction.

Our avatars are set at the size of:

150 pixels x150 pixels.

If you want to attach the image to a post here from an online source, we can look at it and see if there isn't something we can't spot as to why it isn't showing.

PS - E - your avatar is all over the place as well? Weird?

Nope, tried again this morning after restarting my computer, same result. The old avatar keeps bouncing back. The new pic is 12KB, which is about half of the permitted size - too small?

I ditched the sig cartoon after a few days, just wanted to see if I could do it. And I changed my avatar as well, but it's showing up ok on my various browsers, & someone PMd me to say she was glad to see the meercat again, she'd missed them! :D So I assumed all was well: did you mean it wasn't showing up alright, that it looks wrong?? --e

Yeah! I finally managed to change my avatar by uploading the pic to TinyPic, and then pasting the link. That seems to have done the trick! All other attempts to upload the image directly from my computer have failed dismally...

Well done microsofty :) Like the new av.

Thx Lisa! Now that I got the hang of it, I might change my avatar every other week! You know, spice up my life a bit... :D

I used to do that! Haven't changed mine in a while.....

YAY, congrats on getting past the avatar switching problem, microsofty! :party

Microsoftly, I am curious what your old pic was now that we have talked about it so much (I do like the new one). Someone said they really liked it because it reminded them of what Nikki/Helen would look like after Larkhall. Can you post it, or a link to it, or let us know who is using it now so i can see what pic it is? Thanks!

Microsofty's old icon was this:

It is currently in use by Kayleigh.

They were definitely both screen capped from the BG South Africa tour, but I think Microsofty's was a little darker with better definition.

Hey guys, great sigs :D

Was just going to say that I have photoshop and what with exams coming up; far too much time on my hands ;) so if anyone wanted me to play around with pics for a sig I'd be more than happy to!
x

Don't know what happened E, had your old car image showing, but sized up for your new avatar! Obviously something in the cache not working right when I first posted! Can see your Meercat now without a problem lol

Oooh Zoe! I would love some screencaps from Nikki in the library after she had her fight with Helen about Caroline (S3E12, I think). When she's on her way out the door and Helen calls her back, she turns around, waits a bit and then says "well?". I just love her looks in that scene! (Wouldn't mind using that as an avatar or maybe a sig in future).

Thx for posting washuai. I miss my old pic. I especially liked it because not only did it show H&N looking so happy post Larkhall, but also because the photo was taken, as you've pointed out, during their trip to SA - my country!!! Showing them happy in my space just was a sentimental thing to me. But I'll live, especially since Zoe is going to make me my very own pics! :rolleyes: Or maybe something from their SA trip, Zoe? In the youtube video there's a lovely one of Mandana sitting on a rock, staring into space. I quite like that one as well. Shit! Ideally I'd love a pic of both H&N to show that I'm trying to be unbiased... (Ooooh, I see I'm just as pushy as Nikki!)

I see you've broken free from procrastination, Lisa - you go girl! Like the new av.

No problem, I'll play around now :)

Argh, sorry to double post; but here you go:



Hope it's ok & you like it :)
x

I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I'm gonna stick it in my sig right now! Thx a million!!! I owe you one...

The rest of ya lovely boys & gals: Hands off my sig!!! :D

:lol: Anytime, glad it's ok!
Anything to stop me revising :rolleyes:

Check it out, I'm soooo chuffed!

Wow! Love the new sig, microsofty!

Well done, Zoe! Love your work. :clap :clap :clap

And microsofty, what was that you said elsewhere about not stirring things? Making us jealous with your new av and sig - I'd call that stirring things! :)

:lol: Cheers...& I'm happy to fanart away if anyone else wants one!

zoe, great work on mircosofty's new signature. That look on Nikki's face at that moment in that scene in the library where Hellen has just called after her....that look of expectation and vulnerablity...that Helen might express her love for her....and then it passes....season 3 is so hard to watch sometimes....

Zoe i love your sig, how do you have that much moive file in it..what programme do you use?
x

It's not a movie file, it's a reeeeeeeeally big .gif :rolleyes: I use Photoshop CS2 with Image Ready...I absolutely love it, it's an awesome bit of software. I've got a frightening amount of scenes done though so if you want one & don't have photoshop let me know :)

Yep :)

Zoe, get on with revising! (Says me, who should be doing the same!) :rolleyes:

I'll have you know I've- no wait...
I've worked really - no that's not right...

I've been for a run today?
:lol: I've got another week and a half until exam time, which leaves plenty of scope for procrastination. Thankfully :P

Zoe, you sound just like me. I have almost 2weeks til my 1st exam - plenty of time, right?

More than enough time :D
-so I keep telling myself.....-