Characteristics of a Good Avatar

landbeforetimelover · **on:** May 09, 2008, 08:55:31 AM

Well, I must say I've had an avatar problem since the first day I came to GOF over a year ago. I just can't find one I like. I've made some really good one's....and some not so good ones, but in all I've made and tried over 50 different avatars in my stay here. See my avatar now? It's what I put up when I'm in between avatars. I just can't find one that I'd be comfortable with for a very long time. This is the avatar I've had for the longest period of time:

I really like this avatar, but for some reason it's just not me. How in the world do you choose the right avatar? I'm not doing so well. -_-

Nimrod · **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2008, 10:05:22 AM

I just choose one, which looks great, or if I am sad I choose a sad pic, if I am happy, I choose a amusing one, or whatever

. Just choose one, which you like

Clawandfang · **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2008, 11:42:14 AM

I just thought "that looks good and I like the character". Never thought about it since.

pokeplayer984 · **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2008, 12:42:13 PM

I agree with Clawandfang. I just happen to REALLY like Cera.

NeptuneNavigator2001 · **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2008, 02:15:08 PM

Hmm... Well, it all started back about oh, four years ago... I was working with Mugen - a 2D fighting game engine - and decided to create a non-evil Gouki/Akuma character (though I've lately been questioning Gouki's "evil status," as it seems to be a complete fabrication of Capcom of America, and NOT intended by Capcom of Japan!), so, I basically palette-swapped his skin with Ryu's. Having some help with the face, I edited a few more images, but never completed the character. (Or anything with Mugen, for that matter, despite working with it for SEVEN years.) ...This would explain the purple background, folks; transparency, because it is/was color zero in the palette... I have nothing against it, but, it was an edit off of someone else's Gouki, who has long since retired from Mugening, and basically said, that as long as credit was given, that they could do whatever they wanted with it. ...I carried it around to most of the forums I visit... Never really thinking twice about it. ...Although, thanks to landbeforetimelover's work with avatars - in a certain thread he made - I will shortly choose one from his selection, and make a post about it there. When will this be done? Whenever I get around to it...

Lillefot · **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2008, 03:13:34 PM

Take me for example, I change avatar quite often

The important is to pick one that YOU feel is... YOU (if you like).
And that you like it.
Let anyone else say what they want.

As for now... I love Ruby, therefor, Ruby.
And my signature, The Power of Five, well, some books I fancy.
And I must say, I'm very satishfied with my whole look now!

:

Cancerian Tiger · **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2008, 03:29:17 PM

Quote from: pokeplayer984,May 9 2008 on 11:42 AM

I agree with Clawandfang. I just happen to REALLY like Cera.

Yeah, I'm another Cera fan

. I chose my avatar from a zodiac art website, and it was a poster designed for Cancerians. I could not find any tiger ones I liked, nor could I find one of Cera(I even searched for screenshots but none I liked). I don't have the technology to download them either

:. Anyhoo, I like my avatar. It looks a lot like me and it's dark in nature

.

Malte279 · **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2008, 03:50:36 PM

I guess it is a good idea for an avatar to be something personal. Something that represents YOU. For a long time I used a picture of Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike which was sort of personal as it was the first LBT picture I ever made on a computer. However, I am not Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, or Spike. I am Malte and so I am now using a drawing of me which appeared in the closing credits of a lord of the ring parody to which I had contributed in a very, very negligible way. When I later found out that one original meaning of the name Malte is "He who rules with the helmet" that picture seemed to be even more fitting.
Everyone should choose an avatar which he or she likes. Many choose land before time screenshots for an avatar, which look really nice. However, if it comes to representing yourself, there may be alternatives to LBT images done by other artists.

Petrie. · **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2008, 04:12:15 PM

Sometimes I've a Petrie avatar up...sometimes I don't. Depends on what mood I'm in.

The Chronicler · **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2008, 04:36:24 PM

I chose my avatar because I'm a Bionicle fan, and Takua is one of my favorite Bionicle characters. I think I'll eventually switch my avatar to a more "realistic" image of Takua (what he looks like in the Bionicle movies instead of as a set).

Kor · **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2008, 04:44:47 PM

This one is a neat one that Aves made. Other forums I pick one that looks neat, didn't give it a lot of thought.

Zenoah · **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2008, 06:08:42 PM

If it's a themed forum like this one, I'll often find/make an icon of my fave character from said show. Why is mine Fransis from Felidae? The animation was vaugly simmilar to that of Bluth's style and Im an avid cat lover. I had recently screencapped the movie and the icon Im useing amuzed me, so I went with it.
I also like avatars that appear to be on the slightly silly side, that would make for a good laugh.

I have a hard time comming up with icons for forums sometimes too...you'll find the right one soon.

jedi472 · **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2008, 08:23:56 PM

Pick something that defines you, or is part of you. I use Darth Vader's Secret Apperentice because I love the graphics and overall sense of the upcoming game he stars in, Star Wars:The Force Unleahed. He is a character that can go to any extreme, and can do virtually anything. That, and he's badass, which is also a plus.

So yeah, just pick a picture that appeals to you.

ingster · **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2008, 10:52:43 PM

well, i would avatars that fit in with what i like, then choose avatar that seems fitting within your intrest area

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2008, 06:29:09 PM

I've tried to pick characters that I like or that appeal to me but they just don't last very long. Even my temporary avatar is appealing to me, but I just can't find one that can permanently represent me. I don't exactly want a picture of myself as an avatar and I can't draw myself so I guess it's going to have to be art from others. I guess I'll just go back to that Littlefoot avatar I have in my first post. I can't stand this Inuyasha avatar any longer. -_-

Kor · **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:05:31 PM

Nothing wrong with changing one's avatar now and then.

NeptuneNavigator2001 · **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:12:54 PM

...Yeah... Say, landbeforetimelover, I'm curious. I swear I've seen that pose of Littlefoot somewhere, but WHAT movie is it from?? I just can't remember! <_<

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:35:08 PM

LBT 13.

I think I'll remake this avatar with the new photoshop patch I just got. It allows you to select things more accurately when removing them from their backgrounds. And no. I don't think you've seen this image before. It was extremely difficult to catch this image because it was only on the screen for a total of 2 frames. When you have a movie going at 30 frames per second, it's almost impossible to catch this.

NeptuneNavigator2001 · **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:37:02 PM

BINGO! I KNEW I saw it somewhere!

: And all those times I'd watched "The Wisdom of Friends..."

EDIT: No, I swear, I'd seen it... It just got buried in my subconscious....

EDIT 2: Okay, what scene is it in? I'd watch it myself, but don't feel like doing so right now...

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:55:05 PM

Here ya go:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/t...A2/coolclip.gif

Oh sheezles! I never thought of it before, but I can make a trippin' avatar with those images if I use them right!