Avatars

[Nevermore]

Some of the avatars I see are stunning. I have great difficulty resizing anything to the requisite size. I wonder how people do it? I have tried multiple passes, optimising to file size in the "save for web" option etcetera and no go.
1. Do people start off relatively large and resize? If so, any helpful tips?
2. Do people start off small to begin with?

[CathyRose]

I can only tell you what I do. I make the avatar at 150 x150 size then resize if needed and use "save for the web" function. I work with PhotoShop elements.

[akissling]

I just did mine yesterday and it was a struggle! My original was a 12x12 300 dpi. I ended up saving it in a much smaller size than was advised in the avatar section ( my measurement is .60x.60 inches at 100 resolution)! It took me about 15 tries to get this size until FINALLY it uploaded!!!!

[SteinwaysMom]

I think it's best to start bigger - maybe 4" x 4" - you can always reduce the viewing size while you're working on it to see what it will look like.

I think they have to be really small to upload - the avatar upload tells the restrictions.

Nevermore, what in heaven is your avatar anyway? At first I thought it was a rooster but it kinda looks like a shrimp or a bird wing - it's pretty but very enigmatic...

[Nevermore]

Oh, Debra, I am choking. A SHRIMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It got uploaded by accident. I was mucking around and sometimes I can't get stuff to load here (I get an infamous "error on page" warning). Anyway, it is the wings for Firebird (which I am going to try to upload later). It told me that it wouldn't accept it and that there was an error but lo and behold, it showed up. I was surprised but haven't had time to take it down yet. But I will!

Thanks all for the suggestions. Anything I make this small just looks muddled and mirky (SHRIMP SHRIMP SHRIMP) and I see lots of funky ones that look great. Guess I will just have to fool around with it.

[akissling]

I don't know...I kind of like the shrimp! I actually thought it was a goldfish so there you go! ;) ;)

[Madge]

...and I thought it was a rooster...















......I'll just get my coat.....:p

[akissling]

This is turning into a very quirky avatar!