Avatar/Profile Picture Summary

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi all,

with regard to several recent postings requesting info on how to use avatars, I wanted to outline the requirements in FAQ format.

WHERE do I change my avatar picture?

In the menu bar found on top of each forum page, click on "PROFILE". Then, in the menu bar to the left of your screen, click "Forum Profile Information".

HOW do I change my avatar picture?

You may use one of two options to set an avatar:

1. You can choose an avatar from the preinstalled forum galleries; click on any of the galleries in the list, then choose an image from the list that appears to the right. The image is previewed on the left.

2. You can upload an image from your hard drive. Click on the grey button under "I will upload my own picture" and use the following dialogue to select and upload an image.

Please note that the external hotlink functionality has been disabled for a while now - while it is still listed on the layout preference page, it will not work, so you will have to either choose an avatar from the preinstalled options or upload your own.

What is the MAXIMUM PIXEL SIZE my avatar may have?

Your avatar may have a maximum pixel size of 80x80 pixels. It is recommended that you use a square image or crop it accordingly to avoid distortion.

What is the MAXIMUM FILE SIZE my avatar may have?

Your avatar should have a file size of no more than 5kb. If you save an 80x80px picture as a JPG, GIF or PNG (the latter two if you want transparency effects), it should normally work out fine, but if it is still too large, you may need to set the compression factor a bit higher.

I cannot see any avatars!

If you don't see any avatar images on forum pages, you may have set your preferences not to display these images. Open your PROFILE page, then click on "Look and Layout Preferences", and make sure that the option "Don't show users' avatars" is UNCHECKED.

I cannot see some avatars, but others do show up!

A forum user recently reported an issue where he could not see his own avatar, but others showed up. Apparently, this was related to a browser that was not up-to-date. For various reasons, you should always update your browser programs to the latest versions. In some cases, security software may block specific online file server locations, so you may see avatars hosted on the LAF server, but not on external locations, or vice versa.

OTHER ISSUES

Those are the main requirements. The usual guidelines for posting content as found in the forum rules still apply (e.g. no Nazi symbols, no pornographic imagery etc.).

If you have further questions or encounter problems when setting an avatar image, post a reply to this thread or send a PM to me (global moderator).

[Conquistador]

Here are the PNG and jpg I use on the Two Hour Wargames forum:





The original jpeg shows 24 kb
and the Png shows 4 kb

What do I need to do to make them work here?

I get "Too large or not an avatar" messages.

Original

Avatar from Desert Documentary by Kieran McCarty - Soldado de Cuera illustration
http://www.library.arizona.edu
Kindly edited by Biddo
SOLDADO DE CUERA
Illustrated by
José Cisneros, El Paso

[Westfalia Chris]

Here are the PNG and jpg I use on the Two Hour Wargames forum:
(...)

What do I need to do to make them work here?

I get "Too large or not an avatar" messages.

Your pics were both 90x90 pixels. The maximum supported image size is 80x80. I resized it and attached it below as a JPGwhich should work - if it doesn't, post a reply and we'll look into it.

[Conquistador]

Can you tell I don't work with art programs at all?  Closest would be cartographic and ARCGIS graphics for Human Geography reports.

I thought it was 90 x 90 but didn't have the software I have stumbled through when at work, here at home (recovering from an unplanned - and certainly undesired - Ball Bladder Removal Tuesday Evening) and certainly didn't have the experience/knowledge to do that with what seems to be possibly suitable software on the MacBook Air.

I basically use this computer as a text and e-mail message machine/internet search and buying tool.

Pretty bad when a programmer from the days of mainframes has never learned to use any art programs on a PC/MAC.

Muchas Gracias,

Glenn

[Leapsnbounds]

Hi there,
  My old avatar from the movie Burn! (Marlon Brando with his floppy hat) isn't showing up.  I have tried and tried to get the picture but can't seem to do it.  Can you help?

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi there,
  My old avatar from the movie Burn! (Marlon Brando with his floppy hat) isn't showing up.  I have tried and tried to get the picture but can't seem to do it.  Can you help?

The avatar URL was still referring to the old forum URL. I've updated it and the image is displaying for me, does it do so for you?

[Leapsnbounds]

Yes, thank you.  I feel I am back in the saddle.  Giddyup you old nag.