Making an Avatar in GIMP

clr_thought · 09-09-2008, 11:00 AM

This tutorial will teach you how to make an avatar for online forums e.t.c. with GIMP.

Welcome to the Gimp Avatar Tutorial, this is the general Gimp interface.
before we really start to work with Gimp we'll have to decide which size the avatar will be (for normal it's 100*100 pixel). After that you open a new document. Then your screen should look like my screenshot.

Now we want to fill the first layer , to do that select the tool in the red circle and choose the right colour (we'll take black) and click in the middle of the Layer. Now our Background Layer is done, if you want to you can name the layer in the right window like I did.

What we are doing now is using a brush to let the black background look more interesting. What is important is that you create a new Layer before going on and make sure that you select the new Layer. Use the brush-tool (in the red circle) choose a brush and the colour for the brush. Then try to fill the layer like I did.

The next step is selecting a render and copying it into the avatar. To get the render into the avatar select the rectangle-tool and mark the whole render. Now press the short key for copy, go into the avatar document and press the paste short key.

Now press the right mouse button, go to picture and select the option like I did(it will be called differently in your gimp version because I'm using the German version. then give the render the size you like and press enter. if you want to change the position of the render press the right mouse button again, go to picture> transform, now you should be able to move the render.

After that your screen should look like this one. The last real step is the avatar font. Select the text tool(the one in the red circle in the screen behind), choose a fontstyle, colour and the fontsize.
Now type in what you like and press enter.

After that is done we are done too. Don't forget to save the avatar two times, one time to use it, and one time as a gimp document to be able to change something. Have fun and good luck.

Here's my finished avatar :

09-09-2008, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
clr_thought !!! The Forgotten One !!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,047 Thanks: 15 Thanked 648 Times in 242 Posts Reputation: 1719	Making an Avatar in GIMP This tutorial will teach you how to make an avatar for online forums e.t.c. with GIMP. Welcome to the Gimp Avatar Tutorial, this is the general Gimp interface. before we really start to work with Gimp we'll have to decide which size the avatar will be (for normal it's 100*100 pixel). After that you open a new document. Then your screen should look like my screenshot. Now we want to fill the first layer , to do that select the tool in the red circle and choose the right colour (we'll take black) and click in the middle of the Layer. Now our Background Layer is done, if you want to you can name the layer in the right window like I did. What we are doing now is using a brush to let the black background look more interesting. What is important is that you create a new Layer before going on and make sure that you select the new Layer. Use the brush-tool (in the red circle) choose a brush and the colour for the brush. Then try to fill the layer like I did. The next step is selecting a render and copying it into the avatar. To get the render into the avatar select the rectangle-tool and mark the whole render. Now press the short key for copy, go into the avatar document and press the paste short key. Now press the right mouse button, go to picture and select the option like I did(it will be called differently in your gimp version because I'm using the German version. then give the render the size you like and press enter. if you want to change the position of the render press the right mouse button again, go to picture> transform, now you should be able to move the render. After that your screen should look like this one. The last real step is the avatar font. Select the text tool(the one in the red circle in the screen behind), choose a fontstyle, colour and the fontsize. Now type in what you like and press enter. After that is done we are done too. Don't forget to save the avatar two times, one time to use it, and one time as a gimp document to be able to change something. Have fun and good luck. Here's my finished avatar :

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