[Byakuren]

I along with many others have noticed that a lot of users tend to have trouble figuring out how to add a photo, avatar, etc, etc.

This thread is to help explain, answer questions, and guide you through so you may not be troubled with avatar or photo issues any longer.
Note: This thread is most likely to grow and add other explainations so long as people feel the need for an explaination for anything revolving around personal customization on the forums.

-Avatars-

Avatars are the images that go in the area where your title, and other little tidbits of information are. This 'area' is always beside each of your posts you make on the forum, so that is where you will see your avatar. Here is an example:


Questions

Spoiler

Question: Where do I go to upload my avatar?
Answer: You can find the page to add your avatar
[Right Here]

Question: So like what can I use as an avatar?
Answer: Practically anything. Avatars are a form of customization and all.

Question: So does that mean I can use porn or even gore images in my avatar? I see mature rated things all the time on VO!
Answer: No, actually. Porn and anything that is not safe for work should never be in your signature, avatar OR your photo. Specific threads allow this because we place them in spoilers. So the answer is no. Basically anything that is against the rules of the forum should not be allowed in your avatar.

Question: Do I HAVE to have an avatar? What if I don't want one?
Answer: Nope, you don't have to have one! This is just an explaination for the people that do want one.

Question: Alright, then what size can my avatar be and what's the size limit?
Answer: Avatar sizes can be a total of 200 pixels by 200 pixels (Meaning 200x200), normally the images that are larger than this will get scaled down. File size limit is 200KB if memory serves correctly. Anything larger than those requirements will probably not work on VO.

Question: And what about file types?
Answer: The file types one can use are gif, jpg, jpeg, and png. Anything else won't work.

Question: How would I go about uploading my avatar to VO?
Answer: Very simple. You have three options to use regarding uploading your avatar.

The first is to upload straight from your computer.
The second is to use a direct URL from an image hosting site.
Or finally the third is to enter your Gravatar email address.

Question: Ack! I have an avatar but I don't want it anymore! What do? ¯\(°_o)/¯
Answer: Oh don't worry! There is an option to remove your avatar if you do not want it anymore. You can find that here:

Just click "Remove My Avatar" and it should be gone.

Question: I changed my avatar but it's still showing my old one! I've tried removing and reuploading it! Why is this?
Answer: Sometimes it takes a hard refresh to get the avatar to show. Just press F5 or the refresh button and it should show up. If this problem continues, try to remove it and reupload it through direct linking or some other means.

Question: Why did my avatar disappear? I tried uploading it again but it disappeared again! Can you explain this?
Answer: If your avatar 'disappeared' or is 'gone' that probably means one of the moderators removed it. Most likely for breaking rules or from people sending in complaints. We kindly ask you do not reupload it if it is removed a first or even second time. If this continues, a mod will most likely contact you and tell you stop stop adding it.

Question: I really don't like seeing avatars all over VO, how do I make it so I don't see them?
Answer: Very simple. Go to your settings and click the forum tab, you will find a list of things you can do. Uncheck the box that was circled in red in this image:


Question: Hey, I keep seeing avatars and signatures that always change around whenever I click refresh or visit another page! How does one do that?
Answer: Signatures and avatars like that are called rotating randomized avatars. They're hosted usually on some other site and randomize to specific images chosen out by whoever is using a random rotator. There are a couple sites that support and focus on rotating images.
If you are indeed interested in making an avatar/signature that randomly rotates here are a couple suggested sites for this:
[SignAvatar]
[ImageRotation]

-Photos-

Photos are practically the same as avatars. However the difference is they are smaller and are only shown in specific places. A user's photo will be shown in their profile on the left hand side. Here is an example:


Questions

Spoiler

Question: So what places can my photo be seen?
Answer: Like said above the photo will be shown in only a couple places. It is not as 'recognizable' as your avatar. But regardless, one's photo can be seen in their profile, when searching for a user(via the search bar), in the status updates, and up at the top of the page where you can choose your settings and such.

Question: Great so where do I go to change my photo?
Answer: You can change your photo by going here:
[Here]

Question: How big can my photo be?
Answer: Photos are smaller than the avatars. Their sizes are 180 pixels by 180 pixels(150x150), again these tend to get resized(But it's easier to just use an image that is the right size.). The photo's file size must be 500KB or less. It will not accept anything larger.

Question: How do I upload my photo?
Answer: Well, unlike avatars, there is only one way you can upload your photo. Which you can see below:

You will need to save your photo and then proceed to upload from your computer. Direct linking and such do not work for photos.

Question: Wait why do I have this Miku image as my photo?
Answer: You mean this one?

That image along with this image:

They are both the default photos. They are only there if you did not personally give yourself a photo.

Question: Ok? But what if I don't want a photo?! D:
Answer: Sorry but unlike avatars, photos always have a default. You will have to either give yourself something or keep the default.

Question: If photos are like avatars does this mean I can't have anything M-Rated as my photo?
Answer: Pretty much. Inappropriate images aren't allowed for photos, avatars, signatures, etc, etc. They will be removed without question and you might even recieve a warning from one of the moderators. Just don't use anything NSFW or questionable.

Question: Hey my photo got removed but it wasn't NSFW or anything like that! Why is this?
Answer: Same reason as I said in the avatars section of this thread. If we get a certain amount of complaints regarding someones photo, avatar, signature, etc, it WILL be removed. If you try to use it again, we will remove it again, do so again and you might face a warning.

Question: Well now I don't want the photo I am using! What do?
Answer: Again, same as avatars. You remove it the same way.

Just click "Remove My Photo".

-Signatures-

Signatures are yet another aspect of a forum where you get to have personal customization too. Signatures are or rather can be anything you want, whether it be words, images, etc. Signatures are seen under a person's post, and at the bottom of their 'about me' in their profiles.


Questions

Spoiler

Question: How do signatures work?
Answer: As said above...signatures are just a means to look pretty and such. Normally to identify a user and such as well. There isn't much of a 'point' to them aside from that.

Question: Where do I go to change or add a signature?
Answer: The page you can change signatures can be found here:
[Here]

Question: Are there any size requirements or things like that?
Answer: There used to be a size limit for signatures but since Azure added a feature that immediately puts signatures into a box if they exceed a specific size(The box contains scroll bars.), I will say no. But it's a lot more neater if you try to avoid the cut off.

Question: I've got this sexy hentai picture, can I put it in my signature? ;D
Answer: No. Please don't, even if we DO have spoilers for signatures, we do not want to see anything NSFW or inappropriate in your signature. I know we've had complaints in the past of pages being blocked on school computers due to one's signature. So please do not use anything inappropriate in your signature.

Question: Well what if I have a picture of like panties or something a little ecchi? Is that ok?
Answer: As long as it isn't like someone completely nude, overly detailed, or recieving complaints from users it's fine. I don't see the issue in panties and a bra(Since that's just as revealing as a bikini), but please try to use your better judgement on this.

Question: What are all these banner like images in everyone's signatures?
Answer: They are signature banners. They're quite popular so many use them over other things. There isn't a point to them aside from being stylish and such.

Question: Cool! Where can I get one?
Answer: You have quite a number of options regarding how to obtain a signature banner. You can either make one, or find one, or go and request one from someone on the forum. There is a thread that you can request signature banners(and avatars), which you can find here:
[Here]

Question: Hey I don't like seeing signatures after every post! How do I make them go away?
Answer: All you need to do is go into your settings. Go under forums and uncheck the box in red here:


Question: How do I get rid of my signature?
Answer: Just remove everything you've written down in your signature and press save.

Question: How do I upload a signature to VO?!
Answer: You don't. You need to upload images through a hosting site(Like imageshack, tinypic, photobucket, etc.).

Question: I see vulgar language in your signature example and other signatures! Is that allowed?
Answer: Yes swearing and such is allowed. Vulgar writing such as written out sex and such is not. You get the drill. Just use better judgement for this one.

Question: What is a signature?
Answer: If you really are asking that now, I'd advise you to probably re-read everything else here and then come back to me on that.

Question: Hey, I keep seeing avatars and signatures that always change around whenever I click refresh or visit another page! How does one do that?
Answer: Signatures and avatars like that are called rotating randomized avatars. They're hosted usually on some other site and randomize to specific images chosen out by whoever is using a random rotator. There are a couple sites that support and focus on rotating images.
If you are indeed interested in making an avatar/signature that randomly rotates here are a couple suggested sites for this:
[SignAvatar]
[ImageRotation]

NOTE: You are free to ask any questions here regarding customization related things on VO, suggest things for this thread to be more informative, etc, etc.

This post has been edited by Byakuren: 10 January 2012 - 11:06 PM

[Opera Ghost]

Whee~ I don't even know half of this, I feel so informed now *V*

Also, do you know how to get a moving .gif for an avatar? I've tried and I couldn't do it :C

[Byakuren]

Actually I've never used a moving gif on NEW!VO before.

Let me go check right now.
Edit: animated gifs work so long as they are under the file size limit. They might have exceeded the file size limit required.

The one I just used is under file size limit. oxo

This post has been edited by Byakuren: 20 February 2011 - 08:48 PM

[Opera Ghost]

Oh alright, thanks! C:

[Paprika]

Um.

Actually, there is a way to surpass the limits, by selecting Avatars/Photos through externally hosted pictures. I link stuff from my Photobucket. And you could technically use some ridiculously large high quality .gif or an animated .png in your Avatar/Signature without any issues but you'd force the page loading times on some older computers up by a couple seconds.

Also, something about the signatures and photos, as far as I remember, images aren't affected by the rescaling if they're placed in spoilers and untouched before the page finishes loading.

Spoiler

[Byakuren]

@Pap: Actually I've tried that before and my images refused to work, so I am not sure what you're talking about (I have attempted it with tinypic, imageshack, photobucket, etc, with images larger than 200x200 and larger than 200KB file size. Same can be said for photos.).

As for signatures, yes I actually already know about the spoilers thing, this is still a work in progress of course. I might add that in actually.
Photos and avatars can't use spoiler tags though. (But that's kind of obvious.)

[Thane]

I <3 you for this, It has pictures and everything T.T

Now I can just shove the noobs here instead of conversing with them :3

Good Job!

[Soft~n~Fluffy]

Uhhh, I can't remove the link in my siggy's image for some reason I don't want it to link to anything. I click "add link" but there's no url there to delete...

[Saurus]

I can't change my avatar whyyyyyyyy?
nevermind... it just changed... still don't know when or why, but I'm glad it did

This post has been edited by Debbisaurus: 04 May 2011 - 07:46 PM

[Αlex]

@Soft~n~Fluffy

[url=somelink.com]this is a site[/ url]

^ for example. You just remove the [url=x] [/ url] tags.

[Soft~n~Fluffy]

^
It won't let me see the tags ;_; It just formats it right away.

[Box]

How do you add music to your page, without the Video?
I've seen some users do it, but I can't seem to.

Although, I just figured out that

[hr]

makes a long line across the page.


And, out of curiosity, is there a code to make the user sprites appear on a page?

[Byakuren]

I'm assuming you're referring to the medias where it's just the music bar, no youtube video attached or anything so...To add a media without having the video you will need a dropbox account. Go to the website and make an account and follow things from there; [Dropbox])

Then you can put your music files into your dropbox folder. Get the link for your dropbox file through your folder, and add it into the media BB code tags.

Example;

[media]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21719360/Perfect%20Day.mp3[/media]

It'll look like this if you do that;

Spoiler

[Box]

Yep, that is what I meant. Thanks.

[Byakuren]

No problem.
Glad to help.