FAQ: How do I add an avatar to my profile?
Avatars are small images used to represent you on the site. Every person is only allowed to have one avatar image (but you can change it as often as you choose). They appear on your profile page and next to every post you make on the forums. This is not necessary, but a fun addition to your identity on the site.
Avatar images are stored on the site's server, but this requires them to be limited in size to save on server space. There are some basic restrictions you have to follow. Images must be in JPG or GIF formats, no larger than 80 pixels by 80 pixels, and have to be kept around 4k (4096 bytes) or less. This can be done one of several different ways.
In whatever image editor you are using go to the document details and make sure the file size is no larger than 80 pixels by 80 pixels. The dpi is not important (although 72 dpi is standard) as long as the 80x80 pixel ratio is maintained. As long as this is done you can have any image, drawing, or whatever you want within these bounds. Then save the file as either a JPG or GIF file. Normally JPG files are better for pictures and GIF files are better for line art or cartoony images, but at this size it doesn't actually matter that much.
Warning: PhotoShop and many other image editing programs add all sorts of extra information to the files (which is helpful when using those programs, but not needed) that will always push them above this 4k size limit. Things like masks, thumbnails, etc. all add to the file size. There are ways to remove (or even save without) this extra information, but you have to actually go about doing it.
In the newer versions of PhotoShop there is a "Save for Web" command that will allow you to save the file in all sorts of forms. This option removes this extra information and shows you the final file size based on the save options you choose before you actually save. This also shows you what the final file will look like (as compression often reduces the clarity of the original image).
There are also other programs that are simply designed to distill images into small file sizes for web use. There are far too many of these (often freeware) programs to get into descriptions of each of them, but you should be able to find them easily through sites like VersionTracker.com or even already on your computer (in many cases). Even many picture viewers allow you to "Save As" to change a files format or compression size.
You can also use a number of web-based programs to reduce image sizes, but none of them are guaranteed, maintained, or tested by this site. The following are a few examples of these kinds of sites. Use them at your own risk.