DIY AVATARS FOR DUMMIES

[rxboy]

Having just done this myself, I think I'll put a few people out of their miseries and go through it step-by-step:

1. Find out if your internet service provider allows a free homepage with a certain amount of space. Apply for one and read all their instructions about uploading your content. You do NOT actually have to have a real homepage. You can just upload any files to it if you like.

2. Find a pic that you would like to use as your avatar. It can be a pic from your digital camera, a scanned photo or any other image you have obtained. Use a program like Adobe Photoshop, or anything capable, to resize it to 120X60 pixels or smaller (restriction placed by moderator Stephen Morison).

3. Use an FTP Client to log on to your ISP homepage account and upload your resized pics.

4. Log on FTO Australia site and click on "Profile" (just right of "Usergroups").

5. In the Avatar Control Panel at the bottom of your profile, where it says "Link to off-site Avatar", enter in the exact location from your homepage account of the picture you want as your avatar.

6. Click "submit" and Bob's your Uncle!