*Important Avatars Announcement*

[Warren]

* Important Avatars Announcement *
------------------------------------

Some time ago a vBulletin software fault prevented many of us from uploading our avatar of choice directly from our own PC or image-hosting site. To get around this limitation we encouraged the adding of avatars to the various galleries contained within the Forums and from which members had no trouble in adding an avatar to their profiles and posts.

The uploading fault has been overcome with newer software and we are now about to review the size of the avatar galleries. There are currently close to 4000 stored images, many of which are poor quality, distorted, or repetitive near-duplications.

In seven days time we will begin to trim the number of avatars in the galleries.

If a red cross (or "pizza box") appears where your avatar previously appeared, it means the avatar has been removed from the gallery.
Members who are using avatars that were loaded from the galleries can ensure their avatar is not lost by storing it to the PC or to an image-hosting account (eg Photobucket, ImageShack, etc). Once the image is safely stored it can be easily uploaded to the Forums.

To save an avatar to your computer (assuming you have a Windows-based PC)

> right click on the avatar you wish to save;
this brings up a menu list
> left click on 'Save Picture As...';
which brings up a new 'Save Picture' window, most likely defaulted to the 'My Pictures' library
> either accept the default location, or select the library in which you want to store the image;
> give the image a name in the 'File Name' field (eg "my avatar" "TRF avatar", or any name of your choosing);
> click 'Save'.
Remember where you saved it!

To upload the image to the Forums

> Go to UserCP (the third option from the left in the upper darker blue band);
> From the left hand side of the screen click on Edit Avatar. This will bring up the avatar page.
> scroll down to below the displayed avatars (if any);
> Click the 'use custom avatar' button.

You now have two choices.
• Option 1: upload your avatar from another website (such as Photobucket etc)
or
• Option 2: upload your avatar directly from your PC.

Here's how to do both..

Option 1 (website)
> Open another session with your image-hosting or other website;
> Copy the image's url link (for image hosting sites use the 'URL Link' code);
Go back to the Forums avatar page
> paste the link into the Option 1 box;
> click on 'Save Changes' once, and once only.

Option 2 (PC)
> Click the 'Browse' button;
> search your PC picture libraries and click on the stored avatar image;
the image location will be uploaded;
> click on 'Save Changes' once, and once only.

Scroll back to the top of the page and see your avatar appearing in 'Your current avatar'. This is what will show in your posts.
If you are happy with your avatar, exit UserCP.

� � �

Most of the Forums have threads called something similar to Avatars, Fanart and Wallpaper. Scroll through these threads and have a look at the many avatars made by our creative members. These avatars are freely available for anyone to use, so if you see one you like, save it to your computer, then upload it to the Forums as described above.

If you are feeling creative yourself, or wonder how avatars are made, have a look at the Tips & Advice on Avatar making thread in the 'Forum Support and Feedback' forum.
There is also an excellent tutorial on making avatars at the beginning of the Avatar questions and issues thread.

Just remember that member avatars must be no larger than 80 x 80 pixels.

If there are any questions please post them in the Avatar Questions & Issues thread and we will do our best to answer.

Thanks for everyones' patience and understanding,
The Royal Forums Admins

[norwegianne]

A reminder - this will start tomorrow.

[norwegianne]

Most of the avatar galleries have lost quite a few avatars in this clean-up. It's highly likely that some was in use by a member, as it is impossible to check. If your avatar disappeared, without you having the chance to save it beforehand, I have saved all the avatars deleted in today's clean-up on my computer, for a limited length of time. If you want it back - please send me a PM with the details of the avatar (Which royal house was it, who was featured in it, and so on - as much as possible, so I can find it again for you.)

Thank you for your understanding.
Norwegianne