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How to make your skin into an avatar

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VissieIsBaas's Avatar VissieIsBaas
Level 13 : Journeyman Taco
5
Hi everyone,

I've been wanting to do this tutorial for a while now, and today I finally did it. This is my first tutorial ever, so please don't hate!

For this tutorial, I used Gimp. You can download it here

Step 1.
Create a new image. The size I use is 800x800, since this is the best size for youtube avatars, and since most sites require square avatars.

Image

Step 2.
Drag your skin into the new image, so you occasionally can zoom in and out for reference. The skin I'll be using in this tutorial is this skin by coolkevin867.

Image

Step 3.
Create a background gradient. To do this, select two skin colors, and make sure the background color is a darker tone than the Foreground color. Then go to the Toolbox->Blend tool. As gradient, select "FG to BG (RGB)", and as shape, choose "Radial". Then drag with the cursor from the center of the image to one of the corners.

This is what it should look like:
Image

Step 4.
Create the hair. To do this, first create a new layer, then draw the hair. I used the pixel brush for this. If you want a nice gradient for your hair, right click the hair layer->alpha to selection. Then use the blend tool to fill it with two colors which you like.

To create a shadow, go to Filters->Light and Shadow->Drop Shadow, You can play around with the settings a little bit, but uncheck the "Allow resizing" box. Then click OK

Image

Your avatar should now look like this:
Image

Step 5.
Draw the whites of the eyes. I used the "block 01" brush.
Image

To give the eye depth, select the background layer, go to Filters->Map->Bump Map and put the settings as following:
Image

For the "Bump Map" setting, select the eyes layer. You can play around with the Depth layer a little bit but don't set it too high. Notice, that the "Invert bumpmap" box is checked. When you're done, click OK.

Your avatar should now look like this:
Image

For the pupils/irises, make a new layer and just draw them with the same brush, but just a little bit smaller.

Step 6.
Make the eyebrows. Make a new layer, then draw them with a color you like. For the eyebrows I used the same brush as for the eyes/pupils. Again, to give them depth, select the background layer, go to Filters->Map->Bump Map.
Image
Select the eyebrows layer, and notice that the "Invert bumpmap" box is now not checked! When you're done, click OK.

Your avatar should now (kind of) look like this:
Image

Step 7.
Create a new layer for the mouth. Then, with the same brush as for the eyebrows (brush 01), draw the mouth. To give the mouth depth, select the background layer, go to Filters->Map->Bump Map, select the mouth layer, check the "Invert bumpmap" box and click OK.

Step 8 (Additional).
Of course, you can also add additional details, such as a santa hat, a crown or maybe a scarf. You can always add new details, just let your imagination loose!

Final image:
Image

If you liked this tutorial, please diamond, comment and subscribe! As I said before, this is my first tutorial I ever made, so please don't be too harsh in the comments :p

Download the .xcf file (the Gimp file): http://host.undeadzone.net/images/tutorials/minecraftavatar/final.xcf
The creator of the skin I used: http://www.planetminecraft.com/member/coolkevin867/
Want an avatar like this but can't make one yourself? Reply to this thread and I'll make it for you!
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1
05/23/2014 3:09 am
Level 1 : New Miner
CaptainKayne
CaptainKayne's Avatar
i want to do it with out download idiot
1
05/23/2014 3:08 am
Level 1 : New Miner
CaptainKayne
CaptainKayne's Avatar
did not help
1
05/23/2014 1:13 pm
Level 16 : Journeyman Skinner
minemeout
minemeout's Avatar
U got to download it boy, its the only way...
1
12/01/2013 5:15 pm
Level 3 : Apprentice Miner
aj2597
aj2597's Avatar
sound pretty nice thanks
1
11/30/2013 9:43 pm
Level 10 : Journeyman Scribe
wqir
wqir's Avatar
If you wish to have an exact replica of your skin's face as your avatar, you can just highlight it and resize it with larger dimensions. :P
1
11/30/2013 12:27 pm
Level 22 : Expert Dragon
chulumpNG
chulumpNG's Avatar
I like it... but is there something for the,"I can do it, but I took an arrow in the knee" people?
1
11/30/2013 3:15 pm
Level 13 : Journeyman Taco
VissieIsBaas
VissieIsBaas's Avatar
maybe I'll try to do a video tutorial
1
12/02/2013 1:06 pm
Level 22 : Expert Dragon
chulumpNG
chulumpNG's Avatar
K.
1
11/30/2013 12:10 pm
Level 43 : Master Steve
Butterbacon16
Butterbacon16's Avatar
Nice! I like your avatar idea! I think you should some more then just one!

Like realistic, cartoon, and pencil or pen (sketch)
1
11/30/2013 3:16 pm
Level 13 : Journeyman Taco
VissieIsBaas
VissieIsBaas's Avatar
Good idea! I'll try some of those you mentioned!
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