AVATAR RESTRICTIONS:
An avatar must not be larger than: 140 pixels high by 120 pixels wide. (It is actually preferable to have a small avatar that is around 80pixels wide by 100pixels high.) The file size must not be larger than 12kb. You may not include a business logo, a website URL or text in your avatar. An avatar must be a personal image relating to you directly.

HOW TO CREATE AN AVATAR:

• To create an Avatar Image you will need to use Imaging Software or an Imaging Program, such as Adobe Photoshop, PhotoPlus, GIMP or Picasa.
  
  
• Create a new blank document. Make the dimensions 140pixels h x 120 pixels w.
  
  
• Open the document that contains your photo, cartoon, artwork, drawing that you want to use as your avatar.
  
  
• Copy and paste the image into the blank avatar document.
  
  
• Resize the image appropriately using the 'Resize-Scale tool' or similar. You may also like to 'crop' the total image size smaller than the 140 x 120 document.
  
  
• Choose 'Save-as' and save the document as an image; a .gif or .jpg image. When doing this you can ensure the file size is under 12kb by reducing the final 'gif colour-pallete' or 'jpeg quality'.