How to Make a Happy Emoticon

Designing your own happy emoticons is one of the most rewarding computer graphics experiences. Not only do you get to express yourself creatively but you also get to spread cheer to the people who read your messages.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Graphics software

Turn That Frown Upside Down

1. Draw the basic shape of your emoticon. If it's a smiley face, you'll probably want to use your shape tool to draw a circle. To create another shape such as a balloon, buddies clinking beers, a computer with a happy face or even a rainbow, use the freehand drawing tool or pencil tool.

2. Get creative. Go beyond the happy face when you make your smiley emoticon. For example, you might draw a smiley on a cloud to express "cloud 9." Have a round smiley head doing somersaults in the grass. Use a happy looking sun or a flower with a happy face in the middle. You could also create an emoticon that dances or is wearing a party hat.

3. Think about where you plan to use your emoticon before you draw it. If it is a forum for a special interest group, incorporate that group's interest into your smiley. If it is among people celebrating a certain occasion like a wedding or graduation, draw smileys related to that.

4. Create a static emotion if you don't have animation software. Your emoticon could have thin eyebrows, round eyes and a mouth curved upward into a smile. You could also show a big grin with teeth.

5. Make a static emoticon more elaborate by adding a speech balloon with encouraging words ("Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations"). You could also create a kite in the hair that represents you "flying high" or an airplane pulling a banner expressing exactly the sentiment you want to convey.

6. Animate your emoticon if you are able to. Motion can express happiness better than some static images. Make your emoticon roll, do somersaults, jump up and down, raise a trophy or a champagne glass, dance, spin or laugh. Make two emoticon friends giving each other a high five or making funny faces at each other. Any of these motions will spread your cheery thoughts to others.

7. Add accessories to complete your emoticon. Happy accessories for yours might be birthday presents, confetti, sunglasses or clown hair. Something that expresses joy such as a bursting heart or clapping hands would also be appropriate.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make your emoticon anything you want it to be. It does not have to be a smiley face. Turn it into Santa Claus, a pumpkin or 4-leaf clover. Put a human face on it or even make it into an animal or space alien.