How to Create Emoticons in Yahoo! Messenger

Emoticons are those little faces people use to add expressiveness to their instant messages. You can customize emoticons in Yahoo! Messenger by replacing the ones which already come with the program. To do this just complete a few steps to customize and replace them yourself, and soon you can customize as many emoticons as you want to share with everyone you know.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Graphics program that can save files in gif. format
• Internet access
• Yahoo! Messenger account

Instructions

1. Create a new emoticon image with your graphics program. It should be no larger than 18 x 18 pixels. If you have the latest version of Yahoo! Messenger you can create an animated image. Save your new emoticon as a GIF file.

2. Rename the file you've just created with the name of one of the emoticons that comes loaded in Yahoo! Messenger. Since you probably won't know the names of emotions or "smileys," then go to Yahoo! Messenger's official page and find the name of the "smiley" you want to replace. Once you find the emoticon you want to replace, rename the file, and then insert it into "c:\program files\yahoo!\messenger\media\smileys\".

3. Restart Yahoo! Messenger and then open your chat window. Paste the code you've created for your new file so you can see it in the chat box. If you want others to see your newly created emoticons, then you need to send the file you've created and have them paste it in their "c:\program files\yahoo!\messenger\media\smileys\". Then you can share your new emoticons with all of your friends, and they can do the same with you.

Tips & Warnings

• A pixel is a combination of the words picture and element, and describes the small dots that make up the larger images on your computer screen.

• GIF means "Graphics Interchange Format," and is a type of image file that supports animation and transparency in 256 colors.

Resources

• Download Yahoo !Messenger.
• View regular emoticons that come in Yahoo! Messenger.
• View hidden emoticons that come in Yahoo! Messenger.
• Learn about graphic programs at Feebleminds.