How to Create Cartoon Avatars From Photos

Use a digital photo to create a cartoon avatar for the web.

People often use cartoon avatars to represent themselves on the Internet. Avatars allow you to have a web presence without actually showing a real picture. Instead, there is a likeness to you that can be as creative as you want it to be. An avatar is relatively easy to make with a simple head shot of yourself. Many free websites are available to help with this process.

Instructions

1. Upload a digital photo to your computer or scan a print picture. If you do not have a scanner you can find one to use at an office-supply store such as Office Max or at a copy center such as Kinko's.

2. Find an online program to create a cartoon avatar from your photo. Websites include FotoSketcher, BeFunky, Portait Illustration Maker and Cartoon Photo.

3. Upload your photo to the website following the instructions of the site your choose. In Cartoon Photo you can select to upload a photo from a disk or from a website.

4. Play with the website's features once your photo is uploaded. You can choose from different styles of cartoons, play with facial expressions and add other images to the avatar.

5. Save the avatar to your computer and upload it to websites to use instead of a real image of yourself.

References

• The New York Times: Cartoon Avatars Let You Turn Yourself Into a Web Comic: Paul Botin: March 2009
• Binary Head: 18 Sites to Create Cartoons From Your Digital Photo