Screen capture, and Avatar making tutorial for Microsoft Paint

24 Oct 2006 > 7 Comments

Take a screenshot and turn it into an avvy using Microsoft Paint.

To take a screencapture press the PrtSc/SysRq key ( next to F12 on the right) then copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) into your graphics program.

To edit the screen capture in MS Paint select the Select Tool, on the top right of your tool bar, and make your desired selection.

I want to make an avatar, so I copy (Ctrl+C) my selection, go to to file > new (Ctrl+N), and paste (Ctrl+V) it as a new image.

It’s still a bit too big, so I go to image > Stretch and Skew (Ctrl+W) and reduce the height and width to 75%

I want it to be exactly 100 X 100 Pixels so I go to Image > Attributes, and set the height and with to 100 Pixels.

Now I want to add a simple border.

I select the magnifier tool, and increase the magnification to 600%.

I want the border colour to match the colour of the picture, so I select the dropper tool, and colour pick from the image on the gorilla’s eyebrows ;D

The selected colour is now in the colour palette at the bottom of the work space. If not, go to View > Color box (Ctrl + L).

I select the Line tool and starting at the top left hand corner I make a simple pixel width border around the image. It’s easier to hold down the left button of your mouse when using the line tool, and gets the job done alot faster ;D. it can also be helpful to use the grid (Ctrl + G) as a guide.

I also use the line tool to pixel my username

and that’s it

my new avvy

Related Posts

• ProBoards post reply icons tutorial
• Making a title bar gradient and navi button (ProBoards Tutorial)
• Creating a glassy effect on smilies in MS paint
• Creating folder icons using Microsoft’s Paint
• Making Gradients in Paint Tutorial