Iconeering primer

Overview

Icons (avatars) are just GIF images made to follow a few simple rules. The rules are a standard format, so anyone can make an icon once they're familiar with their own art software.

Naming

Icon files MUST be named properly: no spaces and no capital letters.

The icon for the member named Dick7 would be dick7.gif. The icon for Jane and Spot 3 would be janeandspot3.gif.

Sizes

Member icons come in two formats:

• Up to 150 × 150 pixels, with a maximum file size of 20K.
• Up to 200 × 150 pixels, with a maximum file size of 50K — for Lifeguards only. Lifeguards can use either format.

These are the maximums; smaller icons are of course fine.

There are lots of tricks for making GIFs smaller. A transparent background and fewer colors help a LOT — almost all art software lets you set the number of colors (the "palette"). Try never to use more than 128 colors, and always make icons at 72 pixels per inch or less.

Here's an animated GIF, 150 × 32, at about 7K:

General content

Please skip brand names and corporate logos, just to keep things simple. Inflammatory items such as symbols of social or racial insult are definitely prohibited.

Although most people have icons of beautiful semi-dressed people (as any good poolside should), there's no rule that yours has to be. Comedy, pop art, fine art, cartoon, Victorian, goth or country… imagine what your favorite song would LOOK like as an icon.

Adult content — read and understand

Please understand the difference between erotica and porn. Tasteful erotica is permitted. Artistic nudes, even racy artwork, are fine. However: no genitalia, and no couples or group sex. A naked woman is okay; a naked woman masturbating is not.

Absolutely no photographs or cartoon depictions of real children — EVER. The same goes for human or animal abuse or sexual situations. The management will notify law enforcement of any suspected child abuse.

If in doubt, ask an Iconeer or write to poolsidesquare@gmail.com.

Important legal stuff

Members who submit artwork made by themselves or by others for use as an icon take full responsibility for any possible copyright infringement. Poolside Chat is not responsible for the legal suitability of submitted artwork. In other words, be careful what you grab off someone else's web page! If the owner of a work supplies adequate proof of ownership, the icon will be removed immediately.

This artwork is posted by others and is not the liability of Binary Farm Web Design. We reserve the right to remove or alter any icon once it is submitted; alterations are limited to correcting the file size or screen size where appropriate.

Examples

Notice how small the line-art icon is: with only 2 colors and a transparent background it weighs just 470 bytes. Line art makes some very striking, very small icons that load quickly. Bigger files like Will's give you much more action, at the cost of loading a bit slower.

The important thing is not to upload oversized icons. They won't install, and you'll be ashamed you didn't listen.

Uploading

Not everyone can upload icons. If you don't already know how, you haven't been sent the information. Before asking to become an uploader, make sure you're ready to create, upload and look after as many as 50 icons a week, volunteering to help other members!

At this time there are no openings for new uploaders.