Make My Own Avatar

How can I make my own avatar? Does it require a tech degree? These questions are asked by many first time virtual world users. Fortunately, many virtual worlds, like Second Life, will walk you through the process with easy to use modules and help tutorials.

Getting Started

If you have asked about how to make my own avatar, you will be glad to know that the process takes only a few minutes. And, it is virtually pain free because it is such a simple and easy to follow process.

Once signing on to Second Life you will immediately choose your avatar starting look and gender. Later in-world you have a module called “appearance”, that walks you through the design customization process step by step. This is done by choosing from the templates available in this module including: Body shape, hair color, clothing, skin color, eye color, hair style and many other physical features. Your creation can be as similar to you as possible or it can be an invented self.

Using your Avatar

After you have answered the question of how to make my own avatar, and have actually designed your personal avatar, it is time to present your new “you” to the virtual world. This is simply done by saving the avatar you have designed and starting to explore the world using the search option or the map feature provided in the Second Life viewer/interface. Open the map, click in the area you want to go and teleport there. The map also includes several searching options.

Your avatar is the way you will communicate with other virtual world users. Communication will appear in real time as thought bubbles next to your avatar. You can talk with anyone you come across in Second Life by typing in your comments and questions in the local chat window or using the voice chat module.

If you want to own businesses or have a job in Second Life your avatar will again be your representative. Your created self will also have fun hanging out with friends in bars and clubs, attending rock concerts, going shopping for fashion clothes and participating in many other virtual events.

Advanced Avatars

Once you have the hang of working with your own avatar you might choose to create a more advanced representation. Second Life users are very creative and you will see everything from monsters, robots, furries (anthropomorphic animals) and mythical creatures to high fashion divas, vampires, goths (gothic style) and Nekos. You can let your own creativity shine and enjoy the many advantages of using such a sophisticated system.

Creating your own advanced avatar does take more than basic computer skills. If you see an avatar you like in the virtual world, it’s possible to introduce yourself and ask for help in creating your own creative version. Even if you currently don’t have the right skills to progress to the development of an advanced avatar, now may be the time to learn. Find events offering avatar design learning classes’ in-world.

You can also shop for interesting avatars and customize them by your own with the “appearance” module or additional Photoshop templates or ask a professional designer to do a custom-made avatar for you.

So, how can I make my own avatar? This should no longer be a question or a problem stopping you from joining an online virtual world like Second Life. The process is simple, easy, and can be completed in less than 5 minutes.