Where do you get your avatars? From what I'm hearing you can't just download any ole image and upload it as one it needs to be rights free or royalty free? Not to sure. I was interested in finding an Ahimsa avatar but it sounds like I'd have to draw it myself which isn't so great Anyways thanks
There are lots of avatar sites. If you don't like what they've got available, then: http://www.labnol.org/internet/pictures/using-thumbnails-of-copyrighted-images-is-fair-use/1882/ Don't go over 100x100 regardless of a thumbnail definition of "up to 200". The latter is allowing too much detail for even the Mona Lisa, The Scream, etc. You want blurry, insignificant "I can't make out whether that's a duck or a rock in the background". If the new Sciforums allowed members to upload a 1200x768 image, as an avatar it is still only going to be displayed a max 96x96. So even if it's your own artwork, there is no reason to be using anything from the start but a thumbnail. If you wanted a miniature of a Picasso painting, do a screen capture of the webpage. Then crop away the junk, resize what's left to 100x100, destroy/delete anything remaining of the larger, original screen capture afterwards.
I just whipped out MS Paint and drew mine in about five minutes. Goofy-looking works for me, might not work for you.
There is usually two assumptions, The first being that the person posting it has actually gained the rights to use the image, failing that there is the assumption that if an avatar is seen as a breach of a copyright, the parties concerned will ask to have the avatar in question removed, there is no need for the petty trivialities of legal threats etc. The only other concerns that can be raised is if the avatars are themselves offensive/pornography/advertisements etc However that tends to fall to the standard sites rules as to whether it's acceptable or not.
