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Fancy Avatars
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Sometimes, making a professional style avatar can be very difficult -- especially if you have to make due with one of the simplest and most basic programs out there: Paint. However, its far from impossible. This tutorial expects you to know the basics of paint (aka how to zoom etc) and have good common sense. Its not written for a newbie to understand -- its written for someone with basic knowledge and the ability to think on their own. Anyone who steals will get in a mess, I promise you that :).
Getting started
Finding an image is rather difficult for this. I would go with an overly simple image. Just something in one or two colors, nothing extremely busy since that will mess up the effect. Crop the image to the correct size (in my case thats 100 by 100) pixels. I chose a basic image with 2 main colors: pink and green. The colors should not be hard on the eye (stay away from bold red, clashing colors etc). Also, since the font will be black, or at least in part, it is strongly recommended that at least part of your image is has light colors.
Triple Borders
As you probally noticed on the image to the left, borders have been added to it. You'll be suprised at the huge difference a properly done border can make. Zoom in on your avatar and then select the line tool. Set it to the thinest line (the topmost one). Then go on the square tool. Here you'll need to select the top option again; the borders only rectangle. Now set your color to black and draw an outline around the outside of your entire avatar. Repeat this, this time leaving one pixel space between your first black line and the second one. It sounds difficult, but its actually super easy. Now select one of the main colors in your image. Make sure its not too dark since it needs to stick out from the black. Make the center between the two outlines that color. I experimented around a bit until I found the right color. Your image should now look like the one to the upper left.
Soft Highlights & Shadows
Warning: this part will seem hard and take about 10 minutes. You can skip it if your feeling lazy. Its recommended though. Heres a quick comparrison of what the image looks like with and without this ditto little effect:
Okay, lets start slow; zoom in on your image and select the color with which you did the center outline. Now go to Colors >> Edit Colors >> Define Custom Colors. On the right side, there is a scale. An arrow will be next to your current color. Scoot it up only about 2 shades. Its important that you do not go up more than 2 shades -- else you would ruin the entire effect! Here comes a screenshot to help you out: click here. Now comes the hard part. After having selected OK, you will need to select the line tool again. You will need to do as demonstrated in the image here. Note: the colors are extreme in the example so its easier for you to tell them apart. The dotted red line is the center of either side. 
You should see a blue or white dot (those are called nodes, by the way!) in the center of each border. You need to start your first line so that the middle of the first line is in the middle of the side. Sounds complex doesn't it? Its not that bad! I promise :). Usually the gradient would be a lot "smoother". Use the line tool to make a line at about the middle of the bottom border; a few pixels long, about 5-10ish. Then make your color a bit lighter (repeat by going to Colors >> Edit Colors etc and then moving up another 2 shades) and make another line to the right of the first one. Keep repeating that. At the same time, make lines in the same color coming down from the right side. Reffer to the picture if your confused. Its really not that hard. Do the same thing except the other way around for the top left corner; just darken the colors this time.
The text
One of the most important things about this avatar is the unique text. Its actually quite easy. Open up a new window of paint, and make it the same size as your avatar. Select any random color and type your text. The shorter the better, it should be at least a font size 15, prefferably Arial. Do not use any complex font, just a basic one like Arial. Make the text bold if possible. Once your done, go to Image >> Attribute and select "black and white". A little popup may come up. Select OK. Now, select the paint bucket tool and zoom into your picture. Choose one of the patters in the lower row (they are where the colors were before!). I choose the 6th from the right and would recommend that one. Use the paint bucket to fill in your letters with that "color" or pattern as you will. Next use the selection tool and select your text. Then go back to your other paint file, and make sure that you have unchecked draw opaque. Then paste the text into your avatar file. You can move it whereever you want.
Afterword
Wow, looks like your done, doesn't it? Now that wasn't all that hard!. This effect is really genius, especially the font, and can be used to pep up all sorts of graphics; I simply used an avatar as an example :). I actually preffer this to some of the junk people manage to produce with my loved PSP or Adobe xD. Any comments/suggestions/problems can be sent to Kathrin433@yahoo.com; I'd love to hear from you, feedback is always nice. Also, it would be super sweet of you if you toke the time to link back :).
~ Kathrin
