Balls: Create Your Own Tennis Avatar

We have 2 ways for you to create your own tennis avatar.

1. Photoshop Avatar Creation

Have Photoshop? Like to work in Photoshop?

Download the Photoshop file (.psd). (Right click on the link and save the file.)

Make your avatar. Share it with the world. And don’t stop.

2. Web Avatar Creator on Pixlr

We have a full 6-step tutorial on using a cool online tool called Pixlr below.

This tutorial will show you how you can use Pixlr (a Photoshop on the web) to create your own “Show us Your Balls!” AdHack photo frame!

Step 1. Choose a Frame!

Click one of the frames below to start editing online! You can pick a White or Woody theme.

Note: Clicking a frame below will load the Pixlr editor in a new window.

From this point on, Pixlr is exactly like Photoshop. If you have used Photoshop before, you won’t need this tutorial. If that’s not you, keep reading, it’s easy!

Step 2. Insert your Photo.

Once Pixlr has loaded your frame you’re ready to add your headshot to the image. Just click “File” to drop down the menu like you would in any program.

Then choose to open a picture from a URL or from your computer. I used my computer for this example.

Choosing your photo will open a second Pixlr window containing the new photo.

Step 3. Prep the Frame!

Now you’re ready to put your face into the frame.

In the “Tools” window pick the “Marquee tool.” It looks like a dotted box.

Now you simply need to click on the picture frame you chose and select the whole thing. The easiest way to do this is by going to Pixlr’s “Edit” menu and choosing “Select All” from the drop down like the photo below.

Step 4. Paste on your Face!.

Now that you have your frame selected, re-open the “Edit” menu and choose “Copy” from the drop down.

Select the photo of yourself by clicking anywhere on it.

Go back into “Edit” and choose “Paste.” It should look something like the photo below. A tiny frame on your large photo. That’s good.

**DO NOT MOVE THE FRAME AFTER YOUR PASTE**

Leave the frame in it’s default pasted position. It will make life easier later.

Step 5. Adjust the Photo Sizes.

We’re pretty sure you don’t want a framed photo of your giant eyeball. Well, maybe you do. But let’s assume you don’t and teach you how to resize your photo.

At this point you can close the window with the frame that doesn’t have your photo in it. I just moved mine out of the way so I had room for the “Layers” window in the examples below. You’re going to need this window for the next step.

Click anywhere in the window that has the both the tennis frame you pasted and your photo. When you do you should see two things in the “Layers” window. “Layer 1″ (The Frame) and  “Background” (your photo). If you don’t see this you have the wrong window selected.

In the “Layers” window, select the “Background” (Your photo). Then go into the “Edit” menu like we did earlier. But this time you want to select “Free Transform.”

You should now see 8 little black boxes around the edges of your photo (the “Background” layer). That’s good!

Grab one of the corner boxes, Hold SHIFT on your keyboard and drag inward until the photo fits like the example below.

The reason your holding the SHIFT key is to lock the aspect ratio of the photo. If you don’t the transform tool will allow you to distort the proportions of the photo. Experiment with it, you’ll see what I mean.

While in this mode you can click anywhere on the photo and drag to change it’s position to. You don’t need to hold SHIFT to do that tough.

If you ever want to back out of this mode and start resizing over again just press ESC on your keyboard.

Once you are happy with it’s size and location, press RETURN or ENTER on your keyboard to confirm it.

Step 6. Final Touches & Text!

You should now have all this white space around your cool frame. But that’s no fun, we want to clean that up.

Click the “Image” menu and select “Canvas size.”

This should pop up a new window like the one below. Make sure you make yours look exactly like mine.

Width: 150

Height: 150

Anchor: Click the Centre Box (this is why I didn’t want you to move the frame earlier)

Once you have entered your settings, click “OK”.

At this point your frame should have no white space and be perfectly centred in your window. However, if it’s all cut off and crazy looking, don’t fear. Just go to the “Edit” menu and select “Undo.”

You will then need to use the Crop Tool, which look like this . Select it and click and drag around the outline of your frame to cut out the white space. If you mess it up, you can repeat the undo step.

Now you’re pretty much done! Except for a cool tennis name. Click here for tennis inspiration.

Got your name? Good.

Choose the Type Tool from the Tools window. Once you select the tool you will get a new set of options under the upper black menu. Make sure it’s set to

Font: Arial

Size: 12

Style: Regular

Color: White

Then click on the red banner where you want your name to appear and start typing.

Need to reposition the text? Choose the Move tool and click the text and drag it where you want it.

Now, last step: click the File menu and choose Save! You’re ready to hit the courts.

Share your hot new tennis-pro avatar on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and your own website. When you see it looking hot, post a link here in a comment below!

Cool Tennis Names

Whenever you’re ready, make sure to add in a cool tennis name, like the names above.

Need some ideas?

Here’s a glossary of tennis words.

Share the Funness

Now you’re ready to hit the courts. But who wants to play with themselves?

Post your new avatar to your Facebook page. Add it to your Twitter account. Spread the word on your own website.

Share the tennis love and challenge your friends to create their own avatars.

Thanks and Kudos

Thanks to Pixlr for such a cool tool.

AdHack has been working with some of our users, like Giant Ant Media and Monique from Boxcar Marketing, to create a fun new ad campaign featuring some tennis players. They’re stars. They help us a ton and inspire us. Thanks, folks!

Thanks too to Mostly Lisa and our friend Chad Brealey for their starring roles.

The Tease Reveal

Show Us Your Balls has launched. Watch the video then write the script for the sequel. We’ll film the top script! AdHack.com/balls

Tags:
avatar, Ball Murray, balls, Carlo Topspin, frame, Love Lapointe, Mitch Match, Pixlr, Show us your Balls, tennis balls, Vic Volley

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