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12hc12Emoticon Tutorial

Published: 2008-08-21 01:59:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 57964; Favourites: 1303; Downloads: 1550
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Description Attention!
Considering the great amount of time since I have thought about emotes, never mind the neglect I've put on my emoting programs, I can no longer truly provide satisfactory advice for all you budding emoticonists. I still love to see a new emote now and then, and the comments on both my tutorials are very uplifting. However, the flood of questions must come to an end.
But, I won't just leave you in the dark. There are many resources out there in the deviantART community that can really help.
Be sure to check out #Emotication for other tutorials and a long list of resources for all aspects of emoticon creation. If you need a mentor, they have a program set up to give you the kind of help you need.
If you have a specific question about emoticons or emoticon creation (including animation), head over to #WeEmote . The group there are sure to have an answer for you, or at least point you in the right direction.

And of course, dA has a massive section on tutorials for some of the most popular programs (as well as general tutorials) that can be easily found in the Resources and Stock Images > Tutorials gallery.

If you comment or send me a note, please don't be offended if I direct you elsewhere. I really can't provide you with the help you deserve.

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Warning: File size is fairly gigantic.

Well, seeing as how I had a tutorial for GIMP emoticon animations, I figured I'd make an actual emoticon tutorial.
This is a beginners tutorial, and the likelihood of me teaching more complicated colouring styles, how to colour and how not to colour, and things like that is fairly minimal. Be happy with what you have, people.

(Oh, and this one has a prettier layout than the last one. )

The tutorial covers programs, outlines, two colouring styles, and hands. And again, this is just a simple tutorial. Build off and learn from it; I recommend any new emoticonist that REALLY feels comfortable with the above two colouring styles to try their own; make more complicated symbols and gradually make your way to something unique to yourself.

And if you make an emote with the help of this tutorial, don't be afraid to show and tell. :D I'd love to see 'em. ^__^

Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you for the DD, =davebold370 and ^Hanratty-Stock !
Related content
Comments: 832

Furana In reply to ??? [2011-01-08 01:00:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Furana [2010-12-28 09:36:44 +0000 UTC]

I use paint then make the back transpernet on photoshop.

This helped so much probably the best and least confusing emote tutorial I've read!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Furana [2011-01-06 15:52:00 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! I'm so glad to hear that! (:

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

vulpes15 In reply to ??? [2010-12-24 07:19:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for making this tutorial! I made [link] with it. Not too good, but I'm gonna keep trying

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to vulpes15 [2011-01-06 15:53:13 +0000 UTC]

Keep tryin' and you'll improve in no time!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

StrawberryLatte12 In reply to ??? [2010-12-19 02:19:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for helping me create my first emoticon: [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to StrawberryLatte12 [2011-01-06 15:54:45 +0000 UTC]

Aw, cute!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

WolfyLuvr In reply to ??? [2010-12-09 14:46:42 +0000 UTC]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MADE IT!!!!!!!! but how do i make it have a code like :somethingidk:

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

Furana In reply to WolfyLuvr [2010-12-28 09:44:20 +0000 UTC]

you have to make another account and make it a plz acount.

Then for the username of the plz account you put the code

e.g. username: lappyplz

code: :iconlappyplz:

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WolfyLuvr In reply to Furana [2010-12-28 16:27:42 +0000 UTC]

a little late for hat i did so much research before i found it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

12hc12 In reply to WolfyLuvr [2010-12-15 05:35:36 +0000 UTC]

The emoticons that are available for use across the site are in deviantART's emoticon "dictionary." Only emotes that are selected by staff members make it to this collection, and this is a fairly rare occurrence.
You can, however, make a plz account with your emote as the avatar, which would allow you to use it anywhere avatars are allowed. This is generally for more refined and popular emotes, though.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

b-the-N In reply to ??? [2010-11-27 01:44:56 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial, thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Nineeightnine989 In reply to ??? [2010-11-24 07:55:43 +0000 UTC]

Thx that really helped!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Artist13Namine In reply to ??? [2010-11-10 19:45:34 +0000 UTC]

how do u get it to work on deviantart? i followed all your instructions, btw thanks worked out fine but when i upload it on Deviant art, when i try to use it, it only comes up as the lettering, not the actual emote, help?
for category i put,
Customization / Emoticons / Chat Friendly Emotes / Static
if thats any help?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Artist13Namine [2010-12-09 04:47:28 +0000 UTC]

I... have absolutely no idea what the problem is, so I can't be of much help. Check out the top of the Artist's Description area.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Artist13Namine In reply to 12hc12 [2010-12-09 11:53:53 +0000 UTC]

okay thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Zetzubou In reply to ??? [2010-10-23 22:22:39 +0000 UTC]

Hmm.. I don't get the background transparent, I tried ctrl+a but it didn't work. I just got Paint.net so.. Can you help?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Zetzubou [2010-10-25 14:08:35 +0000 UTC]

Ctrl+A will select the entire canvas; to delete the default white background, hit delete on your keyboard. You should see a checkerboard pattern if it's transparent.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zetzubou In reply to 12hc12 [2010-10-25 14:31:52 +0000 UTC]

Well that didn't work. But I figured it out already :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Zetzubou [2010-10-26 12:03:14 +0000 UTC]

Ah, strange.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

FlyyPhoenix [2010-09-14 19:24:34 +0000 UTC]

Oops I mean [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

FlyyPhoenix [2010-09-14 19:23:59 +0000 UTC]

:thumb179253396: Here's mines her name is Pinky!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to FlyyPhoenix [2010-09-24 11:59:41 +0000 UTC]

Aw, she's cute.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FlyyPhoenix In reply to 12hc12 [2010-09-24 14:57:16 +0000 UTC]

aww thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Espeon82 [2010-09-04 20:47:27 +0000 UTC]

It's great!!! I made one! [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

12hc12 In reply to Espeon82 [2010-09-13 13:57:19 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Espeon82 In reply to Espeon82 [2010-09-04 20:49:39 +0000 UTC]

(my icon is not as good as these; i made it from scratch)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

blackwolf816 [2010-08-25 12:33:46 +0000 UTC]

it worked thnx these are the emoticons i made

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to blackwolf816 [2010-09-13 13:57:42 +0000 UTC]

Very nice. (: Sorry for the terribly late comment.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JO-JO4 [2010-08-19 06:48:09 +0000 UTC]

aww man it didnt go... sorry.. i suck

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JO-JO4 [2010-08-19 06:44:04 +0000 UTC]

hey! i made one of the things... its my first one so it sucks.... but its in my deveintart gallery!! i labeled it "my first emoticon" tell me how i did when i made it... lolz i couldnt make any hands tho...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PeekaBooKrizz [2010-08-19 04:17:47 +0000 UTC]

This is an awesom tut

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

emma00 [2010-08-09 10:54:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks 4 making this....

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

skylark-caricatures In reply to ??? [2010-08-03 00:42:43 +0000 UTC]

I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......
......I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......I wanna make an emoticon......

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JJ7528 In reply to ??? [2010-07-29 15:44:03 +0000 UTC]

Great guide! Helped me learn a lot!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hazardK In reply to ??? [2010-07-11 19:14:53 +0000 UTC]


This is great, it really helps me! Usually, tutorials are filled with writing, and I learn more from pictures. This, however, has enough photos and writing for me to concentrate!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to hazardK [2010-07-12 00:15:14 +0000 UTC]

Ah, timing isn't everything. c;

I'm glad you've found it so suiting for you!
I completely agree, too. Some tutorials are like walls of text and yet the images provided do all the talking.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Friesles In reply to ??? [2010-07-11 13:12:49 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome! Great tutorial and its really helpful that you used a free program like gimp instead of photoshop, makes a change

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Friesles [2010-07-12 00:16:41 +0000 UTC]

There's no need to buy something like Photoshop when free programs can fit all your needs. Call me cheap, I won't care.
Glad you liked the tutorial.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Friesles In reply to 12hc12 [2010-07-12 17:07:37 +0000 UTC]

I agree.
I won't call you cheap because I am exactly the same, always scouring the internet for top notch free software xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Friesles [2010-07-14 01:23:08 +0000 UTC]

Frugal people unite!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Friesles In reply to 12hc12 [2010-07-14 16:34:32 +0000 UTC]

Yush!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Devachi In reply to ??? [2010-06-29 03:38:07 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the awesome tutorial! it was really useful XD my emoticon: [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Devachi [2010-07-06 02:04:03 +0000 UTC]

Very cute. c: A great first attempt!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Devachi In reply to 12hc12 [2010-07-06 02:06:53 +0000 UTC]

Wahhhhhhhh thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Freya-Silvermoon In reply to ??? [2010-06-28 11:49:58 +0000 UTC]

Oh,nice!
I want do some.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Freya-Silvermoon [2010-07-06 02:03:28 +0000 UTC]

Take a crack at it and make a few... dozen. Or more.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Freya-Silvermoon In reply to 12hc12 [2010-07-08 17:17:03 +0000 UTC]

Awright.
Sorry for the delay on respond,my PC was broken.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Nijimyrainbow In reply to ??? [2010-06-27 07:17:43 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the help! I've always wanted to make one. Ima try nows XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Nijimyrainbow [2010-07-06 02:02:59 +0000 UTC]

Good luck with 'em!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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