How To Make A Gravatar

Today is going to be the first of several tutorials that I'll post from time to time on nifty cool things that you can do with your blog.  Everything that I've added to my blog I've had to piece bits of info from several different sources, until I came up with something that'd work for me.  I tossed more tutorials out because they used a lot of geekeze.....which doesn't help me one stinkin' bit.  I like things simple and with pictures.....did I ever mention that I'm a visual person.....well, I am.  Today's tutorial is going to be on how to add a Gravatar (photo) when you comment on other folk's blogs.  Blogger uses your profile photo for comments, but then there are those other blog sites that won't accept your Blogger photo, and what usually drops in that blank area is either nothingness or some sort of icon that doesn't even express who you are.  So here's the absolutely MOST simple way to always guarantee your photo pops up along with your comment.....

First thing you'll need to do is go to the Gravatar site.  Once you're there, click on Sign up.....

You'll next be taken to a screen where you can enter your email address.  Put in whatever email address is hooked to your blog.....then click on Signup.....

Now you need to go to your email account and look for a confirmation email where you can activate your Gravatar account.  Once you've clicked on the link to confirm, the following screen will pop up where you will choose a user name (all lower case -and- no spaces), and a password.....then click on Signup.....

Here is where you'll be choosing the image for your Gravatar.  Click on Add one by clicking here.....

A screen will pop up, and from there you'll decide where your image will come from.  In my case, it was a saved photo on My computer's hard drive.....

Click on browse and locate the image that you want to use.  Once you have your image chosen, then click on Next.....

The next screen will show your image in a crop screen, and a small and large preview screen.....

Now is the time to crop your image so it's pleasing to your eye.  Underneath the crop photo you will see a couple of arrows for cropping the image either up or down.  In my case, I wanted more of the upper portion of the image for my Gravatar, so I clicked on the up arrow (↑) to accomplish that.  Once you're pleased with how it looks, then click on Crop and Finish.....

Now you need to choose a rating for your image.  Since there's nothing scandalous about my photo, I gave it a "G".....

The next screen is where you choose which Gravatar you'd like to use for your comment photo.  Please note that you can have as many Gravatars as you choose.  For the sake of this tutorial, I've only got one listed.  Click on the image.....

This is your final step.....click on Confirm.....

Here's what your Gravatar looks like in action.....

There you go.....you've just made your very own Gravatar!!!