Custom avatars

Avatar is one of those words that different sites use in different ways. Some chats allow you to choose from a pre-defined set of icons that are associated with your user name. The icon sits next to your chat name or in your instant messaging windows. Other chats let you use a custom avatar that actually represents your persona graphically while chatting. Some communities, such as there.com allow you to customize your avatar with different clothing and physical attributes. Another, such as the Palace, lets you create your own avatar. These chat avatars don't necessarily look like people – they might be pictures or illustrations of animals or places or just about anything you can think of. Each chat service has its own specifications for creating custom avatars.