Customizing Messenger's Animated Emoticons

[Jeff]

It ain't easy, but it can be done.

If you do create some new animations, share your creations with us here.

[hybrid]

I wonder why they didn't just do something simple like allowing animated GIFs for custom emoticons. I've got a couple of great ones i'd like to add, but i'm stuck using static ones.

[hybrid]

Oh, and i hope they're working on cross-platform feature parity. I really like MSN Messenger 6 on my Windows machine, but the OS X version now trails behind.

[ethan_hines]

Ok I found the PNG files but how do I edit them? They are all in a row.....there must be somesorta editor how would microsoft do it? Also since the animations can only been see on my side, is there anyway I could make a patch so that if I send my animation to someone they just "patch" their version of messager with my animation???

[detn8r]

The new BETA version of MSN Messenger 7.0 allows custom animated emoticons. Check it out!

[shifter]

quote:Originally posted by ethan_hines

Ok I found the PNG files but how do I edit them? They are all in a row.....there must be somesorta editor how would microsoft do it?

You can edit PNG files with an image editing program. I personally use Photoshop for all my graphic editing, but there are likely some free alternatives over at www.download.com.

quote:Originally posted by ethan_hines

Also since the animations can only been see on my side, is there anyway I could make a patch so that if I send my animation to someone they just "patch" their version of messager with my animation???

Not really, you would need to send over the edited graphics and have the contact replace there default icons in there directory. Sure you could automate it with an installer application, but it would still require your contact to run it.

I'd go with Detn8r's suggestion and try out http://messenger.msn.com/beta/.

Edit: looks like the url tags changed......

[ethan_hines]

in beta 7 are they called winks? and how do I make my own?

[detn8r]

quote:Originally posted by ethan_hines

in beta 7 are they called winks? and how do I make my own?

Winks are totally different. For the animated emoticons, all you have to do is add the animated .gif like you would a normal .jpg for example. Then simply send out the command you set up.