Avatars - HL Vanilla Community
<main> <article class="userContent"> <p>When it comes to determining how users can represent themselves with an <strong>Avatar </strong>(i.e., profile picture), <strong>Higher Logic Vanilla (Vanilla)</strong> offers five options:</p><ul><li>Default Avatars</li><li>Gravatar</li><li>Vanillicons</li><li>Avatar Pool</li><li>Upload a custom Avatar</li></ul><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: If you allow users to upload their own custom Avatars, they'll have a choice: either use your default Avatar, Gravatar, Vanillicon, or Avatar Pool images OR upload their own custom image.</p><p>Let's learn about each type, and how to set them up.</p><h2 data-id="default-avatars"><strong>Default Avatars</strong></h2><p>Setting up a <strong>Default Avatar</strong> allows your organization to select a <em>default </em>profile picture for <em>all </em>users across your Vanilla community. </p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: If you allow users to upload their own custom Avatars, these custom images will override the default.</p><ol><li>Access the Dashboard.</li><li>Navigate to <strong>Settings > Appearance > Avatars</strong>. </li><li>In the <em>Default Avatar</em> area, click <strong>Change</strong>.</li><li>On the next page, click <strong>Upload New Avatar</strong> and select the image to upload.</li></ol><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/6O954H8EFGUD/set-default-avatar.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/6O954H8EFGUD/set-default-avatar.png" alt="set_default_avatar.png" height="628" width="1222" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h2 data-id="gravatar"><strong>Gravatar</strong></h2><p><a href="http://en.gravatar.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">Gravatar</a> is a global profile picture service run by Automattic (the company behind WordPress). If the Gravatar addon is enabled on your Vanilla community, a user’s Gravatar will be used as their Avatar if they have one. </p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: To enable Gravatar, contact your CSM or Vanilla Support.</p><h2 data-id="vanillicon"><strong>Vanillicon</strong></h2><p>The <strong>Vanillicon </strong>addon automatically creates a unique, smiley face-based profile image for each user, pulling from an extensive library of colors and expressions.</p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: If this addon is enabled, you cannot set a Default Avatar.</p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: If you allow users to upload their own custom Avatars, these custom images will override the Vanillicon.</p><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/WAH3Y3K2T340/vanillicon-8.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/WAH3Y3K2T340/vanillicon-8.png" alt="vanillicon-8.png" height="200" width="450" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h3 data-id="enable-the-vanillicon-addon">Enable the Vanillicon addon</h3><ol><li>Access the Dashboard.</li><li>Navigate to <strong>Settings > Addons > Addons</strong>.</li><li>Enable the Vanillicon addon.</li></ol><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/X1ZR1WTYC3HG/enable-vanillicon.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/X1ZR1WTYC3HG/enable-vanillicon.png" alt="enable_vanillicon.png" height="595" width="1218" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h2 data-id="avatar-pool"><strong>Avatar Pool</strong></h2><p>With <strong>Avatar Pool </strong>enabled, you can upload a custom selection of Avatars for your users to choose from. <strong></strong>You can limit users from uploading their own custom profile Avatars, "forcing" them to use one of your predetermined Avatars, or give them both options.</p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: To enable Avatar Pool, contact your CSM or Vanilla Support.</p><h3 data-id="create-your-avatar-pool">Create your Avatar Pool</h3><ol><li>Access the Dashboard.</li><li>Navigate to <strong>Settings > Appearance > Avatars</strong>. </li><li>The option to upload new Avatars for your users to choose from is at the bottom of the page. </li></ol><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/SC6IZT5MWT5N/screen-shot-2021-09-16-at-12-56-54-pm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/SC6IZT5MWT5N/screen-shot-2021-09-16-at-12-56-54-pm.png" alt="Screen Shot 2021-09-16 at 12.56.54 PM.png" height="501" width="1600" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h2 data-id="upload-a-custom-avatar">Upload a custom Avatar</h2><p>Your organization can decide whether users are allowed to upload their own custom Avatars; if not, they'll be required to use whichever Avatar option you've chosen. In this section, we'll first examine the prerequisites for custom Avatars and then walk through how to upload one.</p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: The <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/566" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"><em>recommended image size</em></a> for avatars is <strong>560px by 560px</strong>.</p><h3 data-id="prerequisites-for-custom-avatars">Prerequisites for custom Avatars</h3><p>Before users can upload their own custom profile images, two prerequisites must be met:</p><p>1.<strong> </strong>In the Dashboard, on the <strong>Settings > Appearance > Avatars </strong>page, enable the <strong>Allow users to change their own avatars</strong> option.</p><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/DH3BKVY9WA3G/enable-custom-avatars.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/DH3BKVY9WA3G/enable-custom-avatars.png" alt="enable_custom_avatars.png" height="425" width="1221" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <p>2. For any Roles you want to have the ability, enable one of the following <strong>permissions</strong>:</p><ul><li><code class="code codeInline" spellcheck="false" tabindex="0">Garden > Profile Picture > Edit</code></li><li><code class="code codeInline" spellcheck="false" tabindex="0">Garden > Profiles > Edit</code></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/11AP8QIK7PBL/enable-custom-avatars-2.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/11AP8QIK7PBL/enable-custom-avatars-2.png" alt="enable_custom_avatars-2.png" height="614" width="944" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <p>3. If the <strong>Avatar Pool</strong> plugin is <strong>enabled</strong>, a user Role will need this additional permission: </p><ul><li><code class="code codeInline" spellcheck="false" tabindex="0">AvatarPool > Custom Upload > Allow</code></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/H3F7MIY6UMJN/ava-pool-permission.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/H3F7MIY6UMJN/ava-pool-permission.png" alt="ava_pool_permission.png" height="93" width="837" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h3 data-id="upload-custom-avatar">Upload custom Avatar</h3><p>With those prerequisites in place, you're free to upload a custom Avatar, if you so choose, and there are two ways to do so:</p><ol><li>Hover over your current Avatar and click <strong>Change Icon</strong>. In the resulting dialog, click <strong>Upload New Picture</strong> and browse for and select one.</li><li>Click the dropdown highlighted below and select <strong>Edit Profile</strong>. On the resulting page, click <strong>Change My Picture </strong>and follow the prompts.</li></ol><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/ZPZD99QM2FDP/upload-custom-avatar.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/ZPZD99QM2FDP/upload-custom-avatar.png" alt="upload_custom_avatar.png" height="399" width="1350" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <h2 data-id="ranks">Ranks</h2><p>Regardless of which of the five Avatar options you choose, you can also control Avatars to a degree with <strong>Ranks</strong>. </p><p><strong>⭐️ EXAMPLE</strong>: Some Vanilla communities only allow lower-level ranks to use the default options while higher ranking users can upload their own custom profile pictures.</p><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/D0D0QMNJAP4Q/ptd3x4famvl6.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/D0D0QMNJAP4Q/ptd3x4famvl6.png" alt="PTD3X4FAMVL6.png" height="100" width="605" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none"></img></a> </div> </div> <p>Check out our Ranks article to learn more.</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"What is a Rank? A rank can be assigned to a user to grant or remove certain privileges on your forum. A rank is not the same as Roles & Permissions, which govern content access, moderation abilities, and administrator access. A user can only have one rank at a time. Typically, the user’s rank is displayed on their…","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/VWGAXAF5OFCO\/microsoftteams-image.png","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/21-ranks","embedType":"link","name":"Ranks - Vanilla Success"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/21-ranks" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/21-ranks </a> </div><h2 data-id="passing-avatar-images-via-sso">Passing Avatar images via SSO</h2><p>If you have implemented single-sign-on (SSO) from your website or app to Vanilla, you can pass a URL to an Avatar image. This URL will be updated each time the user signs in so that if the image is changed on your end, it will automatically update in Vanilla.</p><h3 data-id="social-logins">Social logins</h3><p>If your members are registering using social logins (e.g., Twitter), the profile photo from that service will be used as their profile photo. </p><p><strong>📝 NOTE</strong>: By default, a user will <strong>not </strong>be able to change their photo in Vanilla if it has been passed via a social login.</p><h2 data-id="additional-resources">Additional resources</h2><p>Click the link below to access a video expanding on what you learned in this article.</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"For more information, please see:","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/GXW21TRYG1JP\/share-imagevanilla-community.jpg","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/452","embedType":"link","name":"J. Avatars [video] - HL Vanilla Community"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/452" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/452 </a> </div><p><br></p> </article> </main>