• 1). Browse to a website that creates talking avatars such as Voki.
  
  
• 2). Register for a free account so you can save your avatar. Then sign onto the site.
  
  
• 3
  Characters
  
  Click the "Choose Your Character" button, which is the first button under "Customize Your Character." The category palette appears.
  
  
• 4). Scroll through the categories until you find one you like. Click that category button to display the character palette. This example uses the "Toons" category.
  
  
• 5
  Male Character
  
  Choose a gender and then click on a character. The avatar appears in the portrait box on the left. This example uses the male gender and selects the third character in the top row.
  
  
• 6
  Adjusting color
  
  Adjust the color of the portrait in the "Color" tab under the portrait. Click on a part button and then choose a color. This example changes the skin and hair color.
  
  
• 7
  Adjusting size
  
  Click on the "Tweak" tab and adjust body parts by moving the sliders. This example narrows the nose and mouth.
  
  
• 8
  Adding Bling
  
  Adjust further options by clicking buttons under the "Head" tab on the right. You can also change clothing by clicking on the "Clothing" tab, and add jewelry or glasses by clicking on the "Bling" tab. This example puts our avatar in a jacket and adds glasses.
  
  
• 9). Click the "Done" button when you are finished adjusting the portrait.
  
  
• 10
  
  Change the background or the portrait frame colors by clicking on the "Background" or "Player" buttons in the last row. Click the "Done" button to finish your choices. This example changes the background to an airline in the "Travel" category.
  
  

Talk

• 1
  Text to Speech
  
  Choose a button under "Give It a Voice" to make your avatar talk. You can record a voice by phone or microphone, or upload an audio file. For this example, click the second "Text to Speech" button to convert written text into words. The "Text to Speech" palette appears.
  
  
• 2
  Message
  
  Type the words into the text box that you want spoken. This example uses a vacation notice.
  
  
• 3). Choose an accent and a voice from the appropriate dropdowns. This example uses an "English" accent and an American male voice with "Paul (US)."
  
  
• 4
  Talking Avatar
  
  Click the "Play" button under the text box and watch your avatar speak the words. You can add special effects, such as an echo by clicking on the "FX" tab and choosing an option.
  
  
• 5). Click the "Done" button.
  
  

Publish

• 1). Click the "Publish' button to save your creation. The "Name" dialog box appears.
  
  
• 2). Enter a name for your avatar. This example uses "Travel Guy." Then click the "Save" button. The share page appears.
  
  
• 3
  Publishing
  
  Choose an option for sharing your avatar by clicking a tab. You can add it to a website, email it to a friend or turn it into a speaking ringtone.